Dobrow M J, Valela A, Bruce E, Simpson K, Pettifer G. Identification and assessment of factors that impact the demand for and supply of dental hygienists amidst an evolving workforce context: a scoping review. BMC Oral Health 2024; 24: 631.

Some barriers to undersupply identified.

There are indications that many hygienists left the profession during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. To identify factors which influence supply and demand for hygienists in high-income countries, both the peer-reviewed and the grey literature were reviewed.

Factors affecting the supply and demand include:

  1. 1.

    Working environment factors, such as bullying and harassment by employers, colleagues or patients

  2. 2.

    Policy or regulatory factors, such as educational requirements

  3. 3.

    Career satisfaction issues, such as mobility and staff turnover and discussed the possibility of burnout in the profession

  4. 4.

    Scope of practice factors, such as limitations in experience or finance.

Opportunities for the profession were possible in increased collaborative practice.