Dental practices are facing complex hiring challenges as salary expectations increase and retention issues persist.
Here are six statistics and trends pointing to shifts in the dental workforce and recruitment strategies of employers:
1. One-fifth of dentists stated that hygienist positions had been open for more than six months before being filled, according to the American Dental Association’s “State of the U.S. Dental Economy” report for the third quarter of 2026.
2. More dental offices are turning to a combination of temporary and permanent staff members to fill workforce gaps, according to a report from Cloud Dentistry, a dental staffing platform.
3. Dental assistant job satisfaction has declined over the last 10 years, with only about 50% of dental assistants feeling satisfied with their jobs in 2026. One in three dental assistants reported being unsure of how long they will stay in the profession, according to the Dental Assisting National Board’s 2026 Dental Assistant Hiring and Retention Report.
4. Job growth within the dental industry has remained relatively flat over the last year, according to data from the ADA.
5. There has been an 11.6% decline in dental job postings in the last year, according to new research from Indeed.
6. In May, more than 90% of dentists who had actively been recruiting dental hygienists over the previous three months described it as “very” or “extremely” challenging.
