Last month, we detailed how excess staff costs ( usually caused by overstaffing) is the most common overhead killer in dentistry. This month, we turn our sights on how to keep all-star employees from being poached, especially talented hygienists which have become more rare than Bigfoot in some parts of the country.

Having reviewed staff expenses from over 1,000 dental practices, we’ve found that the hourly wage is not usually the primary culprit behind excessive staff costs. Rather, the quality of the staff is the #1 determinant of whether your staff costs are too high as a percentage of your collections. Practices with all-star employees consistently produce more dentistry, with less headaches and staff costs at or below the professional averages.