Is there a shortage of dental hygienists?

Dental hygiene faculty from the Ohio State University, working under a grant from the Ohio Dental Association, surveyed licensed dentists and dental hygienists in Ohio in order to determine work-related concerns and possible solutions to perceived shortages of hygienists. There were 585 respondents from those selected through stratified systematic sampling based on state dental district for a 69% rate of dentist return and a 73% rate of hygienist return. The joint surveys assessed attitudes and documented experiences in several categories: practice background, opinion about hygiene employment shortage, compensation, aspects of hygiene satisfaction, reasons for ever terminating hygiene practice and future conditions persuading a return to hygiene practice. This article, the first in a series, presents findings from the survey of dentists relative to a perceived shortage of clinical dental hygienists. Forty-eight percent of dentist respondents believe that there is a shortage, while 52% are either not sure or believe there is no shortage. Those sensing a shortage have either tried to find a hygienist and could not believe there is a smaller pool to choose from, or have heard that colleagues have been unable to find a hygienist. Solutions to the shortage focus on better recruitment of qualified students, encouraging reentry of non-practicing hygienists, and promoting retention of hygienists in existing practices. Less frequently, dentists suggest starting new hygiene programs or training hygienists by preceptorship.