Although the supply of dentists in the U.S. has increased by 24% since 2001, that growth has slowed in recent years due to an increase in retirement, according to data from the American Dental Association. The ADA recently released new…
Staffing Issues
Cheney, Wash.-based Eastern Washington University is planning a master’s in dental therapy program, according to a Dec. 18 report from the Spokane Journal of Business. The Washington State Legislature has pledged $10.5 million to the school, which will be used…
Petoskey-based North Central Michigan College has unanimously approved a dental hygiene degree, the school’s first for-credit dental offering. The three-year program will have one year of general education and introductory dental coursework and two years of classroom and clinical instruction,…
Maine Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio has prefiled a bill for the 2026 legislative session that would expand the scope of practice for independent dental hygienists. If passed, the would allow independent hygienists to administer local anesthesia or nitrous oxide analgesia as…
A Florida House Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee recently advanced a bill to authorize the practice of dental therapists, Florida Politics reported Dec. 9. Nine notes: 1. Republican Rep. Linda Chaney introduced HB 363 Nov. 5. 2. The bill would…
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Various workforce trends have created a perfect storm for the dental hygienist shortage, and dental practices are struggling to keep up. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing shortages, with dental hygienists representing one of the largest exoduses in the industry. A…
Philadelphia-based Temple University received a $2 million federal grant to help build its new rural education center, the Republican Herald reported Nov. 25. The university first announced its plans to open rural education centers in June to address workforce shortages…
GoTu Technology, a dental staffing platform, received a $45 million growth investment to expand across the U.S. The company will also use the funding to accelerate development of its marketplace platform and launch of new services, according to a Nov.…
Dental patients in Vermont are waiting more than a year for routine cleanings due to the shortage of dental hygienists in the state, mychamplainvalley.com reported Nov. 17. Five notes: 1. Many dental providers say the hygienist shortage has worsened over…
Philadelphia-based Temple University has plans to open an education center and clinic at a former Rite Aid location in Tamaqua, Pa., WFMZ reported Nov. 13. The 24-chair clinic will be developed by the university’s School of Dentistry and the Tamaqua…