Hiring the right people is key to running a successful dental practice. Whether you are trying to hire dental hygienists or dental assistants, finding the right match ensures better patient care, team harmony, and long-term growth. Here is a step-by-step guide to help U.S. dental practices make smarter hiring decisions.
This blog explains how to approach recruitment efficiently, what to look for in top candidates, and how to guarantee adherence to licensing. This blog also says why using the right hiring tools matters, especially when facing competitive demand. You can also know the exact steps needed to attract, evaluate, and retain high-quality dental staff.
Step # 1. Define role requirements and qualifications clearly
Before you post a job, it is essential to clearly understand what each role involves. This helps craft your job description, ensures legal compliance, and supports long-term retention. A clear understanding also ensures you are hiring for real needs, not assumptions.
- To hire a dental hygienist or a dental assistant for your healthcare facility, you must explicitly state the required qualifications and experiences in your job description, along with specific skills and certifications, in addition to state licenses. Utilize reliable modern platforms like MedSquirrels, a healthcare staffing platform that assists you in hiring better candidates with strong technical skills, which are both essential for excellent patient care.
- For dental assistants, list out whether on-the-job training or DANB certification is preferred. Since they are involved in both chairside duties and front-office coordination, look for strong organization skills and multitasking ability.
Step # 2: Craft detailed job descriptions and attract the right candidates
To hire dental assistants or dental hygienists, a clear and attractive job post is essential. While you hire, please make sure to include what makes your practice unique, expectations for daily performance, and room for career advancement. This can significantly improve applicant quality and help candidates visualize a future with your team. A well-crafted posts save time during screening and reduces mismatches.
The following are the points to be mentioned while you draft a job posting.
- Daily duties
- List of essential certifications
- Working hours and salary details
- Perks like insurance, bonuses, or CE support
Do not rely only on traditional agencies or job sites. You can also use dedicated healthcare staffing platforms like MedSquirrels and your state dental association’s job board. Also, highlight potential areas for development and learning. Competitive pay and a good work environment go a long way in attracting qualified and skilled professionals.
Before recruiting, make sure that your job description fits with the state’s defined scope of practice. Post-hiring, the healthcare facility should periodically verify that all licenses of the working professional are active.
Step # 3. Screen and interview candidates effectively
Once applications start rolling in, you will need a process to screen them effectively. Begin by reviewing resumes and checking that licenses and certifications are valid. Then, set up well-structured interviews that test both technical and soft skills of the professional.
For both dental hygienists and dental assistants, use interviews as a platform to know how well they interact with patients, handle equipment, and follow safety protocols. Asking how they manage time in a busy setting or work with anxious patients offers great insight. Highlight a competitive offer that highlights benefits and scope for growth within your healthcare facility.
You can also check references from past employers to learn more about their work ethic and ability to fit into a team. Hiring someone who matches your culture is just as important as their skills.
Step # 4. Understand and verify licensing by state
Licensing rules can vary widely between states, so always verify what is required locally. This helps avoid onboarding delays and legal problems. Understanding state-specific regulations also allows you to focus on the right candidates.
Dental hygienists have to be licensed to practice in every state in the USA. However, license requirements vary. The National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE), is mandatory in all U.S.
Some states also require regional or state-level clinical board exams. CPR certification is another must for these professionals.
For example:
- Florida: Requires graduation from an accredited program, passing the NBDHE, and a state clinical exam. Florida does not accept licensure from other states.
- Washington: Requires 15 hours of continuing education annually, a current BLS certification, and passing a state-approved clinical exam.
Licensure is managed by individual state dental or hygiene boards and must be renewed every 1–2 years. Most states also mandate continuing education for renewal.
Step # 5. Make strong job offers and build a smooth onboarding process
When you find the right skilled professional, make a compelling job offer. Create a package that reflects their experience, includes benefits like paid leave, and outlines clear expectations of this role. Be transparent about the work culture and what success looks like in the role.
Onboarding should not stop with paperwork. As recruiters, you can train them on your office protocols, software, and equipment. Introduce them to your team and help them settle in.
Encourage continuing education for career advancement and create a work culture where feedback and learning are welcome. This not only improves work performance but also helps retain skilled professionals.
Step # 6. Choose between contractual vs. full-time staffing
Dental hygienists and dental assistants can work in a variety of healthcare settings—from dental offices to nursing homes. Based on your needs, you can opt for full-time or contractual staffing. Fewer times contractual hiring helps meet seasonal demand and is cost-effective, but this can also disrupt patient relationships and continuity of care. Your decision-making should also consider finances, scheduling flexibility of work, and improving patient experience.
Use a smarter staffing approach to build a high-performing team
Finding skilled dental professionals can be a challenge, especially with competition for talent increasing across the U.S. The key is to use smart, structured steps—from crafting strong job posts to checking licenses and building onboarding plans.
If you want to save time and improve your hiring results, consider using a healthcare staffing platform like MedSquirrels, designed for healthcare facilities. It is also a dental hygienist hiring platform where you can also hire dental assistants. Hiring through these platforms can connect you to pre-screened, licensed professionals faster and at a lower cost than traditional methods.
Whether you are looking to hire dental hygienists or dental assistants, investing in the right process and partnering with the right platform will help your practice grow and deliver the best care to your patients.
Founder Dinis Guarda
IntelligentHQ Your New Business Network.
IntelligentHQ is a Business network and an expert source for finance, capital markets and intelligence for thousands of global business professionals, startups, and companies.
We exist at the point of intersection between technology, social media, finance and innovation.
IntelligentHQ leverages innovation and scale of social digital technology, analytics, news, and distribution to create an unparalleled, full digital medium and social business networks spectrum.
IntelligentHQ is working hard, to become a trusted, and indispensable source of business news and analytics, within financial services and its associated supply chains and ecosystems
