Meet Dr. Johnson. He runs a small family dental practice somewhere in the Midwest. Though he’s passionate about delivering optimal care to every patient who walks through the door, Dr. Johnson is falling short. His practice has a six-month backlog, and patients are growing frustrated.
The culprit?
A shortage of skilled dental professionals who will stay long-term.
Unfortunately, Dr. Johnson isn’t alone. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), 90% of dentists reported recruitment challenges in 2024. And 60% are concerned about the future of their practices.
Luckily, there is a powerful solution to Dr. Johnson’s staffing woes. Partnering with a dental recruitment firm like Hire Health can help practices land pre-vetted candidates faster and retain them for longer.
The numbers paint an ominous picture:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a 54.9% annual average of openings for dental assistants over the next decade.
The ADA estimates that dental talent shortages have reduced practice capacity by 10%, indicating that practices could serve more patients if they had more staff.
About a third of all practices nationwide are actively recruiting dental assistants, hygienists, and administrative workers. Additionally, 32% of dentists don’t have enough clinical staff, and 24% lack admin staff.
The average hiring time for dental professionals is more than 60 days. Some of the causes behind dental hiring delays are:
Every day a chair sits empty, your practice loses revenue. But this doesn’t just hurt your bottom line. A bare-bones staff and lengthy hiring processes can extend patient waiting times, increase workloads for existing employees, and make the competition for qualified talent that much fiercer.
The practices succeeding despite these challenges aren’t just lucky. They’re strategic. They understand that recruitment today isn’t about passively posting a job ad and hoping for the best.
It’s about creating a compelling, people-first culture that attracts top-tier talent.
Leading dental practices are investing in:
It’s not just about hiring anymore. It’s about attracting and retaining.
You might not think of your dental office as a “brand,” but to job seekers, it is. Employer branding is how your practice presents itself to potential employees and plays a significant role in recruitment success.
This includes everything from how your job postings are written to your online presence and even your patient reviews (yes, candidates are reading them too). A strong employer brand communicates:
Practices that ignore this piece of the puzzle often lose out to more compelling employers, regardless of pay.
The dental job market is highly competitive and candidate-driven. Traditional hiring tactics like classified ads, generic online listings, or waiting for walk-ins are outdated. They fail to engage with candidates meaningfully or provide the speed that’s now essential.
Even more problematic? These methods rarely offer a way to assess cultural fit, a key factor in long-term retention.
Hire Health helps solve key dental hiring challenges. We bridge the gap between quality talent and the practices that need them quickly, strategically, and with long-term success in mind.
Hire Health maintains an active network of pre-vetted dental professionals, from hygienists and assistants to office administrators, who are ready to work. This dramatically cuts down the hiring timeline.
Plus, we take the time to learn the ins and outs of your practice, ensuring every candidate is qualified and aligned with your practice’s culture and values.
Dental staffing isn’t just about today but building for tomorrow. Hire Health works with practices to:
This proactive approach helps practices avoid last-minute scrambles and costly vacancies.
Contrary to popular belief, working with a recruitment agency can actually lower your overall hiring costs. Here’s how:
The value becomes clear when you consider the real costs of a bad hire or a 60+-day hiring process.
Let’s turn our attention back to Dr. Johnson. He was introduced to three strong candidates within two weeks of partnering with a dental recruitment firm. By week three, Dr. Johnson had hired a new full-time hygienist who fit seamlessly into his team.
Partnering with a specialized agency like Hire Health empowers dental practices with the tools, talent, and foresight to stay competitive in a tight labor market. Whether you’re facing a sudden vacancy or planning for long-term growth, your approach to hiring will determine your success.
Don’t let empty chairs or drawn-out searches define your practice. Instead, redefine your hiring strategy and let the right talent drive your next chapter.
Contact Hire Health today to learn how our personalized dental recruitment solutions can help your dental practice achieve sustainable staffing success.