Benefits of Hiring a Dental Associate

Educating oneself on different models intoday’s dental speciality management world is extremely important to grow and take care of patients more efficiently and effectively. One modelof such support is hiring a dental associate. This offers a variety of benefits of hiringa dental associate, especially for established practices that need to expand their services and workload. In this blog, we will understand how this way of thinking and implementing the habit of hiring a dental associatecan be a game changer in your dental practice.

What is a Dental Associate?

A dental associate is a licensed dentist who practices under an existing dental practice as an employee or independent contractor but is not the maindentist. They generally offer a broad range of general dental services, and their dutiescan depend on the needs of the practice and the experience and skills of the associate. While a partner shares ownership and management duties, a dental associate is focused specifically on patient care.

Benefits of Hiring a Dental Associate

Hiring a dental associate can unlock a wealth of advantages for a dental practice. Let’s explore these benefits of hiring a dental associate in detail:

1. Increasing Availability for Patients andPractice Population

One of the most immediate benefits of hiring a dental associate is the capacityto treat more patients. Having the staff of another dentist allows the practice to increase business capacity, leading to shorter wait times and betterpatient access.

2. Enhancing Revenue Generation

Another benefit of hiring a dental associate isthe direct relationship between increased patient volume and revenue. The more services the newly hired associate provides, the moremoney the practice makes. This new source of income can be reinvested into thepractice for improvements, promotions, or continued growth.

3. Ithelps ease the workload of the Principal Dentist

If you are a busy dentist who works on patients, the pressures of running apractice and looking after your patients can be too much. One important reason for hiringa dental associate relates to the distribution of workload. This enables the main dentist to prioritize various components within the practice more effectively, providing for areas such as strategic development of thepractice, staffing and training challenges, complex patient treatment, and possibly most importantly, establishing a healthier ratio between work and home life balance.

4. Offering Specialized Services

Adental associate may have specialisation in a field of dentistry where the principal dentist does not. Bringing in such a person can allow the practice to provide a wider array of services internallyand appeal to patients who would otherwise require referrals. Not only does this improve patient convenience, butit also helps retain revenue within your practice.

5. Mentorship and Growth Sessions

Hiring a dental associate, particularlya recent graduate, can also offer the chance to mentor. Not only is this personally gratifying, but in turn, it produces a positive and collaborativepractice atmosphere. Forthe associate, on the other hand, it’s a chance to learn from an experienced practitioner.

6. Enabling Transitioninginto Future Practice

Bringing on a dental associate is a strategic move in long-termsuccession planning. An associate with a good cultural fit and proven competence in patient care may be a natural successor.

7. Enhancing Practice Value

A practice withone or more dentists is usually worth more than a single dentist practice. Hiring a dental associate not only shows the growthpotential of the practice but also helps in producing a steady stream of income for the new owner to see an increase in their cash flow as a buyer down the line. Thisis another important long-term benefit of being a dental associate.

8. Reducing On-Call Burden

When it comes to owner-operator practices, hiring a dental associate can often go a long way in minimizing this burden, especially if the owner dentist is the only individualhandling emergency calls after hours. In addition, sharing on-call responsibilities gives the principal dentist morefree time and minimizes the chance of burnout as well.

9. Flexibility and Scalability

The hiring ofa dental associate allows some degree of flexibility. Practices can tailor the associate’s schedule and duties to meet the demand for patients and the needs ofthe practice. This scalability enables the firm to expandstrategically without a full partnership commitment upfront.

Key Points to keep in mind when hiring a dental associate

The benefits of hiring a dental associate are many, but so too,you must consider the potential challenges:
– Cultural Integration into Practice: The associate needs to fit in with the practice culture and practice team. – Mentorship and Training (if relevant): Supporting and mentoring new hires, particularly recentgrads, takes time and resources. – Legal and Contractual Agreements: Contracts outlining roles and responsibilities, as well as compensation structures and termination clauses, should be laidout beforehand to clarify relationships and avoid disputes down the line.

Benefits of Hiring a Dental Associate vs. Other Contract based

If you’re thinking about expanding your dental practice, you may be looking at offering other contract-based rolesbesides just dental associate. Each has its offerings and benefits, but it’s essential to recognize the differences to choose what is best for you and your growth goals.