Across Minnesota, dental hygienists play a critical role in preventive dental care, cleanings, periodontal therapy, and overall oral health. Yet recent workforce data shows a tightening supply of hygienists compared to dentists and that may affect access to care, appointment availability, and practice efficiency.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health oral health workforce data, there are approximately 3,979 licensed dentists and 5,766 licensed dental hygienists actively practicing in Minnesota as of 2025. 

Is There a Shortage?

If Minnesota ideally had two hygienists for every dentist, the state would need about 7,958 hygienists to match that ratio. Minnesota appears short by roughly 2,200 dental hygienists compared to that ideal ratio. 

This shortage has real effects:

  • Longer waits for hygiene appointments
  • Practices struggling to fill hygienist openings
  • Patients delaying routine care due to limited availability
  • Offices recommending 1 x a year cleaning instead of 2. 

A Minnesota Dental Association survey noted many practices find recruiting both hygienists and assistants extremely challenging, a situation mirrored in practices across the state. 

Why Doesn’t Minnesota Have More Hygienists?

  • The number of students admitted into dental hygiene programs each year is limited, often due to clinical space and faculty constraints. 
  • Many experienced hygienists retired or left the workforce during and after COVID-19, contributing to the current workforce gap.
  • Expansion of other roles (like dental assistants with limited functions or dental therapists) has been pursued. Those roles are not substitutes for licensed dental hygienists, and cannot legally perform the full scope of preventive hygiene care in most settings.

Dentists vs. Hygienists: How Many Graduate Each Year?

Dental Graduates in Minnesota (Approximate Annual Numbers)

Dentists (DDS)

  • The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry graduates about 105–120 dentists per year.  The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry is the sole dentist school in the state.  

Dental Hygienists

  • Dental hygiene program graduation numbers can vary by institution and year; historical data show Minnesota programs have produced around 230–255 hygiene graduates statewide in past years, but this varies by school and year.  Dental hygiene programs in Minnesota are offered at multiple colleges (e.g., Minnesota State University-Mankato, Normandale Community College, Rochester Community and Technical College and the U of MN)

What Does This Mean for Patients?

At Pine Ridge Dental in Zimmerman, MN, we may sometimes experience longer waits for routine hygiene visits. This is not unique to our office, but reflects broader workforce trends in Minnesota.

Looking Ahead

Based on the number of dentists that graduate each year and hygienists that graduate each year in MN, it will take 147 years to fill the gap of the 2200 shortage. We only gain 15 hygienists each year. 

A collaborative long-term solution would involve:

  • Supporting dental hygiene education expansion
  • Large increase in enrollment capacity in hygiene programs
  • Enhanced recruitment and retention strategies for hygienists

Some groups have suggested training dental assistants in a dentist office to be able to clean adults teeth. It’s important to recognize that licensed dental hygienists receive specialized education and training that candidates in short courses cannot replace. Their expertise in periodontal care, preventive education, and clinical judgment is central to quality dentistry.  

At Pine Ridge Dental, we remain committed to providing excellent care while advocating for a strong oral health workforce in Minnesota.

Pine Ridge Dental – Zimmerman, MN

Call today to schedule your next preventive visit.