About 28% of dentists have hired new staff at their practices during the first quarter of 2026, according to the American Dental Association's latest economic report. This figure falls significantly short of expectations: in a fourth quarter 2025 survey, 42.3% of dentists said they planned to add staff in 2026.

Hiring intentions versus actual hiring

The gap between planned and completed hiring reveals a slowdown in practice expansion. When dentists were surveyed in the fourth quarter of 2025, they expressed strong intent to grow their workforces. However, only two-thirds of those who intended to hire have followed through in the first three months of 2026, suggesting that economic conditions, staffing availability, or other operational constraints may be limiting hiring capacity.

Flat job growth across dental practices

The broader dental employment picture shows limited expansion. Job growth in dental offices increased by less than 0.1% between January and February 2026, and the 12-month growth rate stands at just 0.5%. This minimal growth indicates that the dental industry workforce has remained largely stable over the past year, with practices struggling to expand headcount despite the stated demand for additional personnel.