The Practice Guide › Team & Hiring
Track 6Team & Hiring
Ask practice owners what the hardest part of ownership is and most say people, not dentistry. This track covers finding good ones, keeping them, and handling it when it isn't working.
What this track covers
Building the Team
What each role actually does day to day, when to hire each position as the practice grows, full-time vs. part-time vs. temp tradeoffs, and realistic compensation ranges by role and region.
Read chapter 1 →Hiring
Writing a job posting that attracts good candidates rather than volume, where dental staff actually look for work, screening resumes, structured interview questions that reveal how someone actually works, running working interviews legally and fairly, reference checks that tell you something real, license verification, and making the offer.
Read chapter 2 →Onboarding
First day, first week, first ninety days. Training systems and checklists by role, and setting expectations early before bad habits form.
Read chapter 3 →Managing
Performance conversations that aren't awful for either party, compensation reviews and raises, handling conflict between team members, recognizing and preventing burnout, and what owners should stop doing themselves.
Read chapter 4 →When It Isn't Working
Documentation and progressive discipline, handling termination legally and humanely, and exit interviews worth conducting. Employment law varies significantly by state, consult an employment attorney before terminating anyone.
Read chapter 5 →Culture & Retention
Why dental staff actually leave (it's often not money), benefits worth offering at a small practice, and building somewhere people want to stay.
Read chapter 6 →Every chapter in this track is now published. Start with Chapter 1: Building the Dental Team, or get on the email list for updates.
Educational content only, not legal, financial, tax, or clinical advice. Requirements vary by state and change over time. Consult qualified professionals for your specific situation.