Number of Dental Hygiene and Dental Assistant Students Declines

According to research by the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute (ADA HPI), the number of students entering dental hygiene and dental assisting programs in 2021-2022 declined from 2019-2020. The decrease seen in dental hygiene programs was only by 125 students and may be part of larger trend of shrinking community college enrollment, as the majority of dental hygiene programs are located within this educational setting. Analysis by the ADA HPI suggests that the decline in dental assisting programs is ongoing and not pandemic related. Enrollment in dental school and advanced dental programs increased during the same time frame. Click here to read more.