Funding for WOHW ended on 12/31/2025. The information on this site remains accurate and usable as of that date.
While this work is no longer actively funded, we may make occasional updates to this archived site, which will be clearly noted when added.
Using Data to Characterize Washington’s Oral Health Workforce
Understanding the composition of Washington’s oral health workforce, educational and training pathways and the needs of dental employers is important for oral health workforce planning. Use the links below to explore these themes based on current national and Washington state data.
Supply of Each Dental Occupation – Current & Trends Over Time
How many are there, where are they located and what are their demographics?
Survey Findings
Findings from surveys of dental assistants and dental hygienists in Washington
Education & Training
What are education pathways for the oral health workforce? What are the demographics of graduates/completers?
Employer Demand
Which dental occupations are in highest demand? How has demand changed over time? What recruitment and retention strategies do dental employers use?
Workforce Characteristics
Find demographics from a variety of data sources for different oral health occupations.
Population Need
Capacity of the oral health workforce to meet population needs
NEWS & RELATED INFORMATION
Access recent program highlights and announcements