Va. dentists are scrambling to close a statewide shortage of hygienists, mostly in Fairfax Co.

Dentists across Virginia are scrambling to fill a statewide shortage of dental hygienists.

The gap is most acute in Northern Virginia, according to the Virginia Dental Association.

“There’s a huge imbalance in the number of hygienists to dentists right now and Fairfax County is feeling it the worst,” Dr. Justin Norbo, the association’s president-elect, who owns a dental practice in Loudoun County, told WTOP News.

The shortage is even affecting patient care at some dental practices...