Job satisfaction and work-life balance appear to be predictors of a dental hygienist’s turnover intention or intention to leave their positions, according to a new study published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene.
Due to the continued dental hygienist workforce shortage in the U.S., employers may want to consider their roles in their employees’ overall work-life balance and job satisfaction.
“Further research is needed to identify effective strategies to enhance job satisfaction and WLB (work-life balance) among dental hygienists and reduce turnover intention,” wrote the authors, led by Angela Metrano, RDH, MS, of the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University in Boston (J Dent Hyg, August 2026, Vol. 100;4, pp. 6-18).
A dental workforce shortage existed in the U.S. before COVID-19, but it reached a near-crisis level during the pandemic. Unfortunately, it hasn’t recovered. The strained workforce has had a ripple effect, negatively affecting patients, communities, and dental practices.
Between 2023 and 2033, the employment of dental hygienists is expected to grow 9%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The projection for dental hygienist openings is about 16,400 annually, according to the study.
Currently, there aren’t many studies that explore how work-life balance affects job satisfaction and hygienists' intentions to quit their jobs. To investigate the relationships between work-life balance, job satisfaction, and turnover intention, a cross-sectional research design study that included 209 hygienists was conducted.
Dental hygienists completed a web-based survey that consisted of demographics and work characteristics. The WLB Measure, Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, and Turnover Intention Scale were used as validated instruments, and analyses were conducted, according to the study.
Based on a scale ranging from 1 to 5, dental hygienists reported an average work-life balance of 3.20 (standard deviation [SD] = 1.06) and an average job satisfaction score of 3.54 (SD = 0.67).
About 51% of hygienists agreed or strongly agreed that their work and nonwork life was balanced. However, about 94% of hygienists reported job satisfaction above the scale midpoint, which is 2.5, the authors wrote.
On a scale of 6 to 30, hygienists reported an average turnover intention scale of 16.75 (SD = 6.22). About 40% of dental hygienists were above the midpoint of the scale, which suggests they have an intention to leave their jobs, they wrote.
Finally, the regression analysis model predicted 63% (adjusted R2 = 0.63, F (7, 200) = 47.33, p < 0.001) of the variance in turnover intention. Lower job satisfaction (β = -0.65, t = -13.86, p < 0.001) and work-life balance (β = -0.21, t = -3.97, p < 0.001) projected greater turnover intention.
Nevertheless, the study had limitations, including that the information was self-reported. This can lead to socially desirable answers, the authors wrote.
“Given the study findings and the ongoing workforce shortages in dental hygiene, it becomes increasingly important for employers to focus on strategies to improve job satisfaction and WLB to lower intent to leave and retain employees,” Metrano and colleagues wrote.
