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EditorialResearch

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

Rachel W. Morrissey, JoAnn R. Gurenlian, Cameron G. Estrich, Laura A. Eldridge, Ann Battrell, Ann Lynch, Mikkelsen Matthew, Brittany Harrison, Marcelo W. B. Araujo and Marko Vujicic
American Dental Hygienists' Association February 2022, 96 (1) 27-33;
Rachel W. Morrissey
Senior Research Analyst, Education and Emerging Issues, Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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  • For correspondence: morrisseyr@ada.org
JoAnn R. Gurenlian
Director of Education & Research, American Dental Hygienists’ 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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Laura A. Eldridge
Research Associate, 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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Ann Lynch
Director of Advocacy, American Dental Hygienists’ Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Mikkelsen Matthew
Manager, Education Surveys, Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Brittany Harrison
Coordinator, Research and Editing, 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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Abstract

Purpose: Despite recovery in dental practices’ patient volume, dentists in the United States (US) continue to report difficulties in hiring dental hygienists due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study updates previous data on US dental hygienists’ employment patterns and attitudes concerning returning to work.

Methods: Licensed dental hygienists were invited to participate in monthly web-based surveys between September 2020 and August 2021. Employment questions included current and pre-pandemic work status as well as reasons for not currently working as a clinical dental hygienist. Descriptive statistics were used to describe dental hygienists’ employment status and reasons for not currently working. Cross tabulation analysis included employment status and reasons for not working by age group.

Results: As of August 2021, 4.9% (n=59) of the participants reported that they were not currently employed as a dental hygienist. Most reported that the reason for non-employment as a dental hygienist was voluntary (74.1%; n=43).Safety concerns for self and others were the primary reasons for not returning to work; participants also indicated retirement or that they no longer wished to practice due to the pandemic. However, the percentage of respondents citing insufficient childcare, wanting the COVID-19 vaccine but not obtaining it, and having an underlying health condition, decreased between the beginning and the conclusion of the study.

Conclusion: A measurable degree of hesitancy among US dental hygienists to return to work has persisted over a year and a half into the pandemic and may continue despite some improvements in workplace safety and vaccine uptake. Future research should examine workforce levels after the pandemic resolves.

  • COVID-19
  • employment patterns
  • dental hygienists
  • pandemic
  • dental hygiene workforce
  • Received November 8, 2021.
  • Accepted January 14, 2022.
  • Copyright © 2022 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association
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American Dental Hygienists' Association: 96 (1)
American Dental Hygienists' Association
Vol. 96, Issue 1
February 2022
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Employment Patterns of Dental Hygienists in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An update
Rachel W. Morrissey, JoAnn R. Gurenlian, Cameron G. Estrich, Laura A. Eldridge, Ann Battrell, Ann Lynch, Mikkelsen Matthew, Brittany Harrison, Marcelo W. B. Araujo, Marko Vujicic
American Dental Hygienists' Association Feb 2022, 96 (1) 27-33;

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Employment Patterns of Dental Hygienists in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An update
Rachel W. Morrissey, JoAnn R. Gurenlian, Cameron G. Estrich, Laura A. Eldridge, Ann Battrell, Ann Lynch, Mikkelsen Matthew, Brittany Harrison, Marcelo W. B. Araujo, Marko Vujicic
American Dental Hygienists' Association Feb 2022, 96 (1) 27-33;
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Keywords

  • COVID-19
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  • dental hygienists
  • pandemic
  • dental hygiene workforce

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ISSN #: 1553-0205

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