How to navigate the challenging landscape of hiring your ideal dental hygienist
When in the process of hiring a dental hygienist, the journey from thought to action holds immense power. It begins with a simple question: what kind of dental hygienist do I envision for my practice? The answer sets the stage for the hiring process and ultimately determines the success of your team.
While it’s essential to hold firm to your standards and envision your ideal candidate, it’s also crucial to recognize the challenges and realities of today’s dental industry. As one client candidly shared, the landscape has changed significantly, with a staggering 76% of dental offices experiencing shortages in hygienists.1 This shortage has forced practices to adapt, often leading to difficult decisions and creative solutions.
Factors associated with retaining dental hygienists
- Work-life balance
- Workplace culture
- Pay
- Growth opportunities
- Benefits, i.e., health and short-term disability insurance, free dental work, 401(k)
- Workload
One dentist found himself in a challenging situation with a part-time hygienist who harbored a dislike for dentistry. Despite the negative impact on the practice, the dentist kept the hygienist to maintain the flow of hygiene appointments. This scenario underscores the difficult choices many dentists face during this shortage of qualified candidates.
Factors associated with attrition of dental hygienists
- Dissatisfaction with work-life balance
- Negative workplace culture
- Insufficient pay
- Lack of growth opportunitie
- Inadequate benefits
- Heavy workload
In response to these challenges, some dentists have adopted innovative approaches to maintain efficiency and profitability. One dentist shared his strategy of incorporating additional hygiene appointments into his schedule, alternating between hygiene and operative dentistry throughout the day. By maximizing chair time and streamlining workflows, he’s found a balance that allows him to meet patient demand while optimizing his time and resources.
Another option that’s gaining traction is hiring associate dentists to share the workload and responsibilities of hygiene appointments, along with simple restorative and whatever else they’re competent in and comfortable with. With competitive offers attracting new grads to private practice settings, this approach offers the flexibility and support needed to address the staffing shortage effectively.
Despite the obstacles, it’s encouraging to see dentists finding ways to adapt and thrive in the face of adversity. One client reflected that while the journey may have its challenges, maintaining a focus on dentistry, building net worth, and living frugally has proven to be a successful path forward.
Other relevant ideas to help with the shortage
- Discontinue patient gift bags
- Implement assisted hygiene
- Decide to move out-of-network
While the road to hiring your ideal hygienist may be fraught with challenges, remain steadfast in your vision and adaptable in your approach. By combining high standards with realistic expectations and innovative solutions, you can navigate the challenging landscape of dental practice management with confidence and resilience.
Reference
1. Nozzi R. Shortage of dental hygienists is nationwide. Oak Orchard Health. April 17, 2023. https://oakorchardhealth.org/shortage-of-dental-hygienists-is-nationwide/
