New National Survey Reveals Dental Hygiene Programs Struggle to Grow Despite Efforts to Support Underrepresented Populations
- Ana Hornburg
- Apr 7
- 2 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Ana Hornburg
Michigan Health Council
(517)908-8229
LANSING, Mich. — (April 7, 2025) — The Michigan Health Council (MHC), in partnership with the Delta Dental Foundation (DDF), has released findings from a national survey of dental hygiene programs that reveal both a strong commitment to supporting underrepresented students and a deep need for additional resources to grow the profession’s talent pipeline.
The Dental Hygiene Program Survey gathered responses from 157 dental hygiene degree programs across the U.S., capturing insights into efforts to expand program capacity and promote diversity within a profession that remains 95 percent female and 77 percent white, according to MHC.
Programs overwhelmingly reported a desire to enroll more students, especially from historically or systemically underrepresented groups, but most cited critical barriers that limit their ability to do so. The number one challenge was limited clinic space followed by difficulties in hiring and paying qualified faculty. In fact, 76 percent of programs cited space constraints as their top obstacle.
“Dental hygiene is one of the fastest-growing healthcare professions, but our research shows that programs are hitting a wall when it comes to clinical education capacity,” said Michelle Wein, senior director of research at MHC. “Despite meaningful efforts to diversify the field, programs simply don’t have the space or staff to meet demand.”
Among the key findings:
74% of programs expressed the most common barrier to expanding class size is “limited clinic space.” This was followed by “hiring additional faculty” (61%) and “Faculty salaries not on par with non-academic salaries” (46%).
80% already collaborate with K-12 schools or community organizations to promote the profession to diverse populations.
However, two-thirds of programs still lack targeted grants or financial assistance for BIPOC or male students.
The Delta Dental Foundation, which funded the survey, emphasized the urgency of these findings in light of growing workforce shortages. According to federal projections, the U.S. is expected to be short nearly 30,000 dental hygienists by 2037.
"Identifying what dental hygiene programs need to increase program capacity is just the first step," said Holli Seabury, EdD, executive director of the Delta Dental Foundation. "This survey gives us a roadmap for action. Whether it’s funding scholarships or investing in innovative, more flexible program options, we must act now if we want a stronger, more sustainable dental workforce.”
The report calls for innovative solutions such as online didactic learning paired with local clinical rotations, flexible or part-time program options, and onsite childcare — all strategies that could enable more students to pursue careers in oral health.
The full report is available at www.mhc.org/dhsurvey.
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