Dental Public Health Intern NNOHA, Colorado, United States
Abstract: Health center dental programs across the country have been reporting shortages in the dental assistant workforce, a situation that predates the COVID-19 pandemic, although these workforce challenges have been heightened by the effects of COVID-19. In response to the dental assistant shortage, National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) conducted a Dental Assistant Needs Assessment. The Dental Assistant Needs Assessment aimed to identify gaps in dental assistant recruitment and retention. The Needs Assessment found that some health centers have developed in-house dental assistant training programs to help support the recruitment of new dental assistants. This session will review the results of the Needs Assessment and share recommendations and strategies to improve the recruitment and retention of dental assistants, highlighting examples of health centers that have developed their own in-house dental assistant training programs.
Source of Funding: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Training and Technical Assistance Partnership
