10 staffing statistics reveal dental workforce challenges
Hiring and retention trends affecting your practice. Review staffing challenges reported across the dental industry.
The dental workforce, particularly hygienists and assistants, remains under strain across dental practices and DSOs. A new compilation of ten workforce statistics highlights persistent recruitment, retention, and staffing pressures affecting the dental industry.
Workforce shortages across multiple roles
Dental hygienists and assistants face particular supply challenges. The data reflects broader industry concern about filling clinical and support positions, with practices reporting difficulty in both hiring and keeping staff long-term. These shortages affect operational capacity and patient scheduling at many practices.
Impact on practice operations
Staffing instability influences practice management decisions. DSOs and independent practices must navigate competition for qualified personnel while managing costs and service delivery. The workforce strain has become a recurring management challenge rather than a temporary issue, prompting ongoing discussion within the dental community about solutions and long-term sustainability.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main dental workforce challenges in 2026?
Dental hygienists and assistants remain difficult to recruit and retain. Practices report ongoing shortages affecting scheduling and operational capacity across the industry.
How do staffing shortages affect DSOs and independent practices?
Both DSOs and independent practices struggle to fill vacant positions and retain qualified staff. Workforce instability impacts service delivery, patient scheduling, and overall operational efficiency.
Are dental assistant and hygienist roles equally affected by shortages?
Both roles face significant supply challenges. The industry reports persistent difficulty hiring and retaining both dental hygienists and dental assistants, making workforce planning difficult for practice leaders.
