As labor shortages create challenges in the dental industry, DSOs have had to get creative on how to recruit and retain staff.
Three DSO execs have spoken to Becker's this year to discuss how workforce shortages are affecting their practices and the DSO field as a whole.
Here is what three execs had to say:
Why 1 DSO exec expects 'seismic' change in the dental industry
Scott Asnis, DDS. Founder and CEO of Dental365 (New Hyde Park, N.Y.): Absolutely, like the labor market in the Northeast. Luckily, we've had the ability to look around the corners and we put processes in places that best prepare for all these challenges. The labor market is getting better and people are coming back to work. [We have almost] a full roster of hygienists, so things are definitely getting better. I just think people are now coming back to work. Before, they were very comfortable working from home and I think healthcare providers like hygienists are coming back to the workforce.
The double-edged sword facing DSOs
Barry Lyon, DDS. Chief Dental Officer for the Division of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry at Dental Care Alliance (Sarasota, Fla.): Every DSO and every private dental practice continue to face the frustrating task of recruiting, training and retaining employees, whether they are clinical or clerical. According to the American Dental Association, more than 70 percent of owner dentists claimed hiring administrative staff was challenging and more than 50 percent of owners said recruiting associate dentists was challenging. This has driven dental practices to create positive work environments to increase employee loyalty and retention.
The pent-up demand for dental care since the pandemic has shown little signs of diminishing. As a result, competition for hiring providers is keen among DSOs. This double-edged sword of increased needs for dental services against a shortage of providers has kept DSOs constantly seeking providers to meet that demand.
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Stephen Thorne IV. CEO and Founder of Pacific Dental Services (Irvine, Calif.): Just like the rest of the dental industry, we're not immune to the major staffing shortages for dental hygienists and dental assistants that are impacting practice capacity nationwide. It is essential that we address this issue, particularly in the field of dental assisting, by bringing together organized dentistry and the broader dental community to promote the profession proactively. Failing to do so could pose significant challenges for our industry in the future.
One of our key initiatives at PDS has been investing in the education and training of dental assistants. Over a three-year period, we implemented a comprehensive training program and more competitive compensation to attract and retain highly skilled professionals. Our primary goal is to raise the visibility and status of dental assisting. Dental assisting is a demanding yet rewarding occupation on par with medical assisting and nursing. It is through our collective efforts that we can elevate the professional stature of dental assisting and secure a brighter future for our industry.