Dental Hygienist Workforce Report 2025 Based on 2024-2025 Licensure Renewals and New Licensees Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce Summer 2025 Table of Contents The following sections provide a comprehensive overview of the data and analysis presented in this report. Click on any section title to navigate directly to that content. Contents Overview: Georgia's Dental Hygienist Workforce.......................................................3 ABOUT .....................................................................................................................3 OVERVIEW ...............................................................................................................3 Distribution of Dental Hygienists by Age Group..........................................................4 AGE GROUP DISTRIBUTION ......................................................................................4 Distribution of Dental Hygienists by Gender Group ....................................................5 GENDER DISTRIBUTION ...........................................................................................5 Distribution of Work Hours Per Week ........................................................................6 WORK HOURS ANALYSIS..........................................................................................6 Distribution of Practicing Dental Hygienists by County...............................................7 Distribution of Dental Hygienists by Specialty ...........................................................7 SPECIALTY DISTRIBUTION ........................................................................................7 Distribution of Dental Hygienists per 100,000 Population ...........................................8 DISTRIBUTION per 100,000 POPULATION..................................................................8 Counties with no Dental Hygienists.........................................................................13 Rate of Dental Hygienists per 100,000 Population .................................................... 14 Trends Over Time Comparisons .............................................................................. 15 AGE GROUP DISTRIBUTION TRENDS OVER TIME ..................................................... 15 Key Insights ........................................................................................................ 15 GENDER DISTRIBUTION TRENDS OVER TIME .......................................................... 16 Key Insights ........................................................................................................ 16 WORK HOURS DISTRIBUTION TRENDS OVER TIME ................................................. 17 Key Insights ........................................................................................................ 17 SPECIALTY DISTRIBUTION TRENDS OVER TIME....................................................... 18 1|P a g e Key Insights ........................................................................................................ 19 About Unknown Data ............................................................................................. 20 Acknowledgements................................................................................................ 21 BOARD MEMBERS .................................................................................................. 21 2|P a g e Overview: Georgia's Dental Hygienist Workforce 2025 ABOUT This document provides a comprehensive summary of the characteristics of dental hygienists practicing in Georgia in 2025. It includes key demographic information such as age and gender, as well as data on employment characteristics, including hours worked and geographic distribution. The data visualizations, summaries, and conclusions are based on the Dental Hygienist Census data provided by the Georgia Board of Dentistry. These figures aim to highlight the geographic disparities in the availability of dental hygienists, which can affect access to dental care services. OVERVIEW In 2025, Georgia had 7,330 actively practicing dental hygienists, equating to a rate of 65.6 per 100,000 residents, based on the 2024 Census population estimate of 11,180,8781. There were 13 counties in Georgia that had no practicing dental hygienists in 2025, affecting a combined population of approximately 77,458 residents. At the time this report was created, the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) had not provided an exact national average of dental hygienists per 100,000 people for 2025; however, an estimate can be calculated using available data. