For many years, the type of the way folks confirmed up for paintings within the dental business stayed in large part the similar. Dentists owned and operated their practices with a gradual staff of entrance place of business team of workers and dental assistants. Dental hygienists incessantly labored at a unmarried location, even if it used to be now not unusual for them to select up an everlasting part-time place at every other place of business. To fill gaps within the agenda, practices hired transient employees, which has lengthy equipped another choice, in particular for dental hygienists and dental assistants. Contemporary body of workers information display that some dental pros are actually combining the ones preparations slightly than opting for one or the opposite.
Survey information assortment
GoTu surveyed just about 8,000 dental pros over the path of 3 years. In 2024, GoTu started surveying dental hygienists for its State of Paintings analysis in 2024, giving the occupation 3 years of information via 2026. Dental assistants have been added in 2025, offering two years of information, whilst dentists have been surveyed for the primary time in 2026.
In 2026, the survey advanced how respondents may just describe their paintings schedules to gather extra knowledgeable information about how dental pros are in truth running. Fairly than deciding on just one form of employment association, respondents may just choose a couple of choices, shooting those that may dangle an everlasting place whilst additionally running transient or gig shifts. The expanded choices equipped a clearer view of the way dental pros are placing in combination their workweeks. Let’s dig into that quantity.
Similar: Why are hygienists turning to temping?
Versatile paintings schedules vs. burnout
In 2026, 12.1% of dental hygienist respondents reported a combined agenda, in comparison with 12.4% of dental assistants and 13.1% of dentists (skewed towards the ones of their early occupation). With roughly one in 8 respondents throughout all 3 professions combining a couple of form of paintings association, versatile paintings is now not a dialog that applies simplest to dental hygienists or those that establish essentially as transient employees.
