The increased demand for dental hygienists has led to a surge in compensation costs. But many hygienists may actually be looking for other things besides a bigger paycheck.
The recruitment of hygienists has consistently been one of the biggest challenges for practices over the last several years, partially driven by rising compensation. More than 90% of dentists actively recruiting hygienists reported the process as being “very” or “extremely” challenging, according to the American Dental Association’s “State of the U.S. economy” report for the first quarter of 2026. The demand for high wages and benefits was among the many challenges dentists have described facing.
The most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the average annual salary for dental hygienists has increased 21.6% over the last five years. Despite this, hiring and retention continue to be extreme hurdles as workers seek additional advantages and opportunities from their employers.
Dentalpost’s “2026 Dental Salary Survey Report” showed hygienists favor flexibility, autonomy over clinical decisions, trust from dentists and relationships with patients and colleagues. In addition to higher pay, hygienists considering switching jobs reported seeking better benefits and healthier work environments.
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association issued an updated position statement on the hygienist shortage earlier this year, suggesting that the issue is a “retention” rather than a “supply” crisis. The ADHA is advocating for transparent compensation, competitive benefits, accountable workplace culture, professional autonomy, license portability, targeted pipeline growth and professional development for hygienists.
The issue has led practices and organizations to rework their staffing strategies as well as their operations in recent years.
“Retaining hygienists is not just about compensation or scheduling flexibility,” Cameron Jones, vice president of hygiene support at Aspen Dental, said. “Hygienists want to feel trusted, supported and empowered to fully utilize their clinical expertise. Practices that recognize hygienists as true clinical partners are often the ones building stronger, more stable teams.”
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