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,2 as of 2025, approximately 214,100 dental hygienists were employed in the U.S., with the U.S. Census estimating the 2024 population at 340,110,988.3 This results in an estimated national average of 62.9 dental hygienists per 100,000 people. 1 U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Georgia 2 Dental Hygienists: Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 3 U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: United States 3|P a g e Distribution of Dental Hygienists by Age Group 2025 AGE GROUP DISTRIBUTION According to the 2025 Dental Hygienist Census data, the average age of licensed dental hygienists actively practicing in Georgia is 42. This conclusion is drawn from responses provided by 6,373 dental hygienists who reported their age. The largest group consists of hygienists aged 35-49, representing 46.0% of the workforce, while the smallest group those aged 65 and older - accounts for 2.3%. The American Dental Association (ADA)4 publishes several reports on the dental workforce demographics. Based on their sources, examining workplace demographics, such as age groups, provides valuable insights into several key areas, including: 50-64 23.5% 65+ 2.3% 34 and Under 28.2% Age Group Distribution % 34 and Under 35-49 50-64 65+ 35-49 46.0% Workforce Sustainability & Planning predicts retirement trends and future staffing needs. Knowledge Transfer & Mentorship a mix of experienced professionals mentoring early-career professionals. Education & Licensing Policy continuing education requirements, license renewal, and retention initiatives. Adaptability & Innovation early career professionals can often bring new technologies, digital tools, and updated techniques. 4 American Dental Association: Demographics 4|P a g e Distribution of Dental Hygienists by Gender Group 2025 GENDER DISTRIBUTION As we continue to analyze insights from the 2025 Dental Hygienist Census, the data reveals that 6,200 dental hygienists reported their gender as male or female. Of those respondents, 97.9% identified as female and 2.1% as male. Based on the reported data, we can conclude that there were significantly more female than male dental hygienists, with a difference of 95.8 percentage points between the two groups. Male 2.1% Gender Distribution by % Reported Gender Female 97.9% 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 Number of Dental Hygienists Female Male 5|P a g e Distribution of Work Hours Per Week 2025 WORK HOURS ANALYSIS In addition to demographic characteristics, the 2025 Dental Hygienist Census also provides insight into the distribution of weekly work hours among actively practicing dental hygienists. Understanding the number of hours dental hygienists work each week offers valuable context for assessing workforce capacity and availability. The Dental Hygienist Census data categorizes work hours into two groups: less than 30 hours per week and 30 or more hours per week. A total of 6,187 dental hygienist residents reported working within one of these two categories. Distribution of Work Hours per Week 35.1% 64.9% In 2025, 64.9% of dental hygienists reported working 30 hours or more per week, while 35.1% reported working less than 30 hours per week. 30 Hours or more Less than 30 Distribution of Work Hours by Gender 100% 27 80% 2142 60% 40% 103 3911 20% 0% Female Male 30 Hours or more Less than 30 A closer look at the data shows that 6,183 dental hygienists reported both their work hours and gender. When examined by gender, 64.6% of female dental hygienists reported working 30 hours or more per week, compared to 79.2% of male dental hygienists. Despite being the smallest respondents, male dental hygienists are more likely to work full-time. 6|P a g e Distribution of Dental Hygienists by Specialty 2025 SPECIALTY DISTRIBUTION In the 2025 Dental Hygienist Census, 6,185 dental hygienists who reported a specialty were distributed across various categories, including Dental Public Health, Endodontics, General Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, and Prosthodontics. The distribution of dental hygienists across specialties5 shows that the largest percentage, 86.5%, was in the General Dentistry category. In contrast, the Other Specialty category had the smallest6 representation, with only 0.1% of dental hygienists working in that area. Distribution of Dental Hygienist Specialties Dental Public Health 2.5% Periodontics 2.2% Prosthodontics 0.4% Other Specialty 0.1% Pediatric Dentistry 8.4% General Dentistry 86.5% 5 National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards: Recognized Dental Specialties 6 The "Other Specialty" category includes the following specialties appearing as less than 0.0% when rounded: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (0.05%); Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics (0.05%); Endodontics (0.03%), and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (0.02%). 