The Dental Hygiene Profession: An Overview

The dental hygiene profession is experiencing robust growth, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 9% increase in employment from 2023 to 2033, outpacing many occupations. This translates to approximately 16,400 openings annually over the decade. Despite these positive projections, many practices currently struggle with staffing shortages and retention challenges. 

Utilizing flexible dental staffing solutions like Teero can help address these shortages, connecting practices with available professionals.

Typical Responsibilities and Daily Challenges Leading Hygienists to Quit

Dental hygienists do much more than clean teeth:

• Conducting dental examinations and cleanings

• Taking and developing dental X-rays

• Applying preventive treatments like fluoride and sealants

• Educating patients on proper oral hygiene

• Performing oral cancer screenings

• Maintaining detailed patient records

The physical toll is significant. Hygienists spend hours in awkward positions, repeating precise movements that strain their bodies and joints. This creates ergonomic issues affecting the neck, back, wrists, hands, and shoulders. Without proper setup, these physical demands often lead to injuries that cut careers short.

Reasons Behind High Turnover Rates: Why Do Dental Hygienists Quit?

A 2023 DentalPost survey of 1,802 registered dental hygienists revealed key factors driving job changes in the profession.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

The physical nature of dental hygiene takes a serious toll. Poor working conditions rank as a major stressor affecting job satisfaction and leading dental hygienists to quit. Common physical problems include:

• Neck and back strain from constant bending

• Wrist and hand fatigue from repetitive scaling

• Eye strain from focusing on tiny oral structures

• Shoulder pain from reaching across patients

When left unaddressed, these physical challenges cause chronic pain, reduced productivity, and job dissatisfaction.

The emotional strain matters just as much. The emotional labor of handling anxious or uncooperative patients adds to overall stress. Addressing dental hygiene burnout solutions is necessary for improving job satisfaction and retention.

Job Satisfaction and Professional Growth: Factors in Why Dental Hygienists Quit

Traditional clinical roles often offer limited growth opportunities without additional education. Practices that create clear professional development paths tend to retain hygienists for much longer.

Recognition emerged as critical in the 2023 survey, with "better work environment” cited as one of the top reasons hygienists switched employers. When hygienists feel valued for their expertise and included in practice decisions, they're more likely to stay.

Understanding the average job satisfaction of dental hygienists can help practices identify areas needing improvement.

Compensation and Work-Life Balance: Reasons Dental Hygienists Quit

Inadequate pay remains a primary reason for job changes. The survey highlighted higher compensation as a top motivator for seeking new employment. In response, over 80% of dentists actively recruiting hygienists have raised starting pay rates to attract and retain talent. 

Understanding dental hygienist salaries and industry standards is essential for both practices and hygienists. Pursuing high-paying temporary dental hygiene jobs can offer better job satisfaction. Hygienists may need to advocate for themselves by learning how to request a salary increase as a dental hygienist when compensation doesn't meet expectations.

Flexible scheduling has become increasingly important. Research published in Health Affairs Scholar found that flexible work scheduling was among the top factors for job satisfaction among dental staff.