About 33% of dentist owners plan to retire within six years, according to Dentalpost's 2024 Dental Salary Survey.

California, one of the states with the most dental shortage areas, has more than 30,000 active dentists.

Wyoming, one of the states with the fewest dental shortage areas, has 306 active dentists.

The nationwide lack of dental hygienists is forcing patients in Virginia to have to wait as long as 14 months for a routine cleaning, according to a Feb. 22 report by WWBT.

Dental laboratory technician positions are expected to see -4.5% growth through 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is the only medical technician position projected to experience negative growth in that span.

Rhode Island dentists are predicting a staffing "superstorm" in the state driven by several factors, The Providence Journal reported Feb. 20. 

Dental practices in the U.S. created more than 2.4 million jobs in 2022, according to data from the American Dental Association.

Here are four states that have created and passed legislation to combat staffing issues and shortages in the dental industry that Becker's has reported on since Jan. 29:

More than 140 organizations and individuals are lobbying the Florida Legislature to pass two bills that would authorize dental therapists in the state.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed a bill that expands the ability to practice as a dental hygienist under the supervision of a dentist.

The number of projected jobs for dentists is expected to be much lower than other healthcare occupations, with the employment change between 2022 and 2032 projected to increase 6,800, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Wisconsin recently became the 14th state to authorize dental therapists to treat patients, and several other states could soon do the same. 

At Heartland Dental, our mission is clear: we stand shoulder to shoulder with supported doctors and their teams to deliver the highest quality dental care and experiences to the communities we serve.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers plans to sign a bill that will allow dental therapists to provide care in the state, according to a Jan. 31 report by the Wisconsin State Journal.

Issues with dental hygiene programs are exacerbating hiring challenges in the dental industry, according to a recent report from the Association of DSOs. 

The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University is launching a program to offer tuition assistance to students who commit to practicing in underserved areas.

Forty-two percent of DSO-affiliated dentists are satisfied or very satisfied with their benefits, according to Dentalpost's 2024 Dental Salary Survey.

Dental practices in Minnesota are facing major scheduling backlogs, mainly due to the lack of available dental hygienists, according to a Jan. 10 report by ABC affiliate KSTP-TV.

The dental workforce emerged as one of the biggest issues in the industry during 2023, and there doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel coming anytime soon.

About 28% of dental practice managers plan to apply for new jobs by the end of 2024, according to Dentalpost's 2024 Dental Salary Survey.