7|P a g e Distribution of Dental Hygienists per 100,000 Population 2025 DISTRIBUTION per 100,000 POPULATION The 2025 Census data for dental hygienists practicing in Georgia are presented below, charted across the state's 159 counties to reflect the total number of dental hygienists per 100,000 population. COUNTY STATE OF GEORGIA APPLING ATKINSON BACON BAKER BALDWIN BANKS BARROW BARTOW BEN HILL BERRIEN BIBB BLECKLEY BRANTLEY BROOKS BRYAN BULLOCH BURKE BUTTS CALHOUN CAMDEN CANDLER CARROLL CATOOSA CHARLTON CHATHAM CHATTAHOOCHEE CHATTOOGA CHEROKEE TOTAL DENTAL HYGIENISTS 7,330 10 0 6 1 29 3 39 65 12 5 156 9 3 2 43 55 3 12 3 34 4 96 35 0 271 0 12 216 2024 POPULATION CENSUS (ESTIMATE) 11,180,878 18,669 8,435 11,045 2,732 43,644 20,318 96,294 117,508 16,945 18,666 157,056 12,626 18,795 16,344 51,105 85,454 24,472 27,127 5,441 59,099 11,130 129,911 68,940 13,021 307,336 8,548 25,306 293,513 TOTAL DENTAL HYGIENISTS PER 100,000 POPULATION 65.6 53.6 0.0 54.3 36.6 66.4 14.8 40.5 55.3 70.8 26.8 99.3 71.3 16.0 12.2 84.1 64.4 12.3 44.2 55.1 57.5 35.9 73.9 50.8 0.0 88.2 0.0 47.4 73.6 8|P a g e COUNTY CLAY CLAYTON CLINCH COBB COFFEE COLQUITT COLUMBIA COOK COWETA CRAWFORD CRISP DADE DAWSON DECATUR DEKALB DODGE DOOLY DOUGHERTY DOUGLAS EARLY ECHOLS EFFINGHAM ELBERT EMANUEL EVANS FANNIN FAYETTE FLOYD FORSYTH FRANKLIN FULTON GILMER GLASCOCK GLYNN GORDON GRADY GREENE GWINNETT TOTAL DENTAL HYGIENISTS 0 81 1 590 31 23 178 10 123 2 7 4 27 15 390 12 5 70 90 4 0 29 5 10 10 22 169 76 158 11 890 16 0 59 33 13 23 653 2024 POPULATION CENSUS (ESTIMATE) 2,815 297,703 6,871 787,538 43,851 46,977 167,472 17,984 158,233 12,349 19,468 16,068 33,748 29,391 770,307 19,630 11,186 82,418 151,887 10,444 3,698 73,148 20,152 23,224 10,869 25,854 125,107 101,390 280,096 25,208 1,090,354 33,327 3,008 86,540 60,765 26,271 21,091 1,003,869 TOTAL DENTAL HYGIENISTS PER 100,000 POPULATION 0.0 27.2 14.6 74.9 70.7 49.0 106.3 55.6 77.7 16.2 36.0 24.9 80.0 51.0 50.6 61.1 44.7 84.9 59.3 38.3 0.0 39.6 24.8 43.1 92.0 85.1 135.1 75.0 56.4 43.6 81.6 48.0 0.0 68.2 54.3 49.5 109.1 65.0 9|P a g e COUNTY HABERSHAM HALL HANCOCK HARALSON HARRIS HART HEARD HENRY HOUSTON IRWIN JACKSON JASPER JEFF DAVIS JEFFERSON JENKINS JOHNSON JONES LAMAR LANIER LAURENS LEE LIBERTY LINCOLN LONG LOWNDES LUMPKIN MACON MADISON MARION MCDUFFIE MCINTOSH MERIWETHER MILLER MITCHELL MONROE MONTGOMERY MORGAN MURRAY MUSCOGEE TOTAL DENTAL HYGIENISTS 26 150 1 22 16 12 2 181 152 4 72 6 1 11 1 3 16 8 8 37 18 40 3 3 118 17 4 8 1 14 2 3 4 10 13 1 17 5 193 2024 POPULATION CENSUS (ESTIMATE) 49,665 221,745 8,683 32,404 36,929 28,052 12,119 259,315 174,897 9,155 93,825 17,219 15,119 15,019 8,836 9,178 29,047 20,690 10,464 50,287 34,073 68,607 8,049 20,439 122,082 36,016 21,764 11,800 11,831 32,771 7,635 21,439 5,824 20,329 31,437 8,566 21,940 41,316 201,830 TOTAL DENTAL HYGIENISTS PER 100,000 POPULATION 52.4 67.6 11.5 67.9 43.3 42.8 16.5 69.8 86.9 43.7 76.7 34.8 6.6 73.2 11.3 32.7 55.1 38.7 76.5 73.6 52.8 58.3 37.3 14.7 96.7 47.2 18.4 67.8 8.5 42.7 26.2 14.0 68.7 49.2 41.4 11.7 77.5 12.1 95.6 10 | P a g e COUNTY NEWTON OCONEE OGLETHORPE PAULDING PEACH PICKENS PIERCE PIKE POLK PULASKI PUTNAM QUITMAN RABUN RANDOLPH RICHMOND ROCKDALE SCHLEY SCREVEN SEMINOLE SPALDING STEPHENS STEWART SUMTER TALBOT TALIAFERRO TATTNALL TAYLOR TELFAIR TERRELL THOMAS TIFT TOOMBS TOWNS TREUTLEN TROUP TURNER TWIGGS UNION UPSON TOTAL DENTAL HYGIENISTS 45 52 2 85 21 15 7 16 22 2 4 0 10 0 139 87 2 5 0 40 11 3 16 0 0 11 1 4 4 34 39 25 6 3 53 3 0 20 18 2024 POPULATION CENSUS (ESTIMATE) 124,010 44,751 16,172 188,549 29,213 36,580 20,669 20,669 44,610 10,180 23,383 2,323 17,711 6,085 206,303 97,610 4,503 14,325 9,274 70,292 27,498 4,809 28,972 5,755 1,620 24,275 7,783 11,000 8,698 46,054 41,708 27,488 13,184 6,420 71,513 9,023 7,728 27,601 28,358 TOTAL DENTAL HYGIENISTS PER 100,000 POPULATION 36.3 116.2 12.4 45.1 71.9 41.0 33.9 77.4 49.3 19.6 17.1 0.0 56.5 0.0 67.4 89.1 44.4 34.9 