The dental industry is undergoing swift advancements in technology and innovations in patient care. With the shortage of dental professionals, practices urgently need to prioritize retaining their team members and supporting them in transitioning to new technology and protocols.
Empowering your dental team through fostering a positive dental practice environment, continuing education (CE), and implementing innovative retention strategies are key to building and sustaining a thriving practice. This article explores how dental practices can optimize these elements to drive success.
Why Invest in Dental Team Retention
Replacing a dental professional is costly—not just in terms of training, but also the time it takes to find the right candidate in today’s competitive dental job market. Open positions can strain your team, reduce patient capacity, and impact patient and staff satisfaction.
By fostering a supportive workplace culture, offering competitive pay and benefits, and encouraging professional growth, dental practices can minimize turnover and transition their teams to utilizing today’s best practices to achieve optimal patient care and operational efficiency.
In today’s labor climate, where replacing staff is expensive and time-consuming, prioritizing retention is not just a financial decision—it’s a competitive advantage that ensures long-term stability and success for your dental practice.
Understanding What Dental Team Members Want
DentalPost surveys demonstrate that the top reasons dental professionals seek new opportunities include the desire for higher wages and feelings of being undervalued or limited in career growth. While compensation is critical, this article will discuss other factors influencing employee retention: the dental workplace culture, opportunities for professional development, meeting relationship needs of trust and appreciation, the desire for employee benefits, and also stressors like a difficult commute, insufficient time to perform tasks optimally, and health and ergonomic factors.
Below, the top motivators for changing dental jobs are discussed.
Higher Dental Professional Compensation
How much income is enough is not only a matter of living standards but also expectations for income to rise with experience, loyalty/longevity, effort, and contribution to the overall health and prosperity of the dental practice. How much is enough also depends on the cost of living in the geographic area, the stress of commuting, the stress of the work, and the average wages paid for their role in the geographic area.
Dental professionals want to be compensated more than "average" and for their compensation to grow yearly, especially as their responsibilities grow. Nearly all job-searching dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, practice managers, and administrative associates responding to annual DentalPost salary surveys report the desire for higher income.
Beyond pay, dental professionals value benefits that support their wellbeing, such as paid time off, flexible scheduling, and support for continuing education. These benefits demonstrate an employer’s commitment to supporting employee work-life balance and career development.
Positive Dental Workplace Culture
DentalPost’s annual salary surveys indicate that a positive practice culture and supportive workplace environment are fundamental for retaining dental professionals. Dental practice coaches report higher levels of employee satisfaction in practices that promote team cohesion and consistently recognize contributions. Supervising dentists and practice managers play the primary role in this by listening actively, valuing opinions, and providing regular support.
Dental Team Appreciation and Recognition
When asked in DentalPost surveys what they like most about their work, the top two likes of dental professionals are “making a difference in people’s lives” and “the relationships they have with patients and other team members.” Feeling appreciated by patients, supervisors, and colleagues is a human need that supports happiness at work. DentalPost and Gallup surveys indicate that dental professionals who feel their opinions matter and receive recognition for their contributions are more engaged and productive. Regular one-on-one meetings, open communication channels, and routine expressions of gratitude significantly improve morale and loyalty.
Acknowledgment is a strong motivator, and simple gestures can have a lasting impact. Examples include a heartfelt thank you or praising efforts during team meetings.
Take this example: During a team meeting, a dentist introduces the idea of monthly “shoutout” sessions. Each team member is encouraged to recognize a colleague’s contributions publicly. If the dental hygienist thanks her assistant for staying late to help with charting, the assistant may tear up, saying, “I didn’t think anyone noticed.” The team is likely to chime in, sharing their own gratitude. Meetings like this often end with laughter and hugs. This type of morale boost will likely last for weeks—until the next shoutout session.
Strong Dental Team Leadership
Strong leadership is foundational to any thriving dental team. Practice leaders set the tone for the dental practice culture, communication, and team morale. A thriving dental team starts with a shared sense of purpose. Clearly defining goals and aligning them with the practice’s mission gives team members a reason to collaborate and contribute meaningfully.
When team members see how their efforts contribute to the practice's overall success—whether by enhancing patient care, boosting efficiency, or helping the practice thrive—they're naturally more engaged. Simple actions like having open conversations, setting clear goals, and celebrating wins together as a team can make a big difference.
Great leaders take the time to listen, respond thoughtfully, and show they care. They model leadership by collaborating with others, showing empathy, and staying adaptable. Encouraging team members to voice their ideas and take the lead on improvements helps create a workplace where everyone feels valued and motivated. When people feel supported, they’re more likely to stay and give their best daily.
For example, imagine that the dentist-owner implements a bi-weekly lunch meeting at a growing dental practice called "Team Sync." During these sessions, team members are encouraged to share challenges and brainstorm solutions together. At one meeting, a front office assistant proposes a new patient check-in process that saves the practice ten minutes per patient. If the owner acts upon the employee’s input, it’s a win-win for team morale and practice efficiency.
