The hiring landscape for dental hygienists has changed dramatically in the past few years, and not in a way that makes life easier for practice owners. Wages are rising, new hires often earn more than seasoned hygienists, and there just aren’t enough candidates to go around.
As a result, more practices need outsourcing options to stay on track with patient care and reduce the pressure on their full-time teams.
In this post, we’ll walk through what outsourcing looks like in dentistry, how it can help, and common-sense strategies to make it work for your practice.
Outsourcing dental hygienist services refers to working with external companies to fill staffing gaps, rather than hiring hygienists as full-time employees.
Unlike traditional hiring, outsourcing typically involves flexible arrangements such as short-term contracts, temporary coverage, or as-needed services.
Many practices rely on temp agencies to find hygienists who can fill in during vacations, illness, and leaves. However, in today’s tight labor market, even agencies are struggling to find talent and often rely on hygienists who pick up extra shifts on their day off.
These professionals cost more than a full-time employee but avoid the need to reschedule hygiene appointments.
There are several practical reasons practices turn to outsourcing:
| Flexibility | You can adjust staffing levels based on daily demand |
| Less Admin | No onboarding, HR paperwork, or benefits administration |
| Speed | Temporary and contract hygienists can often start quickly, helping you avoid canceled appointments and lost revenue |
Outsourcing isn’t just a stopgap. It can offer real advantages, such as:
| Practice Flexibility | Scale up or down without a long hiring process |
| Staff Well-Being | Avoid burnout by giving your full-time hygienists support |
| Patient Experience | Maintain appointment availability and reduce wait times |
If you decide to outsource, picking the right partner makes all the difference. It’s important to ask potential partners how their hygienists are vetted and if all professionals are licensed and up to date on continuing education.
Don’t be afraid to call around as rates vary, and so does availability. Make sure the provider can deliver, especially given today’s shortage.
Even with outsourcing, you’re still responsible for maintaining high standards of care. Confirm that anyone working in your practice meets state licensing and certification requirements and aligns with your practice’s values and workflow.
Onboarding a temporary or contract hygienist doesn’t have to be complicated. Share your office protocols, hygiene procedures, and software basics ahead of time so they can hit the ground running.
A quick run-through with your team before the day begins can go a long way toward a seamless day.
The shortage of dental hygienists isn’t going away overnight. Rising wages, limited training programs, and growing patient demand mean that practice owners need to think creatively about staffing. Outsourcing can offer a flexible, workable solution if it’s done thoughtfully.
The key here is to be proactive. Keep your current team happy with competitive pay and benefits, and explore outside-the-box options to keep your schedule full and your patients cared for.
Outsourcing won’t solve every challenge, but it might be the support system your practice needs to move forward.