0.0 56.9 40.0 62.4 55.2 0.0 0.0 45.3 12.8 36.4 46.0 73.8 93.5 90.9 45.5 46.7 74.1 33.2 0.0 72.5 63.5 11 | P a g e COUNTY WALKER WALTON WARE WARREN WASHINGTON WAYNE WEBSTER WHEELER WHITE WHITFIELD WILCOX WILKES WILKINSON WORTH TOTAL DENTAL HYGIENISTS 23 81 27 0 8 14 1 1 19 57 3 2 6 11 2024 POPULATION CENSUS (ESTIMATE) 69,340 109,792 36,222 5,148 19,834 32,132 2,315 7,076 29,668 105,070 8,904 9,567 8,667 20,262 TOTAL DENTAL HYGIENISTS PER 100,000 POPULATION 33.2 73.8 74.5 0.0 40.3 43.6 43.2 14.1 64.0 54.2 33.7 20.9 69.2 54.3 12 | P a g e Counties with no Dental Hygienists 2025 Upon further evaluation of the 2025 Dental Hygienist Census, the data reveals which counties in Georgia had no actively practicing dental hygienists during that year. The accompanying map provides a high-level visualization of these areas. Out of Georgia's 159 counties, 13 had no practicing dental hygienists in 2025, indicating that approximately 8.2% of the state lacked active dental hygiene professionals. In comparison, the 2021 Dental Hygienist Census showed 22 counties (13.8%) without practicing dental hygienists. This represents a decrease of 9 counties and a 41.0% improvement in geographic distribution over the four-year period. The availability of dental hygienists by county is based on addresses reported by the hygienists, which may be either a practice address or another publicly reported address. Self-reported information may reflect the presence of a dental hygienist in areas where no dentist is present. 13 | P a g e Rate of Dental Hygienists per 100,000 Population 2025 The 2025 Dental Hygienist Census data shows that 13 out of 159 counties lacked active practicing dental hygienists, while the remaining 146 counties of varying population sizes had active dental hygienists. The chart below illustrates the availability of dental hygiene professionals relative to population size, using color to highlight areas with higher or lower rates of dental hygienists per 100,000 population. Rate per 100,000 0 1 - 19.9 20 - 39.9 40 - 59.9 >60 Number of Counties 13 21 22 49 54 Note: The number of dental hygienists is listed below each county's name. Overall, metro counties such as Fulton, Cobb, and Gwinnett tend to have more dental hygienists, but do not necessarily have the highest per capita rates. 14 | P a g e Trends Over Time Comparisons AGE GROUP DISTRIBUTION TRENDS OVER TIME The chart below displays dental hygienists who self-reported their age in 2021 and 2025. A detailed analysis of the age distribution over this period reveals the following findings: Category (by Age) 34 and under 35-49 50-64 65+ 2021 (%) 25.9 41.0 27.4 5.6 2025 (%) 28.2 46.0 23.5 2.3 Change in (%) +8.9 +12.2 -14.2 -58.9 Percent of Total Responses 50 40 30 25.9 28.2 20 10 0 34 and under Age Groups Trends Over Time 46.0 41.0 27.4 23.5 35-49 Age Group 2021 2025 50-64 5.6 2.3 65+ Key Insights 1. Age Group 34 and under: o In 2021, 25.9% of licensed dental hygienists in Georgia were aged 34 and under. By 2025, this increased to 28.2%, representing an 8.9% growth. 2. Age Group 35-49 o The age group 35-49 is the fastest growing group from 2021 (41.0%) to 2025 (46.0%). 3. Age Group 50-64 o The percentage of dental hygienists aged 50 to 64 declined from 27.4% to 23.5% in 2025- a 14.2% decrease. 4. Age Group 65 and older o This group saw a significant decline from 5.6% in 2021 to 2.3% in 2025, a 58.9% drop. 15 | P a g e Trends Over Time Comparisons GENDER DISTRIBUTION TRENDS OVER TIME The chart below reflects dental hygienists who identified as male or female. A detailed analysis of gender distribution from 2021 to 2025 reveals the following findings. Category (by Gender) Female Male 2021 (%) 98.0 2.0 2025 (%) 97.9 2.1 Change in (%) -0.1 +5.0 Percent of Total Reponses Gender Trends Over Time 120 98% 97.9% 100 80 60 40 20 0 Female 2% 2.1% Male Reported Gender 2021 2025 Key Insights 1. Female Representation Remains Dominant o In 2021, 98.0% of dental hygienists identified as female. By 2025, this figure slightly declined to 97.9%, reflecting a minimal decrease of 0.1 percentage points. Despite the small change, females continue to represent the vast majority in the profession. 2. Male Representation Sees Minor Growth o The percentage of male dental hygienists increased slightly from 2.0% in 2021 to 2.1% in 2025. While the absolute change is just 0.1 percentage points, this reflects a relative growth of 5.0%, indicating a small but gradual increase in male representation. 