Streamlined Workflows
Efficiency is essential to creating a stress-free environment. Few things frustrate teams more than outdated systems or redundant processes. Leveraging modern dental practice management tools, like Curve SuperHero™, can alleviate these pain points by automating processes such as scheduling and billing.
Dr. Steven Deets is one of the 80,000+ users of Curve software. He said, “I can't say enough good things about this dental software! It's been a game-changer for our practice. The intuitive interface makes charting and treatment planning a breeze. The scheduling and reminder features have significantly reduced no-shows. Plus, the imaging tools are top-notch. Overall, it has streamlined our workflow and improved patient care. I highly recommend.”
Dental Team Opportunities for Growth
Gallup’s research emphasizes two core drivers of employee engagement that resonate deeply in dental settings. Employees want meaningful work that contributes to the practice’s success. They also want access to professional growth opportunities that benefit the practice and advance their sense of value to the practice and personal passion for what they do.
In 2022, 81% of respondents to a DentalPost survey reported a lack of regular encouragement to develop professionally, and only 15% said someone at work encourages their growth. Investing in continuing education (CE) courses, providing mentorship, and recognizing development milestones, such as completing certifications in dental professions or mastering new software, are ways to make dental workers feel valued, align them with the practice’s mission, and energize their work engagement.
Providing avenues for skill development and career advancement demonstrates a practice’s commitment to its team members’ success and builds loyalty.
Imagine this: When a dental assistant at a small family practice in Alabama earns her EFDA certification, the entire team throws a surprise lunch to celebrate. The dentist had covered her tuition and adjusted her schedule so she could attend classes. She is overwhelmed by the support of her employer and coworkers. The elation of the day is just the start of a long-lasting loyalty to the practice. Imagine her saying weeks later, “I finally feel like I’m making a big difference, and I love the impact I have on others’ lives. I just love these people.”
Imagine that in another dental practice, an office manager notices a dental assistant is eager to expand her role and has a knack for handling patient inquiries. With the manager’s and dentist’s encouragement, the assistant pursues the AADOM Dental Assistant to Practice Administrator (DA to PA) Curriculum. Her employer pays the tuition, and she becomes a hybrid dental assistant and patient coordinator. Her job satisfaction soars.
Support and Empower Your Dental Team Through Continuing Dental Education
Continuing dental education (CE/CDE) is a common dental employee benefit. In fact, in the 2024 DentalPost salary survey, 30% of responding associate dentists reported receiving paid CE, 38% of responding dental hygienists, 22% of responding dental assistants, 46% of responding practice managers, 12% of billing specialists, and 17.5% of other front office administrators.
Continuing education benefits not only make dental team members feel valued; the education empowers them, enhances patient care, and drives practice success. By prioritizing CE benefits, dental practices can foster growth and innovation, while at the same time increasing employee satisfaction.
There are various ways dental practices provide CE benefits. Some provide reimbursement for approved course tuition. Some cover the costs of certification programs. Some pay the expenses of some or all employees to attend one or more dental conferences offering CE.
The Benefits of Investing in a Dental Team’s Continuing Education
- Continuing education boosts dental employee satisfaction and loyalty. Dental professionals are passionate about expanding their skills. Offering affordable or fully covered CE opportunities demonstrates your commitment to their growth, fostering loyalty and reducing turnover.
- Continuing education elevates skills and expertise. CE allows team members to gain certifications such as Expanded Functions Dental Hygiene (EFDH) or Expanded Functions Dental Assisting. The advanced skills they master increase clinical efficiency and elevate the quality of patient care.
- Continuing education benefits foster a culture of learning. A commitment to CE cultivates an environment of innovation and dental team collaboration. Sharing knowledge gained from CE courses strengthens teamwork and drives better patient outcomes.
- Continuing education encourages innovation. Industry conferences expose team members to the latest advancements in dentistry, empowering them to bring new ideas and best practices back to the office.
The Role of AI and Automation Software Tools in Building a Thriving Dental Practice
Relying on outdated systems forces dental teams to spend valuable time on repetitive tasks, which can lead to inefficiency, frustration, and eventually burnout or staff turnover. Incorporating AI-powered tools and automation provides a solution by simplifying complex workflows and improving communication across the team.
Eliminating Dental Team Busywork
Modern dental practice management platforms like Curve SuperHero™ automate patient appointment scheduling, dental billing, dental charting, and dental reminders, freeing up valuable time for dental teams to focus on patient care. Using digital intake forms can streamline administrative tasks, increase the accuracy of input, and shorten the time a patient spends in the dental office. Improved efficiency increases dental team member engagement in their roles. Improved efficiency is the number one praised feature by dental teams who have transitioned to cloud-based dental practice management software platforms like Curve Dental’s.
Because seamless communication is necessary to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of a dental practice, Curve Dental’s cloud-based dental practice management software is designed to facilitate real-time information flow, with instant updating of schedules and patient profiles, and one-click access to information. It also provides dental teams with the ability to collaborate easily through shared notes and treatment plans.
