Pine Ridge Dental

02/08/2026

Protect your teeth. It is easy to do and a professional athletic guard IS comfortable to wear as it is custom fit. Call us today for your custom tooth protector! You and your teeth are worth it!
Experience Dental Excellence.
Pine Ridge Dental -Zimmerman, MN

02/04/2026

Today we honor the courage of those that have cancer, have beat cancer, have lost someone to cancer and the memory of the lives that made such an impact on our lives.

02/02/2026

01/28/2026

Thank you so much for the incredibly thoughtful thank-you gift.

Supporting youth athletics has always been something I believe in, but your kindness and effort went above and beyond anything I expected. The time, care, and intention behind it really stood out and speaks volumes about the character of the team, the coaches, and the program as a whole.

Please know how appreciated it was and how special it felt to be acknowledged in such a meaningful way. I’m proud to support a group that clearly values gratitude, teamwork, and respect.

Go Thunder!
Dr. Jenny and team.

01/22/2026

Dental Hygienist Shortage in Minnesota: What It Means for Your Care
Pine Ridge Dental | Zimmerman, MN
Across Minnesota, dental hygienists play a critical role in preventive dental care, cleanings, periodontal therapy, and overall oral health. Yet recent workforce data shows a tightening supply of hygienists compared to dentists and that may affect access to care, appointment availability, and practice efficiency.
According to the Minnesota Department of Health oral health workforce data, there are approximately 3,979 licensed dentists and 5,766 licensed dental hygienists actively practicing in Minnesota as of 2025.
Is There a Shortage?
If Minnesota ideally had two hygienists for every dentist, the state would need about 7,958 hygienists to match that ratio. Minnesota appears short by roughly 2,200 dental hygienists compared to that ideal ratio.
This shortage has real effects:
Longer waits for hygiene appointments
Practices struggling to fill hygienist openings
Patients delaying routine care due to limited availability
Offices recommending 1 x a year cleaning instead of 2.
A Minnesota Dental Association survey noted many practices find recruiting both hygienists and assistants extremely challenging, a situation mirrored in practices across the state.
Why Doesn’t Minnesota Have More Hygienists?
The number of students admitted into dental hygiene programs each year is limited, often due to clinical space and faculty constraints.
Many experienced hygienists retired or left the workforce during and after COVID-19, contributing to the current workforce gap.
Expansion of other roles (like dental assistants with limited functions or dental therapists) has been pursued. Those roles are not substitutes for licensed dental hygienists, and cannot legally perform the full scope of preventive hygiene care in most settings.
Dentists vs. Hygienists: How Many Graduate Each Year?
Dental Graduates in Minnesota (Approximate Annual Numbers)
Dentists (DDS)
The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry graduates about 105–120 dentists per year. The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry is the sole dentist school in the state.
Dental Hygienists
Dental hygiene program graduation numbers can vary by institution and year; historical data show Minnesota programs have produced around 230–255 hygiene graduates statewide in past years, but this varies by school and year. Dental hygiene programs in Minnesota are offered at multiple colleges (e.g., Minnesota State University-Mankato, Normandale Community College, Rochester Community and Technical College and the U of MN)
What Does This Mean for Patients?
At Pine Ridge Dental in Zimmerman, MN, we may sometimes experience longer waits for routine hygiene visits. This is not unique to our office, but reflects broader workforce trends in Minnesota.
Looking Ahead
Based on the number of dentists that graduate each year and hygienists that graduate each year in MN, it will take 147 years to fill the gap of the 2200 shortage. We only gain 15 hygienists each year.
A collaborative long-term solution would involve:
Supporting dental hygiene education expansion
Large increase in enrollment capacity in hygiene programs
Enhanced recruitment and retention strategies for hygienists
Some groups have suggested training dental assistants in a dentist office to be able to clean adults teeth. It’s important to recognize that licensed dental hygienists receive specialized education and training that candidates in short courses cannot replace. Their expertise in periodontal care, preventive education, and clinical judgment is central to quality dentistry.
At Pine Ridge Dental, we remain committed to providing excellent care while advocating for a strong oral health workforce in Minnesota.

01/01/2026

As we begin this new year, we’re grateful for the opportunity to keep your smiles healthy and bright. Wishing you a year full of happiness, good health, and beautiful moments to enjoy!

12/25/2025

We are so thankful for the trust you place in us throughout the year. May this season bring you peace, happiness, and lots of moments to cherish with those you love.