When it comes to growing your dental practice, hiring the right staff is one of the most important responsibilities. Many potential patients will not even schedule with practitioners who earn less than five-star ratings on Google. Still, due to recent dental hygienist shortages, it can be challenging to find the right candidates.

Your practice should consider what patients look for in a good hygienist to find the right picks for your team.

What Do Potential Patients Look for in Good Dental Services?

The quality and professionalism of your hygienists will determine how patients view your practice. Some candidates may administer safe and effective procedures but struggle with open communication. This problem can lead to confusion between patients and staff during appointments and may reduce your quality of service.

Try to understand your patients’ concerns and expectations before accepting the first candidate that submits an application. Most patients expect their hygienists to work quickly, offer preventive care advice, and administer solutions that help them alleviate pain for problems like gum disease.

Prioritize detail-oriented, friendly, and experienced candidates for the best results.

Potential candidates should also have the interpersonal skills necessary to communicate with children and adults. Ask your candidates about their time management and problem-solving skills. These questions will help you determine if they are willing to put your patients’ needs first.

How Can You Promote Your Dental Practice to Hygienists?

In today’s fast-paced environment, many hygienists are not interested in navigating an extensive hiring process with potential employers. That is why you need to promote your most attractive benefits upfront for the best response rate. Discuss not only the financial benefits of working with your practice — insurance, salary, and other factors — but also how your office will provide the most rewarding experience for their careers.

Suppose you don’t want to look far for new hires. Consider the dental assistants that already work in your practice. Some of these individuals may be training to become fully licensed oral hygienists, so it’s important to invest in their training and happiness. 

If you don’t already have dental assistants at your office, reach out to online communities, hygienist schools, or other industry-related forums for leads.

What Ways Can a Dental Practice Improve Its Marketing Strategy for Better Leads?

Many dental practices wait for good hygienists to come to them. Unfortunately, this method can take weeks or even months and may prevent you from keeping up with appointments. Learning how to find a good dental hygienist through organic outreach is an excellent way to simplify the process.

Your dental practice may provide the best benefits for employees in the region, but it won’t mean much without the right marketing strategy. Meet with your staff to discuss ways your practice can promote itself online or through traditional advertising channels.

Improving your SEO scores online will also help your practice become more visible to both potential patients and hygienists looking for work. Try adjusting your search filters on job listings to narrow your pool of potential candidates.

How Can You Train Your Hygienists for Better Retention Rates?

Once you hire a few quality hygienists, ensure that they have adequate training before putting them in front of your patients. High-quality training should teach them how to safely administer oral health procedures and communicate effectively with patients. This method prevents stressful situations that may make them feel underprepared or overwhelmed. 

Trained employees are also more willing to trust management and stay loyal to your practice. With better retention rates, you can avoid spending time searching for new hires and focus on your patients’ needs.

You can discover more dental staff training tips with resources from Dental Intelligence. Our reputable company helps dental practitioners like you manage their offices without unnecessary setbacks.

Achieve Five-Star Ratings with Help from Dental Management Technology

Earning good ratings will help your dental practice attract more patients and quality hires. At Dental Intelligence, we can give you the tools to improve your reviews with 2-Way Communication and Appointment Reminders. 

Continue exploring our website to view common hiring mistakes that may impede your practice’s daily operations. Schedule a demo today.