The future of dental work
From rising burnout to the growing demand for flexibility, dental professionals are facing big changes in how and where they work.
Our State of Work Report unpacks what these shifts mean for hygienists, assistants, and offices alike, and shines a light on real solutions to keep the profession strong.
Your inside look at where the dental industry is headed.
Of dental professionals plan to still be working in dentistry ten years from now.
Of dental professionals report experiencing burnout rising to 60.6% among hygienists.
Of dental professionals have worked at least one temporary shift and nearly 39% do it regularly.
Of dental professionals did not receive a pay raise in the last two years and 74.7% receive no bonus at all.
Dental Hygienist Snapshot
The dental hygiene workforce is committed to the profession but under real pressure. Burnout is high, compensation has stalled, and more hygienists are turning to temporary work as a deliberate career strategy rather than a fallback.
01 77.7% of dental hygienists plan to remain in the profession for at least another decade, even amid elevated burnout and widespread pay dissatisfaction.
02 Most hygienists earn $41–$60/hr, but 53.8% have not received a raise in the last two years and 69.5% receive no bonus, making better pay the top desired change for the third year in a row.
03 60.6% of hygienists report experiencing burnout. The top drivers are physical strain, workload, and toxic office culture – neither of which can be solved at the individual level.
04 56% of hygienists report never having stayed at a single office beyond five years.
05 62% of hygienists say greater clinical decision-making authority would increase their likelihood of staying in the profession making autonomy one of the most underutilized retention levers available.
Dental Assistant Snapshot
Dental assistants are the backbone of most practices and among the most financially exposed workers in the field. Pay has stalled, benefits are rare, and burnout is climbing. The profession is committed, but the conditions need to catch up.
01 87.6% of dental assistants plan to remain in dentistry for the next decade or more, even as compensation and workload pressures continue to build.
02 Most dental assistants earn $21–$30/hr. 64% have not received a raise in the last two years, and nearly 4/5 dental assistants do not receive any form of bonus compensation.
03 48% of dental assistants report experiencing burnout, driven by low pay, toxic office culture, and workload – all structural issues that require practice-level solutions.
04 72% of dental assistants report never having stayed at a single office beyond five years.
05 47.6% of dental assistants have zero employer-provided benefits. For the 54% who have financial dependents, that gap is not abstract, it directly shapes what they can afford to ask of a job.
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STATE OF WORK
Dive into GoTu’s State of Work reports to uncover key trends, insights, and perspectives from dental professionals nationwide.