Modern Dental Recruitment: Strategies for Success
Finding great dental team members feels harder than ever. If you're a practice owner or manager struggling to fill open positions, you're not alone. The good news? There are proven strategies that can help you attract and hire the dental professionals your practice needs.
What's Changed in Dental Recruitment
Remember when you could post a job and get dozens of qualified applicants? Those days are behind us. Today's dental professionals have more choices and different priorities. They want more than just a steady paycheck. They're looking for things like:
- Health insurance and real benefits
- Flexible schedules that fit their lives
- Work environments where they feel valued
- Proper employment status (W-2, not 1099)
Stop Filling Seats, Start Building Relationships
Here's what we've learned from working with hundreds of dental practices: the best recruitment isn't about quickly filling an empty chair. It's about finding people who will actually stick around and become valuable team members.
Think about it this way. Would you rather hire someone who shows up for three weeks and then disappears, or someone who becomes a cornerstone of your team for years? The answer is obvious, but it requires changing how you approach recruitment.
What Actually Works in 2025
Make Benefits Your Competitive Edge: A hygienist recently told us she turned down three job offers because they were all 1099 positions. She wanted the security of W-2 employment with health insurance. Practices that offer real benefits are winning the talent war.
Give People Control Over Their Schedules: Maybe you have a dental assistant who wants to work three days a week while finishing school. Or a hygienist who's ready to scale back as she approaches retirement. Flexibility isn't just nice to have anymore. It's essential.
Use Technology That Actually Works: Posting on job boards and hoping for the best isn't enough. The best dental professionals are using platforms where they can connect with practices, see what opportunities are available, and make informed decisions about where they want to work.
Look for Culture Fit, Not Just Skills: Technical skills matter, but so does finding someone who shares your approach to patient care. A great dental assistant who meshes well with your team is worth more than a highly skilled one who creates tension in the office.
Real Examples from Real Practices
Dr. Martinez in Phoenix was struggling to find reliable temporary hygienists when her full-time hygienist went on maternity leave. She used to call temp agencies and hope someone decent would show up. Now she works with a platform where she can see profiles, read reviews, and actually choose who comes to her practice.
A practice manager in Denver needed front desk help during their busiest season. Instead of rushing to hire the first applicant, she took time to find someone who understood their practice management software and had experience with their patient demographic. The result? The temp ended up becoming a permanent team member.
How onDiem Makes This Easier
We handle the complicated stuff so you can focus on finding the right people. Every dental professional on our platform is already vetted and W-2 compliant. They have access to benefits from day one. And our team (many of whom are former dental professionals themselves) helps match you with people who actually fit your practice's needs.
Whether you need someone to cover a vacation or you're looking to add a permanent team member, we're here to help you build the team your practice deserves.
