06/05/2025
Clarifying the narrative around the “shortage” of registered dental hygienists in Ontario
There is a figure circulating about a severe shortage of registered dental hygienists (RDHs) in Ontario. Some people quote as high as 5,500 more dental hygienists are needed to meet the oral health needs in the province.
What is unfortunate about this narrative is that it is not based on fact!
Statements such as “province-wide shortage of registered dental hygienists” and “deepening workforce crisis in oral health care” are not grounded in high-quality evidence.
- The lack of oral health human resource planning has resulted in an absence of high-quality data to support these statements of a shortage.
- Data does not exist about the comprehensive oral health needs of the Ontario population. In the absence of this, it is difficult to determine the right skill mix of the oral health team (RDHs, dentists, dental assistants, denturists, dental technologists) and, therefore, the correct number of providers to meet the population’s oral health needs.
- To say there is a province-wide shortage of registered dental hygienists is inaccurate. While some dental practices may have challenges recruiting staff, ODHA’s work to understand the practice environment for RDHs suggests this is more due to challenges dental hygienists experience, such as harassment, pressure to prioritize production over patient care, limited access to essential equipment including PPE, and lack of benefits, etc. These conditions create undesirable workplaces contributing to burnout and increasing the desire to leave the profession.
To continue to read, visit: https://odha.on.ca/9krO.
Migneault
