GoTu's 2026 State of Work Report Shows Dental Workforce at a Critical Inflection Point

GoTu Technology, the nation's leading dental talent marketplace,  released its annual State of Work Report, the largest ongoing study of the U.S. dental workforce. The 2026 study reflects responses from nearly 8,000 dental hygienists, dental assistants, and associate dentists across all 50 states, offering the industry's most comprehensive view into how dental professionals are working and why many are reconsidering where and how they stay in the field.

Developed in partnership with the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA), the findings reflect the full breadth of the profession, from single provider practices to multilocation groups nationwide. Now in its third year, the dataset reveals a profession deeply committed to patient care, with 82.8 percent planning to stay in dentistry for at least the next decade. However, the conditions inside practices continue to erode that commitment at the local level.

Key findings include:

• A workforce under sustained pressure. Compensation has not improved for the third straight year, with 59 percent receiving no raise, 74.7 percent receiving no bonus, and 44.7 percent lacking benefits.
• Burnout remains high, affecting 54.1 percent of all dental professionals and 60.6 percent of hygienists, driven largely by workload and office culture.
• Retention challenges continue, with 64 percent reporting their longest tenure at any practice is five years or less and office switching rising again this year.

"These findings show a workforce that is not walking away from dentistry – it is adapting to survive in it," said Edward Thomas, co-founder and co-CEO of GoTu. "The data is clear: when compensation, culture and autonomy do not improve, people adjust their behavior. Practices that respond to these signals now will be the ones that retain talent in the years ahead."

The report also highlights a shift in how dental professionals manage their careers. Temporary work has become a deliberate strategy for flexibility and income stability rather than a fallback. Many professionals are disengaging instead of resigning outright, a subtle yet significant indicator of workplace strain.

"This report confirms what hygienists have been telling us; stalled compensation, high burnout, and limited clinical autonomy are undermining retention across the profession," said ADHA President Lancette VanGuilder, BS, RDH. "This data supports initiatives we're driving to strengthen the workforce and keep experienced hygienists in practice."

"Our goal is to give the industry a clear, unfiltered view of what dental professionals are experiencing," said Cary Gahm, co-founder and co-CEO of GoTu. "Nearly 8,000 voices are telling us the same story. They want workplaces that make staying sustainable. When we listen to them, the entire profession becomes stronger."