The American Dental Hygienists’ Association issued an updated position statement on the dental hygiene workforce shortage, suggesting that it is “retention” rather than a “supply” crisis.
Here are four notes:
- The ADHA has pushed back against recent proposals from other dental groups, such as allowing foreign-trained dentists to practice as hygienists, expanding dental assistants’ scope of practice and accelerating alternative licensure pathways.
- These potential changes are short-term labor replacements, and can pose risks to patient safety, undermine professional standards and demoralize the hygienist workforce, according to the ADHA.
Source: Hygienist shortage a ‘retention’ crisis: ADHA / Becker’s Dental