Staffing Issues

Suncoast Career Academy opened a training facility in Brandon, Fla., to help alleviate the state's dental assistant shortage, according to an April 18 report by ABC affiliate WFTS.

Dental assistants and hygienists remain the most challenging roles to recruit for dental practices, according to a report from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed House Bill 2453, enacting the state's joining of the dental and dental hygienist interstate compact. 

There are 36 dental professional shortage areas in New Jersey, the lowest-ranked state for children's oral health.

There are 11 dental professional shortage areas in Washington, D.C., the highest-ranked area for children's oral health.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine is planning to expand its apprenticeship program for dental assistants to include more than 60 student trainees.

The Colorado House Health and Human Services Committee passed legislation to have the state join the dentist and dental hygienist interstate compact.

There are 33 pediatric dentists in Washington, D.C., the top-ranked place for children's oral health, according to data from WalletHub and KFF.

There are 382 pediatric dentists in New Jersey, the lowest-ranked state for children's oral health, according to data from WalletHub and KFF.

Here are six states that have passed or are considering bills to change dental licensing rules in 2024: