dental culture posts

If you are thinking of starting your own business, you are not alone. Many hygienists are exploring unconventional business models that allow them the flexibility and freedom of being their […]

If you’re a registered dental hygienist or a dental assistant considering a new opportunity in the dental industry this year, you’re in good company. Our latest Dental Salary Report revealed […]

Let’s face it: finding great help can be hard in the era of digital dentistry and technology. Sifting through dozens of random resumes, finding the applicants with the right skills […]

At DentalPost, we frequently hear from job seekers about the less polite and hospitable environments they work in—sometimes “toxic” environments.  In DentalPost’s 2024 Salary Survey, large numbers of respondents said […]

We’ve all had them in our chair. The patient that loudly exclaims how much they hate the dentist as they are being seated. Some will even move beyond that declaration and […]

As a people-pleasing dental hygienist, the idea of measuring my performance by my practice was initially met with resistance. The thought of being evaluated based on sales or the number […]

Scaling and root planing? Check.   Periodontal therapy? Check.  Xray expertise. Check.  Emotional Intelligence? Wait, what? For decades, dental hiring managers have sifted through dental candidates based on their hard skills, […]

In the busy world of dentistry, where every second counts and patient care is paramount, it can be tempting to opt for the quickest solution when hiring new team members. […]

Ask any dental practice owner if they value and appreciate their staff, and the answer would be “yes.” The real question is whether this appreciation reaches the employees and do […]

When was the last time you had a performance review? In a busy dental practice, it’s common for employees to go more than six months, even more than a year, […]

In addition to being responsible for managing your direct reports to meet the business’s goals, you also care about them as individuals. Because you care, managing employees to meet expectations […]

With dental teams already stretched to the limit, dental temps are more in demand than ever, given less predictable patient loads, holiday schedules, the usual PTO requests, and staffing shortages. […]

We all know drama is inevitable, right? The small office drama happens in every workplace, including dental offices. However, rather than participating in gossip and negative conversations about our co-workers, […]

Have you reached the point where you are considering venturing out on a job search? In today’s competitive job market, it is absolutely essential to maintain a vigilant and discerning […]

“Job post despair.” We see it over and over again. Day 1: You agonize for 45 minutes over the perfect job posting.  Then, DONE, click…posted.  Day 2: Crickets. Nothing. Day […]

In a dental office, trust is everything. Seriously! It’s like the secret sauce that makes the whole team work together like a well-oiled machine. We’re talking precision, expertise, and compassionate […]

Dentistry feels like it’s at a tipping point as dental offices continue to struggle with balancing patient demands against ongoing staffing shortages. Appointments are being shortened to accommodate overflowing schedules, […]

Stepping into the world of dental professionals is a journey paved with hard work, dedication, and a passion for enhancing oral health and smiles. As you embark on this path, […]

It’s no secret that every person in the dental office plays a vital role in the success of a practice. From the receptionist who greets patients with a smile to […]

Is your dental practice experiencing high staff turnover, or have you built a committed team ready to grow together in their dental careers? With over 30% of dental employees looking […]

Exploring new job opportunities in dentistry is very exciting – and there’s never been a better time for dental professionals looking to grow their careers! From clinical roles as a […]

Part 2 of 2 Saying “YES” to your next clinical position can simultaneously be filled with excitement and doubt. Starting a new page of your professional book can be thrilling […]

DentalPost is exploring the cyclical trends in dentistry recently revealed by the 2023 Dental Salary Survey that saw input from over 15,000 dental professionals nationwide. From pay cuts to burnout […]

Open AI (Artificial Intelligence) is making a splash in the news again. Why should you care? If you’re hiring for your dental practice, you might want to check out ChatGPT […]

Flexibility, including work-life balance, was one of the main things that drew me into dental hygiene. As a dental assistant in high school, I watched the hygienists balance their family […]

Our 2023 DentalPost Salary Survey highlighted that, despite pay increases and improvement in overall job satisfaction, 39% of dental office receptionists and associates will be looking for a new job […]

Celebrating Dental Assistants This Week and Every Week Often overlooked and misunderstood, dental assistants (DAs) are the lifeblood of smooth-running dental offices. And it isn’t until they take a day […]

A career in the dental field can be highly rewarding; however, like other careers, it can have its highs and lows that can challenge our decision to forgo a career […]

You’ve applied for new jobs, won an interview for a very attractive position, and received a job offer. Congratulations!  The excitement of getting a great offer often propels us to […]

Disconnects can occur even in great cultures. Dental employees who were once highly engaged can lose their interest and enthusiasm. For example, a disconnect (gap) between an employee’s new sense […]

At some point in our lives, we all experience the desire to leave our job in search of better opportunities. In 2022 alone, it is expected that one in five […]

You’ve done a phenomenal job of building a great culture of behaviors, systems, and practices based on core values the entire team seems to embrace. Team members support one another […]

Halfway through 2022, The Great Resignation has continued to plague the dental job market.  Potential dental receptionist candidates are deciding to go into other industries where remote work is possible. […]

Train people well enough so they can leave. Treat people well enough, so they don’t want to. Sir Richard Branson Finding and hiring the right dental employees is a tall order […]

“Fulfilled employees don’t want to leave.” Saurav Atri, Gallup In today’s challenging recruitment landscape, employee fulfillment and well-being should be at the top of the priority list for dental employers […]

We all have good and bad days at work. No matter how much we enjoy our jobs, patients, or work colleagues, it’s normal to have “off” days when we know […]

It’s late Thursday afternoon and you’re wrapping up some paperwork, ready to head into the weekend when your best hygienist peeks her head in and asks to speak with you.  […]

Following DentalPost’s recently released annual salary survey, we conducted a dental job satisfaction poll of 551 dental professionals in February to find out: What is driving dental workers to look […]

Given the uncertainty of the world, many people are living and operating from a place of fear, so it’s understandable that employees may feel a bit disenchanted or burned out. […]

Over the last year, dental workers have returned to the job market in large numbers, and many returning workers took positions with new employers. With the current shortage of dental […]

Most of us are living in a chronic state of fatigue and burnout. The daily rhythm of our workday creates fatigue, requiring us to rest and retreat. We must first […]

Before “pandemic times”, dental professionals seeking new jobs would predictably begin dusting off their resumes in December, preparing to search for their next dental job at the start of the […]

Our Diverse Voices series continues with someone whose mission to inspire and empower hygienists is one that is near and dear to my heart. Fellow RDH and founder of Empower RDH, […]

As part of our recent SmartView launch, DentalPost is elevating diverse voices and leaders in dentistry so that we can all better understand their perspectives on how to propel our […]

Last week, I was so excited to launch SmartView, a new DentalPost feature, a long time in the making, that empowers dental hiring managers to conduct candidate screening without candidate […]

Have you ever made the wrong assumption about someone after meeting them the first time? Maybe they reminded you of someone who bullied you as a child or had the […]

This past weekend, I watched along with the world as Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, made history as the first to launch civilian passengers (including 3 of his employees) […]

Every time we take a dental industry poll, the top reasons cited for leaving an employer remain constant. The two hot button issues for dental professionals are wanting to leave […]

Is your dental office green? What is your practice doing to reduce their carbon footprint and become eco-friendly? Every year, we learn more and more about the threat of climate […]

Much is expected of dental professionals today. The solitary nature of the clinical work itself and the long hours make for easy burnout even in the most supportive dental offices. […]

There is so much to appreciate about Dental Assistants, as they are essential to the prosperity of a dental practice. Their delivery of safe and successful dental care, in addition […]

Recognizing your dental team with gratitude for their hard work over the year is quintessential to having a successful practice. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are great examples of appreciation […]

Whether you’ve worked 10 days or 20 years, we likely all have a good ego story, whether it’s an embarrassing personal experience or an experience we had with a colleague […]

When was the last time you felt truly appreciated?  Whether you are in the role of boss, employee, parent, or friend, we all need to feel like what we are […]

Sometimes it takes something major to cause you to reevaluate every aspect of your life. For all the challenges and disruption the pandemic has brought, it has also forced us […]

Do You Have a Comeback Mindset? When the doors to your practice open, will you be ready? Will you be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with team members who are ready? Our ability […]

In a recent blog, we talked about the importance of a weekly team huddle. This week, we checked in with Dentists about what is working in their virtual huddles and […]

A Virtual Huddle is a great idea to help keep everyone unified. Everyone is feeling the uncertainty of how the Covid-19 pandemic will play out.  In many cases, you have […]

The Secret Formula to Having Your Dental Dream Team In my previous article, we laid the groundwork for what it will take to successfully hire a winning team. We discussed […]

Get Ready to Make your Dream Team a Reality Surely, we would all agree, that we could not have a successful practice without patients. And, without a winning team, we […]

This article was originally published on January 17th, 2020. It was most recently updated on April 19th, 2022. 2021 was dubbed the year of the ‘Great Resignation.’ It’s little wonder […]

Did you know that your ability to recognize and respond to your emotions can directly tie to your level of success in life? It’s called “Emotional Intelligence” (EI) and it is […]

If you’ve ever had to quit a job, you know it can get messy and emotional. Tempers flare, confusion ensues, feelings get hurt — quitting a job isn’t an inherently […]

Can you imagine how (understandably) frustrated your team would be if you hired your mom, wife or girlfriend for a job they were totally unqualified for? While hiring mistakes usually […]

Many healthcare professionals forget about the sensitive nature of dental records when it comes to cybersecurity breaches, privacy, and confidentiality. Patient profiles in dental offices contain many of the elements […]

Despite a Gallup poll suggesting only 13% of us are engaged in our work environments, most of us will stay in the same boring position because we fear change, lack […]

Continuing Education courses are the building blocks of your career. Yet I’ve heard it many times over the years and to this day, assistants will tell me they are told they don’t […]

Great bosses do this…

Ask yourself, “What do I want?”

