Thirteen Georgia counties had no actively practicing dental hygienists in 2025. Along the Texas border, the number of hygienists per resident was barely half the rate elsewhere in the state. In Florida, one in five surveyed hygienists expected to stop practicing in the state within five years.
The figures reveal a growing challenge for dental care across parts of the American Sun Belt: even as the number of trained professionals increases, their distribution and availability remain uneven.
The problem is particularly significant for communities where preventive dental care is already difficult to obtain. Dental hygienists perform routine cleanings, assess gum health, take X-rays and provide other preventive services that help patients avoid more serious dental problems…