Introduction:

Building a successful dental team is crucial to attracting loyal patients and requires careful planning and preparation. In the face of sudden employee departures due to accidents, emergencies, or resignations, many dental practices find themselves in a state of panic. However, such scenarios can be preemptively managed by conducting thorough groundwork and readiness measures.

Creating a Robust Preparedness Plan:

Anticipating the unexpected is a key principle in effective team management. Just as dental practices have precise systems for patient care, they should establish a comprehensive preparedness plan that considers the possibility of employee losses. By investing time and effort in advance, practices can minimize disruptions and maintain production goals.

Instituting Dental Temporaries:

It's essential for dental practices, regardless of size or location, to proactively identify dental professionals open to temporary work. This pool can consist of part-time dental assistants, hygienists, or even instructors from local community colleges who have availability during holiday breaks, and other periods. Integrating these temporaries into the practice's activities, such as staff meetings, continuing education, and team-building events, fosters a sense of inclusion and reliability.

Crafting an Engaging Job Description:

Crafting an enticing job description is paramount. A well-crafted job description reflects the professionalism and vibrancy of the dental practice. Highlighting the practice's mission statement and office culture will attract dental job seekers that align with the dental practices’ attributes. Moreover, showcasing competitive compensation and benefits demonstrates the practice's commitment to employee satisfaction.

Emphasize the Dental Practice Bonuses and Benefits:

While competitive compensation is important, a benefits package can often sway candidates' decisions. Studies have shown that even when compensation is not what the dental job seeker anticipated, the benefits package and bonus system can significantly influence a dental job seekers decision. 

Leveraging Social Media Presence:

An active and appealing presence on social media platforms can serve as a powerful recruiting tool. By appointing a suitable dental employee to manage the practice's social media accounts, practices can showcase their unique attributes, work environment, and employee experiences. This platform offers an effective medium to communicate the reasons why joining the practice is an appealing opportunity for dental job seekers.

Participating in Job Fairs:

Engaging in job fairs provides practices with a valuable opportunity to meet potential candidates face-to-face. The unpredictability of the talent pool at such events often results in the discovery of exceptional candidates who might have been overlooked through traditional recruitment channels. Encouraging current dental employees to participate in job fairs can also extend the practice's reach.

Utilizing Specialized Job Boards:

While local platforms can be useful, utilizing dedicated dental job boards, such as Dental Staffing.org, can significantly expand the practice's visibility across the United States. These platforms allow practices to present their openings on a larger scale, while also maintaining the confidentiality of any candidates wishing to remain anonymous. Moreover, they offer membership options that simplify the process of posting multiple job ads and you should never underestimate the interest of a dental job seeker to relocate for the right position.

Conclusion:

Creating a top-tier dental team requires careful strategy and foresight. By embracing proactive measures like dental temporaries, compelling job descriptions, strong office culture, social media engagement, participation in job fairs, and utilization of dental job boards, dental practices can attract and retain exceptional dental talent. Investing in these strategies ensures operational stability for the practice and the entire dental team.

“The art of smiling should be ingrained in employees even before they are hired,

reflecting a deep commitment to a vibrant and harmonious workplace.”

      ~Arte NathanTop of Form