What is Emotional Intelligence? How much do I have? The Oxford dictionary defines Emotional Intelligence (EI) as “the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to […]

There is no doubt about it. Job interviews can be scary and nerve-wracking. You are anxious and working hard to sell yourself so this dental office will hire you. While […]

Sitting hunched over patients’ mouths for several hours a day is extremely taxing on your body. Dental hygienists and dentists are prone to problems as a result of poor working […]

Often forgotten, the dental lab technician (tech) is a valuable member of any dental team. We’re usually huddled away in a separate location, sometimes miles away, musing over a case. […]

As the saying goes, “there’s an app for that” and dentistry is no exception. From studying x-rays to making appointments, we rely on apps to help us more efficiently do […]

The Complainer. The Bully. The Slacker. The Gossip. The Slob. The Flirt. The Drama Queen. Sound like the cast of characters from Glee or Mean Girls? Unfortunately, these personality types […]

When buying gifts to show appreciation for your team members, coworkers, or colleagues, it may be challenging to know where to turn for highly usable and highly desirable gifts that […]

Going through the recruiting process can be time-consuming and exhausting. Starting with a solid job ad will help make the hiring process easier and attract the right culture and top […]

Every working professional runs into a problematic coworker eventually. It’s simply the odds of working with other people. Not everyone you work with will mesh or vibe with your personality […]

Congratulations – you’ve made it to the dental interview stage. If this is your first job out of school, you might be looking for some guidance. First off, pat yourself […]

Moving is hard. Not just the packing, house hunting, school searching and don’t even get me started about finding an emergency contact for your kid’s paperwork, but if you hold […]

A tireless dental office manager is at the center of every great dental office. They’re typically the first ones in and the last ones out and make sure that our […]

Stepping outside the comfort zone of college life to knock on the door of a new career can feel daunting. You’ve probably heard the saying ‘experience itself is the best […]

“Workaholic” is a tricky word. Everyone knows a self-describing “workaholic.” It’s even possible you’ve been called a workaholic once or twice. But — and let’s be clear — there is […]

Dental industry trends are constantly changing, and it’s important to stay on top of them to ensure you’re providing the latest and greatest to your patients. Here are five dental […]

You’ve been through the right training, you’re comfortable with the instruments, and now you’re ready to interview for dental jobs. However, concrete dental skills are only half the battle here; […]

Plenty of forums and sites offer seemingly magic “dental office management tips” to dental professionals. Here’s the truth: there’s no “secret formula” to running a dental practice. It requires a […]

When you want to provide excellent customer service to your patients and streamline how your dental office runs, it’s time to look at ways to improve communication. When your dental […]

Ask any dentist about dental school and they’ll tell you it can be both the best and most challenging time of their careers. While that sounds daunting, it’s a necessary […]

Happy Dental Assistant Recognition week! We asked the dental community why they loved being a dental assistant and the response was overwhelming! We received hundreds of responses from dental assistants […]

There are many reasons to enjoy a career as a dental assistant. It’s fairly sociable, you get to perform meaningful tasks in the practice, and it is a great step […]

Women in dentistry are (and have been) leading the industry for years. The success and strength of women in the workplace are becoming a bigger focus for our industry and […]

Dental hygienists don’t get enough praise. Spend just a few months in the profession, and you’ll quickly see how wild it can actually be. You deserve a hug. While every […]

As many dental job seekers come to discover, finding a dental job is a lot like dating; you ask your friends (or the internet) to match you up, put your […]

I’ve worked in a lot of different dental offices throughout my career — while trying to start a family, I temped in over 100 offices! So, I have certainly seen […]

Dental managers and owners invest a great deal of time and money in making sure that their office equipment is well-maintained and up to current standards. But many practices overlook […]

In 2007, business mogul and entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson created a movement for business owners called Capitalism 24902 to be a force for good in the world. In an article […]

All of the aspects that positively affect the psychology of a person’s well-being -purpose, meaning, identity, fulfillment, creativity – are absent in the average job. Seventy percent of Americans do not […]

Think back to your first day of high school. Did you have butterflies in your stomach? Were you worried about finding your classrooms, making new friends, or forgetting your locker […]

Many factors affect how long it will take to find the perfect job in dentistry – everything from the current economy to flexibility in terms of hours or pay. While there’s […]

The Pros and Cons of Big Vs. Small Dentistry If you look at Wal-Mart vs. the little shoe shop on the corner you will begin to understand the differences between […]