Curve Dental® Helps Dental Practices Address the Labor Shortage by Creating the Optimal Work Environment for Attracting and Retaining Top Talent
The dental industry is facing a significant labor shortage, impacting practices nationwide. This shortage has forced dental professionals to re-evaluate their priorities and seek roles that offer competitive compensation, a positive work environment, and opportunities for growth.
This blog post will explore the key findings of the 2025 Dental Industry Salary Report and discuss how Curve SuperHero™, the leading cloud-based all-in-one dental software by Curve Dental, can empower dental practices to attract and retain top talent by creating a more efficient, rewarding, and fulfilling work environment.
About the Survey
DentalPost’s 2025 Dental Industry Salary Report, created in partnership with Dental Economics, RDH Magazine, and Endeavor Business Intelligence, was conducted from October to November 2024. This survey was the fifth annual report of its kind, providing critical insights into salaries, benefits, work hours, job turnover, retirement plans, and job satisfaction criteria for over 3,500 dentists, hygienists, assistants, and front-office staff.
Key Findings from the 2025 Dental Industry Salary Report:
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High Turnover: Across all roles (dental hygienists, assistants, office managers, and front-office associates), high turnover rates occurred in 2024. The consistent key motivator across all positions was a better work environment.
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Emphasis on Work Environment: Dental professionals consistently prioritize a positive and supportive work environment, opportunities for professional growth, and a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
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Technology as a Positive Force in Job Satisfaction: Dental professionals in all team positions highly value streamlined workflows and the ability to utilize modern technology.
Deeper Insights Into Team Turnover and Retention
The Big Picture
The labor shortage, worsened by the pandemic, forced employers to compete fiercely for dental professionals. Workers, recognizing new opportunities, began seeking better roles. Some discovered the grass wasn’t greener elsewhere, while others engaged in open conversations with their employers. In response, many employers boosted pay and improved working conditions to retain top talent.
Associate Dentists
Nearly 29% of associate dentists changed employers in 2024. Their top incentive was finding a “better work environment.” Nearly 47% of responding associates are considering or actively seeking a job move within the year. Chief among their complaints was dealing with insurance company denial of claims and navigating resultant patient dissatisfaction.
Dental Hygienists
One in five (20.5%) dental hygienists changed employment in 2024. Their top incentives for moving were higher pay, a better work environment, and better benefits. Going into 2025, 12.5% were looking at job postings and planned to apply for open positions. Open comments clearly indicated motivations to move or stay in place were a friendly work environment, opportunities to keep learning and using new technology, an ideal place to provide the best care and educate patients, high trust and collaboration among team members, and admiration for the dentists they support.
Dental Assistants
Like the prior year, 23% of responding dental assistants changed employers in 2024. Top motivations were a better work environment, higher pay, and a more appreciative employer. Slightly over 30% were applying or planned to apply for job openings in 2025. The happiest one-third praised the environment in which they work, which provided them with opportunities to learn and be recognized for their expertise in using sophisticated technology.
Dental Practice Managers
Although a low 8% of practice managers changed jobs in 2024, nearly one-third of this year’s survey respondents were applying or planning to apply for new jobs in 2025. Their top motivators for job changes were career advancement followed by a better location, a better work environment, and higher pay. What they especially enjoy is the opportunity to foster a professional, caring office culture; work with respectful, skilled teams and managers; improve patient wellbeing from clinical, financial, and logistical perspectives; and use modern technology and critical thinking to streamline operations and create order from the chaos of evolving schedules, regulations, and reporting.
Front-Office Associates
In 2024, 29.7% of front-office associates changed employers. Their primary motivations were a better work environment, more appreciation, and better hours. In 2025, 28% of front-office associates plan to apply for job openings. The 37% who are satisfied or very satisfied remarked on the friendly and helpful atmosphere where they work and their ability to solve problems successfully throughout the day to help patients and team members.
How Curve Dental‘s All-in-One Dental Practice Management System Creates the Work Environment Dental Teams Love
A positive work environment isn’t just about salaries and benefits—it’s about having the right processes, systems, and technology in place to support your team. Dental professionals are more satisfied when they can focus on patient care instead of wrestling with inefficient software or tedious administrative tasks.
The right technology should simplify workflows, enhance communication, and reduce stress—not add to it. That’s why Curve Dental’s all-in-one cloud-based practice management system is designed to work for dental teams, helping them be more efficient, productive, and satisfied in their roles.
Curve’s intuitive software streamlines critical practice operations such as scheduling, charting, imaging, billing, and communication. This automation reduces your team's administrative burdens, allowing them to focus on patient care and professional development. With Curve, dental teams get access to:
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HIPAA-Compliant Intra-Office Messaging with Curve Chat – Secure, real-time messaging keeps your team connected without relying on external apps, improving communication and reducing bottlenecks.
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Curve Mobile – Stay connected to your practice anytime, anywhere. Access patient information, view schedules, and send messages, ensuring seamless coordination even outside the office.
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Smarter Insurance Claims Management – Curve helps practices minimize claim denials with quick, accurate electronic claims submission, real-time eligibility verification, and automated ERA processing. The system estimates patient benefits upfront, improving cost transparency, cash flow, and overall patient satisfaction.
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Better Financial Outcomes – Practices using Curve streamline billing and collections, leading to stronger financial stability.
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Time-Saving Automation – By reducing administrative workloads, Curve frees up more time for teams to focus on patient care.
Cassie Tallon, an operational efficiency expert, recommends Curve to all her clients because of the dramatic improvements it delivers in efficiency, collections, and claim management. Practices she consults with have achieved remarkable results, including reducing labor hours by 2–3 hours per day, improving patient collections by 50%, and decreasing claim denials by 45%. By eliminating inefficiencies and providing powerful automation, Curve helps dental teams create the work environment they want—one where they feel supported, valued, and empowered to provide excellent patient care.
Schedule your personal demo of Curve Dental’s cloud-based all-in-one practice management system today and see how our innovative software can help you overcome staffing challenges and build a thriving, happy practice.
