Dental hygiene shortages and their impact on the Canadian Dental Care Plan.

OBJECTIVE: This narrative review explores current research to broaden the understanding of dental hygienists' experiences and satisfaction in the workplace while suggesting strategies for the retention of dental hygienists and examining how current staffing shortages may impact the forthcoming Canadian Dental Care Plan. METHODS: An electronic literature search was conducted in the following online databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and Education Source. Only full-text, peer-reviewed articles written in English were selected for review. RESULTS: The search yielded 18 articles with a wide range of study designs and methodologies. DISCUSSION: Five key themes emerged from the literature: health impacts, psychosocial environment, strategies for retention, contradictory findings, and implications for the Canadian Dental Care Plan. CONCLUSION: Dental hygienists experience many health, environmental, and psychosocial challenges in their day-to-day working life that affect their job satisfaction and overall willingness to remain in the profession. Strategies for retention are essential for maintaining the current dental hygiene workforce and can have a positive impact on the Canadian Dental Care Plan and its success.