16 | P a g e Trends Over Time Comparisons WORK HOURS DISTRIBUTION TRENDS OVER TIME Dental hygienists self-reported working either 30 hours or more per week or less than 30 hours. The chart below highlights a detailed analysis of the work-hour distribution trends from 2021 to 2025. Category (per week) 30 Hours or More Less than 30 Hours 2021 (%) 63.7 36.3 2025 (%) 64.9 35.1 Change in (%) +1.9 -3.3 Percentage of Total Responses Work Distribution Trends Over Time 70 63.7% 64.9% 60 50 40 36.3% 35.1% 30 20 10 0 30 Hours or more Less than 30 Hours or More Reported Work Hours 2021 2025 Key Insights 1. Increase in 30 Hours or More Group o The percentage of dental hygienists working 30 hours or more per week increased from 63.7% in 2021 to 64.9% in 2025 (1.9 relative increase). 2. Decrease in Less than 30 Hours Work Group: o Those working less than 30 hours decreased from 36.3% in 2021 to 35.1% in 2025, which is a 3.31% relative decrease. 17 | P a g e Trends Over Time Comparisons SPECIALTY DISTRIBUTION TRENDS OVER TIME The Dental Hygienists Census outlines the specialties in which dental hygienists practice. A comparison of practice specialties between 2021 and 2025 highlights changes in dental hygienists' work. Category (Specialty) Dental Public Health Endodontics General Dentistry Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics Pediatric Dentistry Periodontics Prosthodontics 2021 (%) 2.5 n/a 86.5 n/a n/a n/a 8.2 2.4 0.4 2025 (%) 2.5 0.0 86.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.4 2.2 0.4 Change (%) 0.0 n/a 0.0 n/a n/a n/a +2.4 -8.3 0.0 Dental Specialty Speciality Distribution Trends Over Time Prosthodontics Periodontics Pediatric Dentistry Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics 0.4% 0.4% 2.4% 2.2% 8.2% 8.4% 0% Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 0% Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology 0% General Dentistry Endodontics 0% 86.5% 86.5% Dental Public Health 2.5% 2.5% 0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0 Percent of Total Responses 2021 2025 18 | P a g e Trends Over Time Comparisons Key Insights 1. Stability in General Dentistry and Dental Public Health: o The percentages for General Dentistry and Dental Public Health remain unchanged from 2021 to 2025. General Dentistry continues to account for 86.5%, while Dental Public Health stays at 2.5%. 2. Slight Increase in Pediatric Dentistry: o Pediatric Dentistry shows a modest increase from 8.2% in 2021 to 8.4% in 2025, reflecting a 2.4% growth. 3. Newly Reported Specialties: o Endodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral Surgery, and Orthodontics now each have newly reported percentages in 2025. 19 | P a g e Unknown Data About Unknown Data The data in this document is based on self-reported responses from dental hygienists across the previously discussed categories. Any missing or unreported information has been excluded, so the figures reflect only those who provided responses. The charts below illustrate the number and percentage of hygienists who did not submit data in each category for 2025. These percentages are calculated using the total number of actively practicing dental hygienists in Georgia: 7,330. Age Groups (Unknown) No Response Percentage 957 13.1% Gender (Unknown) No Response 1130 Percentage 15.4% Work Hours (Unknown) No Response 1143 Percentage 15.6% Work Hours by Gender (Unknown) No Response 1147 Percentage 15.6% Specialties (Unknown) No Response 1145 Percentage 15.6% 20 | P a g e Acknowledgements WLEDGEMENTS This report was developed under the guidance of Chet Bhasin, FACHE, Executive Director; Leanna Greenwood, Ph.D., Data Team Manager; LePrissa Moore, MSIT, Researcher; Briana Harris, Data Analyst; and G.E. Alan Dever, MD, PhD, Consultant. The Board extends its appreciation to the Georgia Board of Dentistry for providing the Dental Hygienist Census data. BOARD MEMBERS James Barber, M.D. - Chair William R. "Will" Kemp - Vice Chair Lily Jung Henson, M.D. - Secretary/Treasurer Cecil Bennett, M.D. Garrett Bennett, M.D. Kitty Carter-Wicker, M.D. Carolyn Clevenger, DNP William Fricks, M.D. Steven Gautney, MSHA Michael J. Groover, D.M.D. Indran Indrakrishnan, M.D. Terri McFadden-Garden, M.D. Amy Reeves, PA-C James Lofton Smith, Jr., M.D. Joseph L. Walker, M.D. The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce encourages feedback and suggestions for future editions of this report. Please share your comments by contacting: leanna.greenwood@dch.ga.gov Please follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn 21 | P a g e