There is another important factor Wisconsin dental professionals and practice owners should understand when discussing today's temporary hygiene rates: The growth of large national staffing agencies has changed the economics of temporary dental staffing.

Over the past several years, dental professionals have increasingly been exposed to temporary staffing opportunities offering rates that can be significantly higher than traditional permanent employment wages. At first glance, this can look like a win for the dental professional. Higher compensation sounds great. But there is a bigger question: Can dental practices realistically afford to pay those rates long-term?

When Higher Temporary Rates Become the New Expectation

Large national staffing companies operate across multiple states and markets. They may have access to practices with very different reimbursement rates, production levels, operating costs, and labor markets. A temporary hygienist may see an opportunity advertised at a high hourly rate in one market and naturally begin to view that number as the appropriate benchmark for other assignments. Over time, this can create a ripple effect. A professional may begin thinking:

"If another company is paying $X per hour, why shouldn't I receive that same rate everywhere?"

But the economics of one assignment do not necessarily translate to another. A rate that works for a large dental corporation, a high-production practice, or a particular metropolitan market may not be sustainable for an independently owned dental practice in Wisconsin.

The Difference Between a National Rate and a Local Market Rate

This is where local staffing knowledge becomes extremely important. Wisconsin has its own dental labor market. A temporary hygienist's appropriate rate can be influenced by:

     •   Local cost of living
     •  Local practice production
     •  Patient reimbursement
     •  Supply and demand
     •  Geographic location
     •  Travel distance
     •  Professional experience
     •  Assignment length
     •  Schedule
     •  Local competition for hygienists

A national company may be able to offer a particular rate because its business model, pricing structure, geographic footprint, or client base allows it to do so. That doesn't automatically mean every Wisconsin dental practice can support that same rate.

Higher Temporary Pay Can Eventually Affect Permanent Wages

There is also a natural relationship between temporary and permanent employment. When temporary assignments consistently advertise substantially higher compensation, permanent employees may understandably begin asking: "Why am I working permanently for less when I can make more temporarily?" That can put additional pressure on dental practices to increase permanent wages.

For practices, this creates a difficult cycle:

Higher temporary rates → higher compensation expectations → pressure on permanent wages → higher overall labor costs → increased cost of operating the practice.

And ultimately, practices have to recover those increased costs somewhere.

But Dental Practices Can't Simply Raise Their Prices Forever

Dental practices don't have unlimited flexibility. They are also dealing with rising costs for:

     •  Dental supplies
     •  Laboratories
     •  Equipment
     •  Technology
     •  Rent
     •  Utilities
     •  Insurance
     •  Payroll
     •  Administrative employees
     •  Compliance
     •  Continuing education

At some point, the economics must work. If labor costs increase faster than practice revenue, the practice has fewer options. That can mean fewer hours, fewer employees, reduced benefits, higher patient fees, or fewer opportunities for temporary coverage.

This Isn't About Blaming Dental Hygienists

Dental professionals are not wrong for wanting to earn more. In fact, qualified hygienists should absolutely understand their value. The issue is not whether dental hygienists deserve competitive compensation. The issue is whether the rate being requested is sustainable for the market in which the professional is working.

There is a difference between: "I deserve to be paid well." And "Every dental office should be able to afford the highest temporary rate currently being advertised."

The Temporary Staffing Market Has to Work for Both Sides

A successful staffing relationship requires three parties to remain satisfied:

     •  The dental professional needs to feel fairly compensated.
     •  The dental practice needs to feel the staffing cost makes financial sense.
     •  The staffing agency needs enough margin to provide recruiting, payroll, insurance, scheduling, administration, and ongoing support.

If one side becomes financially unsustainable, the entire staffing relationship eventually suffers.

Why DES Takes a Local Approach

Dental Express Staffing is a Wisconsin-based local dental staffing agency. We aren't trying to compete by promising the highest possible rate for every assignment. Instead, our goal is to understand the Wisconsin dental market and create staffing arrangements that work for both professionals and practices. We want dental professionals to earn competitive compensation. We also want dental offices to continue using temporary staffing when they need it. That requires finding the balance.

The Wisconsin Dental Market Needs Balance

National staffing companies have helped increase visibility around temporary dental opportunities and, in some cases, have contributed to higher compensation expectations among dental professionals. That doesn't mean higher pay is bad. It means dental professionals and dental practices need to understand why rates are where they are and whether those rates are sustainable in their local market.

Fair Pay. Sustainable Rates. More Opportunities.

At Dental Express Staffing, we believe Wisconsin dental professionals should be paid fairly for their skills and experience. …but we also believe Wisconsin dental practices deserve staffing rates that make business sense. We choose not to pay or charge the highest rates possible, because we want to create sustainability in the market. We want dental professionals to earn well and dental practices to remain profitable.

The strongest staffing relationships are the ones where everyone understands the economics and everyone can continue to succeed. That's the balance Dental Express Staffing is working to create in Wisconsin.

Looking for the Right Staffing Balance?

Whether you're a Wisconsin dental practice looking for reliable temporary coverage or a dental professional exploring flexible opportunities, Dental Express Staffing can help you find a staffing solution that works for everyone.

Let's find the right fit for your practice, your career, and your market. Contact Dental Express Staffing today to learn more about our Wisconsin dental staffing solutions.  https://www.dentalexpressstaffing.com/About/Contact