Commonwealth's dental hygiene workforce: Recommendations from a 2007 statewide survey

Introduction: The dental hygiene profession began in 1913 as an innovative means of addressing the poor oral health of school children. Over the last 95 years, the profession has grown exponentially. In Massachusetts in 2007, there were 6,394 licensed hygienists. Methods: In 2007, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Office of Oral Health distributed a survey to all Massachusetts licensed dental hygienists, as part of their bi-annual license renewal, to determine the status, practices and potential utilization of the dental hygiene workforce. Results/Discussion: Massachusetts dental hygienists are experienced, educated and underutilized licensed oral health professionals. The results of this statewide survey point to several strategies that should be considered to expand access to oral health services for our most vulnerable residents utilizing the dental hygiene workforce. Conclusion: Massachusetts is experiencing an oral health crisis. Attention should be paid to the experienced and available workforce of dental hygienists to assist in reducing oral health disparities through the expansion of community-based oral health prevention programs in public health settings. Additionally, Medicaid provider status should be available to all licensed oral health professionals. Finally, creative strategies should be developed to attract currently licensed dental hygienists back to the workforce so that more residents may access cost-saving preventive care.