<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3wAjqS_1FNJPYaA00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3wAjqS_1FNJPYaA00" width="800" height="450" >MECOSTA COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- Michigan is facing a shortage of dental hygienists and Ferris State University is looking to expand its program to help fill that gap.According to the Michigan Dental Association, the shortage reached a major concern in 2020 when nearly one-third of Michigan’s 10,000 licensed hygienists left the profession and never returned.In a survey this year by the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, 40 percent of dental practices reported they didn't have enough hygienists on staff.Now Ferris State University is planning renovations to its allied health building that could eventually allow more students into the program and help fill that need.Ferris State's dental hygiene program is already the largest in Michigan, but demand for hygienists continues to grow.“I think it would be great to increase the enrollment,” said Austin Vance, second-year dental hygiene student. “There's a shortage, so having more hygienists out there coming in and being able to train and be able to go out in the real world and help more patients.”Vance is in his second year of the program. He said the opportunity to help patients is one reason he chose the field.“I think just having patients come in and be able to tell them how to improve their oral health and just being able to see how it will help them not even just with their oral health but their whole body throughout their life,” Vance said.Getting more students into the program will require more than simply opening additional seats. Ferris said it needs updated equipment and more space.“Training on more updated equipment, not having to wait as long to get into the program right now, they wait two to three years to start dental hygiene,” said Theresa Raglin, associate dean at Ferris State University. “So even increasing our program by ten seats a year would be tremendous would be a great opportunity for our students.”Plans call for renovations to the Victor F. Spathelf Center for allied health, including more space and updated training equipment.Program coordinator Kimberly Beistle said the changes could also make the experience feel more like a professional dental office.“Instead of this large open bay clinic, we're going to have actual cabinetry that kind of gives that student and that patient that personal aspect and it prevents everybody from hearing everybody's medical history, etc.,” said Beistle. “And it gives them more of that real world experience.”Beistle said the shortage isn't just a problem for dental offices, it can affect patients who need routine care.“And so, if you can't see your dental hygienist for a year because there's no space to get into the schedule, it just prevents that oral health professional from recognizing something that could be lifesaving,” Beistle said.The project is currently in the planning phase.If the renovation and expansion move forward, the university could eventually increase enrollment in the dental hygiene program.</div></body>

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MECOSTA COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- Michigan is facing a shortage of dental hygienists and Ferris State University is looking to expand its program to help fill that gap. According to the Michigan Dental Association, the shortage reached a major concern in 2020 when nearly one-third of Michigan’s 10,000 licensed hygienists left the profession and never returned.

Ferris plans clinic-style upgrades to train more dental hygienists amid Michigan shortage

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MECOSTA COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- Michigan is facing a shortage of dental hygienists and Ferris State University is looking to expand its program to he

Ferris plans clinic-style upgrades to train more dental hygienists amid Michigan shortage

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