The ADA recently released its “Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry” report for the first quarter of 2024.
Here are the percentages of dentists who have recruited dental staff in the last three months:
Dental hygienists
Yes: 35.5%
No: 64%
Not sure: 0.5%
Dental assistants
Yes: 37.5%
No: 62.1%
Not sure: 0.4%
Dentists
Yes: 13.7%
No: 85.6%
Not sure: 0.7%
Administrative staff
Yes: 27.3%
No: 72%
Not sure: 0.7%
Here are four positions dental practices have been recruiting and the level of difficulty they have faced with recruiting each role:
Dental hygienists
Extremely challenging: 71.9%
Very challenging: 16.9%
Moderately challenging: 8.1%
Dental assistants
Extremely challenging: 47%
Very challenging: 30.2%
Moderately challenging: 13.6%
Dentists
Extremely challenging: 52.4%
Very challenging: 16.9%
Moderately challenging: 14.5%
Slightly challenging: 8.9%
Administrative staff
Extremely challenging: 33.7%
Very challenging: 29.7%
Moderately challenging: 26%
Slightly challenging: 7.7%
