How to hire a dentist/owner

How to hire a dentist/owner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step dentist/owner hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a dentist/owner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new dentist/owner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The dentist/owner hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A dentist/owner's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, dentist/owners from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of dentist/owners and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Dentist/Owner	Description	Hourly rate
   Dentist/Owner	Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients’ teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth. They provide advice and instruction on taking care of the teeth and gums and on diet choices that affect oral health.	$44-116
   General Dentist	The primary job of general dentists is to diagnose, treat, and manage patients' oral health care needs, including root canals, fillings, and gum care. They are considered as the main dental care providers for both children and adults... Show more	$47-105
   Dentist	Dentists are physicians specializing in oral health. The main responsibilities of dentists are to diagnose oral diseases and treat them with the help of different equipment and technologies... Show more	$47-104

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Oral Surgery
   • Treatment Planning
   • Dental Implants
   • Dental Procedures
   • Dentures
   • Surgical Extractions
   • Direct Patient Care
   • Dental Clinic
   • Patient Education
   • Prosthetics
   • Surgical Procedures
   • Root Canals
   • Treatment Options

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage early and moderate periodontal disease, evaluate the results of periodontal treatment and establish maintenance program.
   • Consult with patients on treatment options and provide patient education on best practices and the latest oral/facial techniques and technology.
   • Practice general dentistry, in a Medicaid office setting.
   • Perform partial dentures, place mini-implants, provide emergency treatment and repairs of dentures and partials.
   • Manage early and moderate periodontal disease, evaluate the results of periodontal treatment and establish maintenance program.
   • Provide Invisalign treatment to correct dental alignment.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your dentist/owner job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A dentist/owner salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, dentist/owners' average salary in west virginia is 41% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level dentist/owners earn 62% less than senior-level dentist/owners.
   • Certifications. A dentist/owner with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a dentist/owner's salary.

   Average dentist/owner salary

   $150,127yearly

   $72.18 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level dentist/owner salary

   $93,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 31, 2025

4. Writing a dentist/owner job description

   A good dentist/owner job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a dentist/owner job description:

   Dentist/owner job description example

   **Overview**
   
   **** **This is your opportunity to grow your career with the nation's largest network of implant providers!** ****
   
   As a dentist in our network, you not only change smiles you change lives!
   
   We provide comprehensive dentistry to adults 18 and older with a heavy volume of extractions, dentures, and implants. Enjoy access to state-of-the-art technology, such as 3D cone beam imaging and an innovative on-site lab. You will also be equipped with industry-leading live implant training and provided a generous compensation package.
   
   **_Unique Benefits of Practice Ownership:_**
   
   + ***Competitive Base Salary, Monthly Bonus, and Equity Accrual***
   
   + ***100% Entity & Equity Ownership***
   
   + Absolutely no personal financial liability tied to your ownership OR cash investment required
   
   + Full medical, dental, and supplemental insurance
   
   + 401k w a company match
   
   + 24 Days of paid time off per year
   
   + Malpractice insurance coverage
   
   + Licensure reimbursement
   
   + Innovative live implant training and robust CE courses
   
   **_Practice Differentiators:_**
   
   + **Onsite Denture Lab**
   
   + State of the Art Facility with **3D Cone Beam**
   
   + **360** **°** **Business Support** with a dedicated Operations Director to bear the weight of the non-clinical stress of running a practice
   
   + The backing of the world's largest implant provider
   
   + **The support of a network that TRULY values its providers**
   
   + and more!
   
   + Companesation: $225,000 - $600,000 per year
   
   **If you're confident in your clinical abilities, have a passion for surgery, and love changing lives -- it's time to join our dedicated team.**
   
   **Responsibilities**
   
   **_Responsibilities:_**
   
   + Educate patients on oral health.
   
   + Consult, diagnose, plan and care for patients in our removable prosthetic and implant focused practice
   
   + Assisting with the provision of removable prosthetics and extraction services, as well as the necessary steps involved with each service
   
   + Working closely with our on-site lab to design dentures and partials for patients
   
   + Lead a team of clinical and non-clinical staff to achieve their professional goals and contribute to the ultimate success of the practice
   
   + Providing a variety of tooth replacement options to patients, including removable, fixed, and implant services
   
   + Keep abreast of new developments in dentistry through structured continuing professional developments
   
   **Qualifications**
   
   **_Qualifications_**
   
   + Must be a DDS or DMD from an accredited dental school
   
   + Implant experience preferred but not required
   
   + Surgical experience with complex cases highly preferred
   
   + Compassionate and caring provider with excellent chairside manners who loves being part of a team atmosphere
   
   + A Passion for dentistry; both clinically and non-clinically
   
   **Hear from the AD&I team about why they love being a part of the nation's largest network of implant providers:**
   
   **About Affordable Care:**
   
   Founded in 1975, today Affordable Care, LLC is **America's largest dental support organization (DSO) focused on tooth replacement services,** serving more than 400 dental practices across the United States. Each practice has an on-site dental laboratory, allowing the practice to provide same day dental services including extractions, dentures and implants. **Affordable Care is the DSO for two top dental brands: Affordable Dentures & Implants and DDS Dentures + Implant Solutions.**
   
   From the Affordable Care Support Center, located in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park, along with field-based teams, Affordable Care provides business expertise and support services to dental practices, taking care of non-clinical duties so dentists can focus on treating patients. Visit affordablecare.com, affordabledentures.com and dentalservice.net.
   
   **Total Comp Range $250,000 - $600,00 / year**
   
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   **Category** _Dentists_

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find dentist/owners for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your dentist/owner job on Zippia to find and recruit dentist/owner candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit dentist/owners, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new dentist/owner

   Once you have selected a candidate for the dentist/owner position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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