The dental assistant shortage could worsen as the industry grapples with decreased job satisfaction, an upcoming wave of retirements and program enrollment.
Dentalpost’s 2026 Dental Salary Survey Report pointed to potential challenges with recruiting and retaining dental assistants, showing that improvements in compensation, culture and workload are needed for stable retention.
According to the report, dental assistants are the likeliest dental professionals to be seeking new opportunities, with 47% considering changing jobs within the next two years. Among those considering changing jobs, 84% cite higher pay as a primary motivation, followed by better benefits and seeking a more appreciative employer. Only 54% of dental assistants said they are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their current work, compared to 57% last year. Additionally, 16% of dental assistants said they plan to retire within the next five years.
More dentists reported trying to recruit dental assistants compared to hygienists over the last two years, according to the American Dental Association’s “State of the U.S. economy” report for the first quarter of 2026. During the first quarter, 36.7% of dentists reported recruiting dental assistants. Nearly 70% of dentists described recruitment as “Very” or “Extremely Challenging.”
Some of the challenges dentists are experiencing with hiring dental assistants include a shortage of qualified applicants and demand for high wages and benefits.
Exacerbating the issue is a drop in program enrollment for dental assisting programs. Dental assisting programs in the U.S. have seen a 5.2% decrease in total enrollment since 2021, according to new data from the ADA.
The ongoing shortage could lead to compounding challenges with accessibility and practice management if improvements aren’t made, according to Steven Spitz, DMD, president of the Massachusetts Dental Society.
“There are many practices that are having trouble finding qualified assistants and hygienists, and therefore, the doctors are now taking on the roles of not only doing their dental work, but also running the practice, which slows them down [and] doesn’t allow them to use their skills the way they were meant to be,” he told Becker’s. “Dentistry is not easy. It’s not easy to do alone. It definitely takes a group and a team effort.”
Dr. Spitz said in order to improve the hiring and retention of dental assistants, practices must focus on facilitating a healthy, positive work environment with adequate opportunities for growth. Industry leaders must also work to make entering the field easier. Otherwise, the field risks compromising patient care.
“Dentistry is definitely a team-oriented profession and we need each other. I think that’s why this is such a crisis now,” he said. “We need to do a better job of letting people know what a wonderful career we have, and how great it is to be in oral health where we can make a difference in people’s lives. The danger is definitely there that it could have some major negative effects if we do not do our best to promote the positive attributes that having a career in dentistry has.”
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