Dental hygienists and assistants continued to be the most recruited roles for dental practices in March, according to a recent poll from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.
Of the 1,916 respondents to the ADA's economic outlook survey for the week of March 14, 33.1 percent were recruiting dental hygienists, and 37.6 percent were recruiting dental assistants.
Of the respondents recruiting dental hygienists, 91.5 percent found the process extremely challenging or very challenging. Of those recruiting dental assistants, 86.3 percent indicated the process was extremely challenging or very challenging.
The data is similar to the ADA's February poll, in which survey respondents said the top reasons for the hiring challenges were a shortage of applicants and demand for higher wages and benefits.