“Dental care is in crisis. But it’s also a moment of opportunity” by Steve Pollock, highlights the significant workforce challenges facing the dental care industry. Pollock, a leader in dental care at Sun Life U.S. and DentaQuest, emphasizes the importance of oral health and its connection to overall health, including its links to chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
The article notes a worrying trend in the dental industry: a significant number of dental professionals have left the workforce during the pandemic, and unlike other health care sectors, there hasn’t been a labor rebound in dental offices. Data from the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute (HPI) indicates that a third of dental assistants and hygienists are expected to retire within five years, and the median age of dentists is 51.5 years, suggesting an upcoming retirement boom. This has led to an 11% reduction in dental practice capacity.
To combat these challenges, dental practices are starting to offer more competitive compensation, including improved working hours, retirement plans, health insurance, sign-on bonuses, and paid time off. These benefits are not typical in the industry, with less than half of dentists offering health insurance to their staff. Sun Life has observed pay rates in dental offices increasing by 30% to 40% in some regions.
The article also discusses the opportunity to address long-standing gaps in racial and gender representation in the dental workforce and increase access in underserved communities. This requires investments in pathway programs for students, particularly in underserved communities, and systemic changes to support Black, Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students entering the dental field. Additionally, the article suggests investing in dental programs and scholarships in targeted locations and supporting community-based externships and research. The aim is to educate the next generation of dental professionals in ways that address access barriers, such as language proficiency and familiarity with public programs like Medicaid.
In summary, while the dental care industry is facing a workforce crisis, it also presents an opportunity to make significant improvements in compensation, diversity, and access to care, particularly for underserved communities.