Enjoy your vacation knowing your practice is in good hands.

Taking time off is good for your mental health. Vacations can prevent burnout and prepare you to be more productive when you return to work. The good news is you can use a temporary dental staffing agency to ensure your practice doesn’t suffer because you took some much-needed time off.

Whether your office has a dentist on vacation or you need a hygienist to cover some requested time off, temporary dental staffing is a valuable solution. 

The thought of finding temporary staffing can be overwhelming if you’ve never hired a temporary dental professional. After all, you want to find the perfect person to ensure your office continues creating high patient satisfaction.

If you don’t find a suitable temp, your other option is to temporarily close your office and refer patients somewhere else. In this case, you must provide a phone number for a trustworthy colleague willing to take on your patients. Not your idea of quality patient care? Then searching for temporary dental staff is your best solution. 

The search for temporary dental staff.

The first step to preparing for time off is finding and hiring a temporary dental professional. You must determine how long you’ll need their services. Do you need an entire week of coverage or a few days to cover a part-time dental assistant? Figure out what they will be responsible for and begin searching. 

You have multiple ways to find a reliable temp. You can pay a dental temp agency to provide a staff member. These agencies help prevent lost hygiene appointments and give you more free time by locating the temp for you.

Another option is referrals. Use your network of dental professionals to spread the word that you are looking for someone to fill a position in your office temporarily. Referrals often come with the highest recommendations, so you know they are dependable. 

Finally, you can use various online platforms. Social media outlets have pages dedicated to dental professionals. Some were even created for the sole purpose of finding temporary staffing solutions.   

Qualities to Look For

Before beginning your search for a temp, you must know what qualities and skills you are looking for. It will help you narrow your choices as potential names flood your desk. There are some traits that all good temporary employees will have in common, such as the following: 

• The right skill set
• Professionalism 
• Relevant experience 
• Adaptability 
• Positive attitude 
• Reliability 

Find someone passionate about dentistry. Just because they are joining your team on a short-term basis doesn’t mean they don’t have to be passionate about their work.

You may not be able to find someone who checks every box. Prioritize which characteristics are most important to your office, and look for a temporary staffer with those traits.  

Interview and Selection

Review the resumes the temp agency provides or that you have collected via other means. Choose the professional who checks your most important boxes and schedule them for an interview. This meeting will let you understand their personality and ask questions about their skills and experience. 

How can you determine whether someone will be a reliable candidate? Asking a series of questions will help you make an informed decision and choose the most suitable temporary dental professional. Common interview questions you can ask are: 

• Why do you want a temporary position? 
• What was an experience in your career when you had to quickly adjust to a new situation?
• Do you have the skills listed in the posting?
• What key factors motivate you? 

A staffing agency may help with interviews, but you’ll always want to meet the candidate before offering them the position. Once you’ve chosen the right person, have them sign a contract with you or the staffing agency and confirm the start date and number of days they’ll be employed. 

Prepare for a stress-free vacation.

Whether you’re the dentist on vacation or another team member is taking time off, you’ll know when you need temporary help. Give yourself time to find the best temporary dental staff and complete proper onboarding and training. You’ll feel more comfortable with the transition when everyone knows what to expect.  

Regular team members should know who is covering for you or how many temporary staff members to expect if they will rotate daily. Who should patients call in case of an emergency? 

Planning weeks to months in advance will allow you to be thoroughly prepared. This preparation ensures a smooth transition during your vacation. Ultimately, you must trust that your team knows what to do and can handle the long stretch away from the office.  

Need an idea for your next vacation? 

If you’re searching for a temporary dental professional to fill in at your office, you’ve likely got a relaxing, carefree getaway planned. But if you want to use your time away to enhance your professional skills, consider attending an orthodontic continuing education course hosted by the American Orthodontic Society. These courses train you to blend orthodontic services into your general practice, allowing you to offer a wider range of services. Contact us today to learn more about our courses.