About 21% of dentists who filled dental hygienist positions in the third quarter of 2026 reported the openings had been vacant for more than six months, according to the ADA Health Policy Institute’s (HPI) quarterly State of the U.S. Dental Economy report.
Roughly one-third of dentists were recruiting hygienists during the quarter, and most of them described the process as “very” or “extremely” challenging. Among filled positions, nearly 31% took one to three months to fill, about 19% took three to six months, and fewer than 10% were filled within two weeks.
The findings follow an April 2026 HPI analysis that found only 60% of dentists have an adequate number of hygienists on staff. Organizations have pursued several responses to the shortage, including recruitment initiatives and licensure portability through the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact.