Elevating the Patient Experience
A happy, engaged dental team directly impacts the patient experience—and the relationship is reciprocal. When patients feel valued, supported, and cared for, they are more likely to trust your team, follow treatment plans, and remain loyal to your practice. Modern dental software technology empowers practices to deliver both exceptional patient care and team satisfaction. Modern dental practice management solutions, like Curve Dental’s, are designed to ensure staff-to-patient and staff-to-staff interactions are smooth and productive. In an environment focused on efficiency, staff can devote more attention to building strong relationships with patients and serving their individual needs.
Increasing Clinical Precision
Modern dental practice solutions like Curve SuperHero are integrated with AI-enhanced clinical software like Pearl’s Second Opinion and Bola AI. These AI tools enhance clinical evaluation and communication with patients, empowering dental professionals to work more effectively with patients.
Automating Practice Analytics for Informed Decisions
Understanding your practice’s performance is key to success. When dental practice business analytics are automatically tracked and available on real-time dashboards, dentists and their team members can quickly make smart decisions that benefit patients and themselves.
Stay Interviews: An Innovative Strategy for Retaining Dental Team Members
Many thriving practices are turning to “Stay Interviews” as a proactive method for retaining valued employees. Adopting this innovative strategy is an investment in your team and your practice’s success.
A stay interview is a structured conversation to uncover what motivates team members to stay and what might drive them away. Unlike performance reviews, these open conversations focus on improving the work environment and better meeting individual employees’ needs to reduce the risk of turnover. For example, a stay interview might uncover an employee’s need to start and end their day outside of rush hour traffic or their burning desire to expand their responsibilities.
Start by selecting a quiet, comfortable space and setting aside ample time for open, meaningful conversations. Prepare a list of questions in advance to cover essential topics. The questions might vary based on your familiarity with a dental team member. During the discussion, the employer or supervisor should actively listen, take thorough notes, and recap the main points to reinforce that employees' input is valued. During the interview, seize the opportunity to recognize the contributions the employee makes and affirm the employee’s value to the practice.
You might want to ask questions like these:
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What’s your favorite part of the workday?
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What do you find most rewarding about your role here?
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What aspects of work do you find most challenging?
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Do you have all the resources you need?
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Is there anything in the way of you enjoying your work and doing your best?
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Have you ever considered leaving? If so, what prompted that thought?
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From your perspective, what aspects of the practice need improvement?
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Is there something you want to do more of or new you want to learn?
After completing the interviews, review the insights to prioritize changes that can make a difference. While resolving every mentioned issue or desire may not be feasible, implementing even minor adjustments shows a sincere effort to create a supportive workplace culture.
Dental Team Wellbeing at Work: Gallup’s Strategies for Retaining Loyal Employees
Offering genuine support when employees feel exhausted, stressed, or face personal challenges can significantly affect their decision to stay. Empathy and understanding show they are valued, strengthening their commitment to the practice.
While Gallup’s insights often focus on large organizations, dental practices can benefit by adapting the same strategies. These include:
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Recognize and utilize each individual’s strengths to encourage purpose and growth.
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Conduct frequent, informal, feedback conversations to understand employee needs
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Incorporate wellbeing topics into team meetings.
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Provide opportunities for physical activity during the day.
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Regularly schedule team knowledge-sharing meetings to foster mutual understanding and support.
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Encourage the team to participate together in a meaningful community service and outreach activities.
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Transition to more efficient tools, for example, dental practice management software that streamlines workflows and reduces stress.
By prioritizing dental employee wellbeing, you can create a supportive culture that not only retains top dental talent but also enhances patient care and practice performance.
Building a Strong Foundation for Dental Team Retention and Success
In addition to good wages and benefits, dental professionals seek to work in environments where they are trusted and appreciated. Job satisfaction increases when a dental practice focuses on creating a positive workplace culture and helping dental team members grow in their roles. They love helping others and cultivating strong relationships with patients and fellow team members. Ultimately, dental team members need to know they are valued and are performing meaningful work in an environment of mutual appreciation.
Here Are 5 Actions to Foster Staff Loyalty and Long-Term Retention
The following steps can nurture a happy and productive dental team to ensure long-term practice success.
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Set the tone for your practice: Develop a positive dental practice culture by establishing a clear mission and goals that align with your practice’s values. Foster mutual respect, teamwork, and a sense of purpose among all team members.
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Keep the lines of communication open: Conduct regular team meetings to ensure alignment on practice objectives, address concerns, and encourage open dialogue. Include wellbeing conversations.
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Leverage technology for efficiency: Streamline workflows with modern dental practice management software to automate scheduling, billing, and documentation.
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Celebrate wins, big and small: Recognize dental team achievements regularly through employee-of-the-month awards, thank-you notes, or informal shoutouts during meetings.
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Invest in your team’s future: Support team members in pursuing continuing education (CE), certifications, and skill-enhancement opportunities.
*This content was partially generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain errors or inaccuracies, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice.
