Successful dentists know that it takes a dedicated team to keep the practice running as efficiently and productively as possible. This not only ensures the success of the practice, but that patients receive the highest level of care. And dental assistants are sometimes overlooked for the critical role they play on the dental team.
In my experience as a practicing dentist, dental assistants need to be very smart to understand what we, the dentists, are doing in each procedure. Dental assistants also need to have a demeanor to be comfortable with any patient who is in the chair. Different patients have different needs—sometimes the dental assistant needs to be compassionate or console a patient, especially children. Other times, the dental assistant may need to answer a lot of questions. I’ve noticed that patients sometimes like me to leave the room so they can talk one-on-one with the assistant.
Additionally, dental assistants need to be very organized and help keep procedures on track, but also be flexible because sometimes we end up doing a procedure that we didn’t anticipate. In a word, dental assistants have to be unflappable. They truly are our right-hand men and women.
But what if a practice is struggling to hire and retain qualified dental assistants? According to several surveys and feedback from dentists across the country, this is unfortunately a common scenario for many practices.1 The number of dental assisting jobs that will need to be filled in the coming years is on the rise.1 Dental assisting is one of the fastest-growing professions, with employment of dental assistants projected to grow 11% from 2018 to 2028.1
The concept of supply and demand impacts all markets, and the practice of dentistry is no different. Right now, in many areas of the country, the demand for educated and skilled dental assistants is greater than the supply.
In my home state of Michigan, there are about 6,000 working dentists,2 which means that to meet the average need for 1.7 assistants per dentist,3 we need 10,200 dental assistants in Michigan. There are about 9,960 assistants working in Michigan,4 and at this time only about 1,800 hold an active registered dental assistant (RDA) credential.5
Michigan is not unique in this problem. I have come across news stories about the shortage of dental assistants in many states. It is so common, I would argue, that it is becoming the norm rather than the exception.
According to a report from the North Dakota Dental Association, 70% of dentists attempted to hire a dental assistant in the previous year, and 40% were unsuccessful at filling the position. In addition, 92% of dentists thought there was a shortage of dental assistants in North Dakota.6
Recently the Washington State Dental Association (WSDA) reported on the dental assisting shortage in that state. A survey showed it typically takes two to six months to fill an open dental assisting position, although some practices reported that it took even longer, eight months or more, to fill the position.7
These are just a few examples. Dentists in other states have reported dental assistant shortages in their areas, including California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and more.8–13
For dentists who do find a dental assistant with the right personality and disposition, the chances that this individual has the necessary training and education are slim. According to data from the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute, the number of dental assistants who graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation–accredited dental assisting program declined by 23% between 2008 and 2018.14
With these stark numbers, what can we, as dentists and business owners, do? Here are three critical steps you can take right now.
1. Recognize the value of dental assistants
First, recognize the value that dental assistants bring to the practice. The Dental Advancement through Learning and Education Foundation (DALE Foundation), the official affiliate of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), has new research about the value of dental assistants to the dental practice that shows dentists and dental office managers agree that dental assistants contribute to the productivity of the dental practice by impacting key areas, such as patient retention and patient acceptance of the dentist-recommended treatment plan.15
As a practicing dentist, I see this every day. I cannot work without my dental assistant. She has been with me for more than 10 years, and she is priceless. This leads me to the second point.
2. Invest in your assistant’s education and credentials
The more knowledge, training, and education your dental assistants have, the more they can contribute to your practice. My dental assistant first came to me as an extern, and then I hired her full-time. Over the years, I encouraged her to earn DANB’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification and Michigan’s RDA credential. With her knowledge and skills, I can do more complicated procedures and see more patients.
I have given all dental assistants whom I have hired the opportunity to further their education and get the courses they need to be DANB-certified and registered in the state of Michigan. With this support comes the expectation that they will contribute more, be more satisfied with their careers, and stay with the practice. And this is not just my experience—there is research to back this up. In one survey, 90% of dentists, dental hygienists, and dental office managers agreed that dental assistants who completed continuing education courses were more likely to contribute to the profitability of the practice.15 What’s more, 82% of dental assistants who hold DANB’s CDA certification reported high job satisfaction, as compared to 75% of dental assistants who are not certified.16
I invest in my staff because I value them and the contributions they make to the practice. That is why I not only support their pursuit of education and credentials, but I also pay them well. That brings me to my third and final point.
3. Offer an attractive compensation package
If we want to have a successful dental practice, we need to invest in the best. That goes for how we compensate our assistants. According to DANB’s research, the top factor that mattered most to dental assistants in a job was salary, followed by work-life balance and insurance benefits.16
One dentist friend of mine who works with a practice management company was told to keep costs down and pay the dental assistants less. This company did not realize that great dental assistants make us more efficient and help both patient care and the bottom line.
