The United States is grappling with a significant dental care crisis— according to data from the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), a staggering 60 million Americans find themselves in areas with limited access to dental professionals. This shortage is particularly pronounced in rural communities, which account for an overwhelming 88% of the geographical areas facing a scarcity of dental providers. As we explore potential solutions to this pressing issue, dental hygienists emerge as a promising avenue to bridge the gap in oral healthcare accessibility across the nation. Read on to explore more about how these crucial allied health professionals—including travel dental hygienists—can alleviate the shortage and improve outcomes for millions of Americans.
How can dental hygienists help alleviate the dentist shortage?
Dental hygienists can play a crucial role in addressing the dentist shortage through several key factors:
Direct Access Authority: Expanding Care Reach
Direct access refers to a dental hygienist’s authority to provide treatment based on their evaluation, without the explicit need of authorization or the presence of a dentist, according to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA). Given this authority, the dental hygienist can maintain a provider-patient relationship to some degree. However, this is a blanket definition—the ADHA notes that the extent of a dental hygienist’s care is dictated by each individual state. Currently, 43 states provide dental hygienists the legal authority for direct access.
The state-level authorization of direct access for dental hygienists can alleviate the dentist shortage and improve access to dental care for millions. Since direct access has been granted by state legislatures, dental hygienists can step in and fill the roles dentists typically assume. Shorter wait times and less time between treatments means that more support can be provided to the dental care system. From the patient’s perspective, the anxiety and pain of a dental problem can be harmful to both their physical and mental health. By alleviating the patient’s pain and the dentist shortage, dental hygienists can be the solution.
Shorter Educational Path: Faster Entry to the Field
So, how long does it take to become a dental hygienist, anyway? The typical timeline to become a dental hygienist is 2-3 years. This accounts for the required education, laboratory time, and clinical training to become certified. An associates’ degree from an accredited program is the required educational path, but a bachelor’s degree is another option. Due to the lower opportunity cost of education, the dental hygienist route is an appealing option for health-focused professionals, offering a faster entry to the field compared to dentists and other allied health careers.Â
Just like any other health-focused profession, continuing education requirements are in place to maintain licensure. Fees, number of hours, and the type of courses depend on the state or state(s) of accreditation. To determine your CE requirements, review the American Dental Hygienists’ Association page or contact your local or regional dental board.Â
Flexible Work Options: Part-Time and Travel Opportunities
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part time or travel work is common for dental hygienists. Physical demands, parental responsibilities, personal preference, and educational factors contribute to their mode of employment. Given the varied availability, dental hygienists can opt to work for more than one facility. Dental care centers, especially in areas with an extreme shortage, should take advantage of this statistic and aim to open job applications or work with staffing facilities.Â
It’s important to note that travel dental hygienists typically earn more due to ability to negotiate based on the facility’s demand and the hygienist’s preferences. While stepping in to alleviate burnout, travel dental hygienists can be well compensated for expanding access to care.
At Barton Healthcare Staffing, we will work with you to obtain your desired pay as a travel dental hygienist. Contact us today!
Cost-Effectiveness: Balancing Quality Care and Budget Constraints
It’s no secret that dentist pay is the highest in the profession due to the extensive schooling and training required to become one. With that being said, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a dentist’s median salary to be $170,910, with the top 10% earning more than $239,200 annually. These figures show that taking on a dentist can be a big undertaking, especially for rural facilities. Compared to dentists, dental hygienist pay is a median salary of $87,530 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
However, this is not to say that dental hygienists are not high earners. Since education and laws are evolving, hygienists have the ability to negotiate for higher pay, especially in states with direct access authority. Refer to the chart above for more information.Â
How can we make it easier for dental hygienists to provide treatment?
There are a few key avenues facilities and governing bodies could take to make it easier for dental hygienists to provide their services:
Expand Class Sizes
Believe it or not, there are guidelines in place that restrict dental hygienist programs to a specific student-to-facility ratio. However, this may change. The American Dental Association (ADA) is calling on the Commission on Dental Accreditation to change the student-to-faculty ratio for allied dental training programs. What this change means is larger class sizes, leading to higher admittance and graduation rates from allied dental training programs. Consequently, there can be a larger number of graduates, ready to enter the workforce and assist the dentist shortage.
Increase Male Applicants
Another solution to promote the occupation and make it easier to alleviate the dentist shortage is to review demographic factors. Based on data from the Census Bureau, 94.4% of all Dental Hygienists are female. This significant majority highlights an inequality of representation of men within this crucial allied dental profession. To encourage male applicants, institutions could offer application waivers, and more scholarship opportunities, and produce inclusive marketing materials. Additionally, programs could offer enhanced mentorship programs that align students with mentors they feel comfortable with.
Expand Work Settings
According to data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 94% of dental hygienists are employed by dentist offices. While their role is instrumental in a dental office, their impact can span elsewhere as well. Dental evaluation and support are needed in a variety of settings— from hospitals to primary care centers. By recruiting dental hygienists, preventative and post-operative care can become more accessible, even if the hygienist is recruited through a travel or part-time contract.
Leverage the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Interstate Compact
The Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact is an interstate agreement that allows a dental hygienist license issued in one member state to be recognized when practicing in another. As of 2025, the compact has reached activation status and privileges will start to become available within the next two years. Once compact privileges are issued, dental hygienists can provide dental care and treatment across state lines without needing to obtain a separate state license. To alleviate the dentist shortage, the compact will allow travel hygienists to easily transport their licenses across state lines.Â
Ready to step in and provide treatment to places affected by the dentist shortage? Learn more today about how to become a travel dental hygienist with Barton Healthcare Staffing.