College faces dental hygienist shortages head on
Bluegrass Community & Technical College announced it is preparing to train the next generation of dental hygienists as shortages continue following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The college’s two-year dental hygiene program can accept nearly 50 students, according to an article published in LEX18. Because dental hygienists are in high demand, dental graduates are often employed shortly after completing the program.
An ADA Health Policy Institute survey found that, among the 32% of dentists who had recently or were currently recruiting a dental hygienist in December 2023, about 95% indicated recruitment to be very or extremely challenging. The survey also revealed that 91% of recruiting dentists had offered an increased starting salary for dental hygienists from the prior year. For instance, the median pay for dental hygienists has increased by over $10K, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Bluegrass Community & Technical College expects to increase enrollment in its dental hygienist programs in future years.
Read more: LEX18
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