Staffing issues in dental have become as common as a toothache, but they don't have to be.

Dental practices with 10 or more dentists had more trouble filling their appointment schedules due to staff vacancies than smaller practices, according to a recent poll by the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute.

More than 40 percent of non-owner dentists said their practices lacked appointments in January because of staff vacancies, compared to 32.3 percent of owners dentists, according to a recent poll by the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute.

Community organizations are collaborating to fill gaps in oral healthcare for people living in a rural Missouri county, Ky3 reported Jan. 31.

The American Dental Association has launched a new series of articles highlighting challenges dental practices are facing with recruiting, hiring and training staff, the dental association said Jan. 31. 

More than half of DSO-affiliated dental practices could not fill their appointment schedule 100 percent due to vacant staff positions, according to a recent poll from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

The majority of dentists who own a practice consider recruiting dental hygienists and dental assistants "extremely challenging," according to a recent poll from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

The majority of dental practices in the U.S. have not recently recruited and are not currently recruiting staff, according to a monthly poll from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute. 

Lincoln Technical Institute introduced a new dental assisting program at its Iselin, N.J., campus.

Military dental hygienists on average make about $20,000 more annually than mobile clinic dental hygienists, according to a 2022 salary survey by DentalPost released Jan. 11.

The dental workforce could see major changes in demographics and size over the next few years, according to several studies reported on by Becker's.

Staffing shortages are affecting dentists across Illinois, according to a Jan. 24 WTTW article.

Washington legislators are considering a bill that would expand dental therapy in the state to reduce healthcare inequities, according to a Jan. 24 article from State of Reform.

Nader Nadershahi, DDS, dean of the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, has been selected to serve on the Health Workforce Education and Training Council, the California Dental Association said Jan. 24. 

The Supreme Court ruled on Jan. 13 that there will be no federal COVID-19 vaccine-or-test mandate.

In an American Dental Association and BMO Harris Bank advice column, one expert provides advice for dentists considering going into solo practice via acquisition.

Knowing how to cope with stress and burnout can be helpful to dental professionals dealing with the everyday challenges the industry can bring.

Dentists say they need more staff to see the same number of patients compared to pre-pandemic, according to the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute's latest poll.

Dental practices nationwide have struggled to keep up with workforce shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but several groups and leaders have posed solutions to alleviate these challenges.

About 40 percent of dentists are recruiting dental assistants and more than a third (35 percent) are recruiting hygienists, according to the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute's latest poll.