ADA Research: Only 60% of Dental Practices Have Adequate Hygienist Staffing
The ADA Health Policy Institute finds that only 60% of U.S. dentists have an adequate number of dental hygienists on staff — and the shortage is both severe and structural. Among dentists actively recruiting a hygienist, 91% describe the process as very or extremely challenging. Staffing gaps rank among dentists’ top concerns heading into 2026, with contributing factors including constrained hygiene school enrollment capacity, post-COVID workforce shifts, and a pipeline that has not kept pace with the growth in dental practices. The shortage is not expected to resolve soon, as pipeline constraints are long-term in nature. Dental groups and DSOs are absorbing the impact through reduced hygiene throughput, compressed appointment schedules, and difficulty scaling recall programs.
For dental group operators and DSOs, hygienist vacancy isn’t a staffing inconvenience — it directly limits chair utilization, recall volume, and revenue per location. Leaders building growth models need to factor structural hygienist scarcity into de novo staffing plans and M&A due diligence on acquisition targets.
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