What Challenges Dental Hiring Will Face in 2025 (How Sage DRO Can Help)
The dental industry is evolving rapidly, and as we approach 2025, hiring challenges are set to intensify. From demographic shifts in the workforce to increasing competition among Dental Support Organizations (DSOs), the road ahead requires proactive solutions. Let’s explore these challenges and how Sage DRO can help dental practices stay ahead.
1. Shrinking Candidate Pools
The dental workforce is experiencing a shortage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow by 9% through 2031, but this growth is insufficient to keep pace with demand. Retirements among Baby Boomer dentists and a lack of sufficient new graduates exacerbate this gap.
How Sage DRO Helps: By leveraging its advanced recruitment strategies and extensive talent networks, Sage DRO can quickly locate and engage top-tier candidates, even in a tight labor market. In 2024, Sage DRO helped Image Specialty Partners fill 37 roles in just 10 weeks, including dental hygienists, practice managers, and dentists.
2. Increased Competition Among DSOs
As DSOs continue to expand, they are dominating the hiring landscape. Larger organizations with dedicated recruiting teams and substantial budgets often outpace solo practices and smaller groups in attracting talent. A report by the Health Policy Institute found that DSOs accounted for nearly 30% of dentists under age 35, indicating their appeal to younger professionals.
How Sage DRO Helps: Sage DRO levels the playing field by embedding expert recruiters into your organization. This outsourced approach ensures your practice can compete with larger DSOs without investing in a full-scale recruiting team. For example, Sage DRO reduced Image Specialty Partners' job board spending by 86% while enhancing job posting effectiveness.
3. Demand for Diverse Skill Sets
The modern dental office isn’t just about clinical care—it requires professionals skilled in technology, patient engagement, and practice management. The rise of teledentistry and AI-driven tools has further increased the demand for tech-savvy hires.
How Sage DRO Helps: Sage DRO’s tailored approach identifies candidates with the diverse skill sets your practice needs. From treatment coordinators adept in patient engagement to practice managers skilled in software solutions, Sage DRO ensures every hire contributes to your practice’s efficiency and patient satisfaction.
4. Staff Burnout and Retention Issues
Burnout remains a pressing issue, particularly in a post-pandemic world. The American Dental Association reports that 35% of dentists have considered early retirement due to increased stress. Similarly, high turnover among dental assistants and hygienists disrupts practice operations and affects patient care.
How Sage DRO Helps: Retention starts with making the right hire. Sage DRO doesn’t just fill positions—it finds individuals aligned with your practice culture and goals. This approach resulted in Image Specialty Partners achieving the highest production in its history, with patient satisfaction rising by 28% after onboarding Sage DRO-recruited talent.
5. Economic Pressures
Economic uncertainties in 2025 may tighten operational budgets for dental practices. Inflation, rising salaries, and the cost of benefits are making it harder to offer competitive compensation without cutting into profits.
How Sage DRO Helps: With Sage DRO, practices can achieve more for less. Outsourcing recruitment eliminates the need for costly in-house teams while delivering better results. By reducing costs and improving the quality of hires, Sage DRO provides a cost-effective solution to staffing challenges.
Preparing for 2025 with Sage DRO
The hiring landscape for dental practices in 2025 is fraught with challenges, but with the right strategies, it’s possible to na1920x1080vigate them successfully. Sage DRO combines decades of recruiting expertise with a deep understanding of the dental industry to deliver exceptional results. Whether you're a solo practice or an emerging DSO, partnering with Sage DRO ensures your hiring process is efficient, effective, and future-proof.
If you’re ready to transform your dental practice’s recruitment process and overcome the challenges of 2025, contact Sage DRO today. Together, we’ll build a stronger, more resilient team.
About the Author
Ron Harrison has over two decades of recruiting experience, including time in the hyper-competitive Silicon Valley tech market. As the founder of two technology recruiting firms and a leader who has trained hundreds of recruiters and hiring professionals, Ron understands the challenges businesses face when building top-performing teams. Recognizing the parallels between the tech and dental industries, Ron founded Sage DRO, a spin-off of Sage Solutions, to bring cutting-edge hiring strategies to dental practices. His expertise helps dental offices compete effectively, improve patient care, and achieve record-breaking results.