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Research ArticleCritical Issues Facing the Dental Hygiene Profession
Open Access

Employment Patterns of Dental Hygienists in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic

JoAnn R. Gurenlian, Rachel Morrissey, Cameron G. Estrich, Ann Battrell, Sue K. Bessner, Ann Lynch, Matthew Mikkelsen, Marcelo W. B. Araujo and Marko Vujicic
American Dental Hygienists' Association February 2021, 95 (1) 17-24;
JoAnn R. Gurenlian
Professor and Graduate Program Director, Department of Dental Hygiene, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA.
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Rachel Morrissey
Research Analyst, Education, Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Cameron G. Estrich
Health Research Analyst, Evidence Synthesis and Translation Research, American Dental Association Science & Research Institute, LLC, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Ann Battrell
Chief Executive Officer, American Dental Hygienists’ Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Sue K. Bessner
Director of Professional Development, American Dental Hygienists’ Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Ann Lynch
Director of Education and Advocacy, American Dental Hygienists’ Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Matthew Mikkelsen
Manager, Education Surveys, Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Marcelo W. B. Araujo
Chief Science Officer, American Dental Association, Science & Research Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Marko Vujicic
Chief Economist and Vice President, Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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  • For correspondence: vujicicm@ada.org
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Abstract

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to drops in patient volume and staffing in dental practices in the United States (US). This study aimed to provide insights on dental hygienists’ employment patterns as well as their attitudes toward working as dental hygienists during a pandemic.

Methods: Licensed dental hygienists were invited to participate in a web-based 30-question survey between September 29 and October 8, 2020. Employment questions included current and pre-pandemic work status, reasons for not currently working as a dental hygienist, and estimated levels of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the primary work location. All statistical analysis was conducted in Qualtrics Core XM; cross tabulation was used to examine dental hygienist working patterns and attitudes by age, practice PPE supply, and other factors.

Results: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an estimated 8% reduction in dental hygienist employment. The majority (59.1%, n=205) of this reduction is voluntary, with the main reason being general concerns over COVID-19 (48.3%, n=100). Other reasons include issues surrounding childcare and concerns over safety measures in the workplace. Dental hygienists aged 65 and older were most likely to have left the workforce voluntarily. More than half of respondents reported that their work locations had more than a two-week supply of most PPE items, although about 10% did not know supply levels. Dental hygienists working in settings with lower supplies of PPE were more concerned with COVID-19 transmission risk to themselves or to patients.

Conclusion: COVID-19 has led to a reduction in the dental hygienist workforce that is likely to persist until the pandemic passes.The dental hygienist labor market has tightened and employers may continue to experience difficulties in filling vacant dental hygienist positions until the pandemic subsides. There is also likely to be a longer term, yet smaller, impact on dental hygiene employment levels.

  • COVID-19
  • employment patterns
  • dental hygienists
  • pandemic
  • dental hygiene workforce
  • Received December 17, 2020.
  • Accepted January 8, 2021.
  • Copyright © 2021 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association

This article is open access and may not be copied, distributed, or modified without written permission from the American Dental Hygienists’ Association.

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American Dental Hygienists' Association: 95 (1)
American Dental Hygienists' Association
Vol. 95, Issue 1
February 2021
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Employment Patterns of Dental Hygienists in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic
JoAnn R. Gurenlian, Rachel Morrissey, Cameron G. Estrich, Ann Battrell, Sue K. Bessner, Ann Lynch, Matthew Mikkelsen, Marcelo W. B. Araujo, Marko Vujicic
American Dental Hygienists' Association Feb 2021, 95 (1) 17-24;

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Employment Patterns of Dental Hygienists in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic
JoAnn R. Gurenlian, Rachel Morrissey, Cameron G. Estrich, Ann Battrell, Sue K. Bessner, Ann Lynch, Matthew Mikkelsen, Marcelo W. B. Araujo, Marko Vujicic
American Dental Hygienists' Association Feb 2021, 95 (1) 17-24;
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Keywords

  • COVID-19
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