The U.S. is short more than 10,000 dentists, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Here are five updates on dental staffing that Becker's reported on in August:

Wake Forest-based NC Dental U is launching a dental assistant program at its location in Wilson, N.C., according to a Sept. 1 report from The Wilson Times.

Filling dental practices with enough staff has been an ongoing problem for the dental industry and is a big issue moving forward for many. 

New York legislators are considering two bills to authorize dental therapists to practice in the state, ABC affiliate news10.com reported Aug. 18.

The average salary for dental assistants across the country was $44,710 in 2022, according to salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Toothio, a dental staffing platform, raised $4 million in funding during its latest seed round.

The School of Dentistry at UT Health San Antonio created a bachelor of science in dental hygiene degree program.

The Primary Care and Health Workforce Expansion Act, which would reauthorize oral health workforce grants, was introduced in the Senate.

The American Dental Association has recently been lobbying and supporting federal legislation that would help alleviate workforce shortage issues in the dental industry, according to an Aug. 3 news release from the ADA. 

Recruiting dental hygienists, dental assistants, dentists and administrative staff was more challenging in July than in June, according to recent polls by the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

Dental practices have faced major staffing shortages this year, with many struggling to recruit dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and administrative staff. 

North Carolina has the highest ranked workforce, according to CNBC's top states for business rankings, published July 17. 

Negative workplace culture is the top reason why dental hygienists are voluntarily leaving the industry, while dental assistants most frequently leave due to insufficient pay, according to dental workforce shortage research from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute. 

Here are eight colleges and universities creating and expanding dental hygiene and assisting programs that Becker's has reported on since May 2:

Fort Myers, Fla.-based Hodges University is launching a new dental hygiene program, according to a July 19 report from CBS affiliate WINK.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously voted to advance the Action for Dental Health Act of 2023 to the House floor for consideration. 

Dental practitioners have the most advertised vacancies compared to other dental roles as of June, according to research from job search engine Adzuna.

Approximately one-third (31.4 percent) of dental hygienists and 33.7 percent of dental assistants are expecting to retire within the next five years, according to dental workforce shortage research from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute. 

Malta, Ill.-based Kishwaukee College is offering a 12-week dental assistant program.