Struggling to Hire in Dentistry? Here’s How to Fix It.

In today’s competitive dental job market, finding — and keeping — the right team members can feel overwhelming. The numbers tell the story: 82% of dental offices had to hire last year, and more than 10% of office staff are actively considering quitting. With 3 out of 4 offices expecting a talent shortage, the pressure is on.

From sifting through endless resumes to losing top candidates to faster-moving practices, hiring often becomes a time-consuming process that distracts from what matters most: patient care. And the stakes are high—with 17% to 25% of team members turning over annually, the cost of getting hiring wrong is significant.

But here’s the truth: streamlining your hiring process doesn’t just save time — it helps you attract stronger candidates, reduce turnover, and build the kind of team that drives growth.

So how can dental practices cut through the hiring chaos and find the right fit?

1. Get Clear on Who You’re Looking For

Before posting a job, outline the must-have skills, cultural fit, and growth opportunities you want to offer. A clear, compelling job description attracts the right people and filters out those who aren’t a match.

The stakes are real: 80% of turnover is due to bad hiring decisions. You don’t want to invest time and money in a new hire only to have them leave months later or realize they’re not the right fit.

Pro tip: Highlight your practice’s values and what makes working with your team rewarding. Today’s candidates are looking for more than just a paycheck — they want to belong. Staff retention has become the #1 concern for dental practices, making cultural fit more important than ever.

2. Use Smart Tools to Reach More Candidates

The dental industry has unique hiring needs. General job boards can leave you buried under irrelevant resumes. That’s where DentalPost.net comes in.

DentalPost is the nation’s largest dental job board, built specifically for dental professionals. With tools like:

• Targeted candidate searches to quickly find qualified applicants
• Skill and personality assessments to ensure the right team fit
• Profile filters so you only see candidates who meet your criteria

…you’ll save hours of manual work and connect directly with the professionals who are most likely to succeed in your practice.

This targeted approach is critical when almost half of dentists are hiring dental assistants and a third are hiring dental hygienists or administrative staff. The competition for quality candidates is fierce.

3. Communicate Quickly and Professionally

Top talent doesn’t stay on the market for long. In a landscape where 18.92% of billing specialists were actively applying for jobs or planning to apply before 2025, and another 45.95% reported they might apply for new jobs, streamlined communication is key to keeping candidates engaged.

With DentalPost, you can message applicants directly through the platform, speeding up the process while keeping everything organized. When qualified candidates are exploring multiple opportunities simultaneously, your response time can make the difference between landing great talent and losing them to a competitor.

4. Think Beyond Hiring — Retention Matters Too

Building your dream team isn’t just about filling seats — it’s about keeping your best people happy.

With between 20% and 25% of professional staff in dental offices leaving their jobs, retention has become just as critical as recruitment. The cost of constantly rehiring and retraining is staggering, not to mention the disruption to patient care and team morale.

DentalPost helps with this, too, by providing insights into workplace culture, team dynamics, and ongoing professional development opportunities. When your team feels valued and supported, they’re more likely to stay — saving you from starting the hiring cycle all over again.

40% of employees who don’t receive adequate training leave, making onboarding and ongoing development essential components of any retention strategy.

Final Thoughts

Streamlining your dental hiring process is about more than efficiency — it’s about building the foundation for long-term growth, patient satisfaction, and a positive workplace culture.

With the right tools and strategy, you can stop scrambling to fill positions and start building a dream team that stays.

In today’s talent shortage environment, practices that master efficient hiring and strong retention will have a significant competitive advantage. The practices that struggle with constant turnover will find themselves perpetually behind, spending more time managing hiring crises than growing their business.

Ready to simplify your hiring? Visit the Employer page on DentalPost.net to get started.