Dental Hygienist Shortage in Massachusetts Puts Pressure on Practices
Many areas are facing a severe shortage of dental hygienists, a problem that is impacting dental practices nationwide. Despite expanding programs and efforts to retain students, the Massachusetts Dental Hygienists’ Association warns that current staffing levels can’t meet the rising demand, with the pandemic exacerbating the shortage.
Many Massachusetts dental practices are struggling to hire dental hygienists. Despite successfully staffing receptionists and dental assistants, finding even one full-time dental hygienist poses a distinct challenge. A survey by the American Dental Association during the pandemic revealed that 40% of dental practices in the United States faced difficulties in hiring dental hygienists, with 90% reporting it as extremely challenging.
Amanda Berthiaume, RDH, CDA, MSDH, the current president of the Massachusetts Dental Hygienists’ Association, told Boston 25 News about a time when the profession was oversaturated, making it difficult for dental hygienists to find full-time work. However, the pandemic shifted the landscape, making dental hygiene one of the most at-risk professions for COVID-19, contributing to the current shortage. Massachusetts currently has 6,500 working hygienists, which is insufficient to meet demand, and about a third are expected to retire soon. To address the shortage, a legislative proposal to allow dental therapists, who are midlevel practitioners with higher education levels, to work in the state has been introduced. Dental therapists are able to perform certain dental duties, such as minor restorative therapy, which enables dentists to focus on more complex procedures. Click here to read more.