Rather than looking at the dental assisting position as an expense, consider that the assistant is an asset to the practice. By investing in your assistant, you’ll be positioned to realize even greater benefits to the health of your patients and your practice.
I want my assistants to stay with me for the long term, especially since the cost of retraining someone to a high standard is expensive in dollars and time.
Look at what dental assistants typically earn in your area and consider offering a bit more than the average. If you are willing to pay your assistants a little more, you can also be clear that you expect top-quality performance. Consider incentive-based bonuses to ensure that staff are motivated to contribute to the success of the practice. This can also help instill a feeling of ownership and engagement in their work.
Final thoughts
Dental assistants are an integral part of any successful dental practice, and any practice that underestimates their value is missing an important opportunity. In a time when the need for dental assistants is outpacing the number of qualified individuals available to hire, and with employee turnover a continuing issue across practices, it is imperative that we as dentists take a closer look at our approach. We must take steps to ensure that we not only attract and retain high-quality dental assistants, but also make our practices a place that those dental assistants want to be a part of for many years.
References
1. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dental Assistants. United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm. Updated October 15, 2019.
2. Supply of Dentists in the U.S. American Dental Association website. https://www.ada.org/en/science-research/health-policy-institute/data-center/supply-and-profile-of-dentists. Published February 2020.
3. Dental Practice. American Dental Association website. https://www.ada.org/en/science-research/health-policy-institute/data-center/dental-practice. Published November 2019.
4. Occupational Employment Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2018, 31-9091 Dental Assistants. United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319091.htm. Updated May 2018.
5. Licensee search. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs website. https://aca3.accela.com/MILARA/GeneralProperty/PropertyLookUp.aspx?isLicensee=Y&TabName =APO. Accessed January 2020.
6. Is there a dental assistant shortage in North Dakota? North Dakota Dental Association website. https://www.smilenorthdakota.org/docs/librariesprovider39/default-document-library/is-there-a-dental-assisting-shortage-in-north-dakota9dd5fadcb07d6e0c8f46ff0000eea05b.pdf?sfvrsn=0.
7. Help wanted: Washington’s hygienist and dental assistant shortage. Washington State Dental Association website. https://www.wsda.org/news/blog/2019/03/26/help-wanted-washington%27s-hygienist-and-assistant-shortage. Published March 26, 2019.
8. Pathway to California RDA license clarified in new CDA resource. California Dental Association website. https://www.cda.org/Home/News-and-Events/Newsroom/Article-Details/pathway-to-california-rda-license-clarified-in-new-cda-resource-1. Published June 19, 2019.
9. Dental assistants are in great demand. College Foundation of North Carolina website. https://www1.cfnc.org/Plan/For_A_Career/Career_Cluster_Profile/Cluster_Article.aspx?articleId=kgjSTNsiA7sF76a3yOD3ogXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX&cId=BufXemcmHBSoBjt9hbo0XAP2BPAXwXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX§ionId=3. Accessed January 2020.
10. Careers: Dental Assistant. West Coast District Dental Association website. https://www.wcdental.org/public/careers-in-dentistry/dental-assistant. Accessed January 2020.
11. Magan C. With skilled workers hard to find, MN program helps companies train the workers they have. Twin Cities Pioneer Press website. https://www.twincities.com/2019/07/05/2-9-million-in-state-grants-help-fill-workforce-shortages/. Published July 5, 2019.
12. Gavin M. Dental assisting program at ICC being offered. Tyron Daily Bulletin website. https://www.tryondailybulletin.com/2019/06/27/dental-assisting-program-at-icc-being-offered/. Published June 27, 2019.
13. Finnemore M. Dental schools, organized dentistry work to address shortage of dental assistants. Oregon Dental Association website. https://www.oregondental.org/docs/librariesprovider42/default-document-library/odam_odam091801250bddb07d6e0c8f46ff0000eea05b.pdf?sfvrsn=0. Published September 2018.
14. 2018-2019 Survey of Allied Dental Education. Report 2—Dental Assisting Education Programs. American Dental Association website. https://www.ada.org/en/science-research/health-policy-institute/data-center/dental-education.
15. Value of Dental Assistants to the Dental Practice. Dental Advancement through Learning and Education Foundation website. https://www.dalefoundation.org/Resources-And-State-Requirements/Value-of-Dental-Assistants.
16. 2018-2019 Dental Assistants Salary and Satisfaction Survey. Dental Assisting National Board website. http://danbcertified.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2018-Salary-Survey-visual-report-1.pdf.
JOANNE DAWLEY, DDS, is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and currently runs her own practice in Michigan. She is president of the DALE Foundation’s Board of Trustees and a member of the National Dental Association, the Wolverine Dental Society, the American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.
