What is a Temping Dental Hygienist?

A temping dental hygienist provides temporary services to different dental offices, stepping in to fill staffing gaps or offer support during busy periods. This role helps maintain continuity of care, especially in light of the current dental hygienist shortage, which is driven by factors like retirements, career shifts, and fewer enrollments in dental hygiene programs. 

Temping allows hygienists to enjoy flexibility, choosing when and where they work, making it an appealing option for those seeking work-life balance or juggling other commitments. 

Additionally, temping provides the opportunity to gain diverse experiences, expand your clinical skills, and build a broad professional network.

Advantages of Temping

Temping offers dental hygienists the chance to explore different work environments and enjoy a flexible career path that aligns with your personal goals. If you’re interested in taking the path, here are some advantages of temping in dental hygiene:

Flexibility and Balance

One of the biggest perks of temping is the flexibility it offers. As a dental hygienist, you can choose when and where to work, giving you the freedom to adjust your schedule based on personal and family commitments. This flexibility helps create a healthier work-life balance, which is important for your overall well-being and prevents burnout.

Whether you're juggling family obligations or pursuing further studies, temping allows you to adapt your work schedule to your life—instead of the other way around.

Diverse Experiences

Temping gives dental hygienists the chance to work in different clinical settings and with a wide range of patients. This variety is great for your professional growth, as it helps you develop new skills, adapt to different workplace environments, and expand your network. 

Working with various dental teams allows you to learn new techniques and best practices that can boost your clinical expertise.

These diverse experiences can also improve your resume and open up new opportunities in specialized areas, like pediatric or geriatric care.

Maximizing Earning Potential

For dental hygienists looking to make more than the average salary, temping can be a great choice. Temporary positions often offer competitive hourly rates, and the flexibility to select assignments means you can potentially earn more than in a permanent role. You can take advantage of extra shifts or cover short-term vacancies, creating opportunities for additional income. 

Challenges of Temping

While temping offers many benefits, it also comes with its own set of challenges that dental hygienists need to navigate to make the most of their temporary roles.

Financial Security and Stability

Temp dental hygienists may encounter a few challenges, especially when it comes to job stability. Temporary roles often come with uncertain hours and unpredictable schedules, making financial planning a bit tricky.

Additionally, with less time to build long-term relationships with patients or coworkers, some may find job satisfaction to be a bit lower.

Despite these challenges, many find ways to make temping a fulfilling and rewarding career choice.

Access to Benefits

Access to benefits can be a challenge for temporary dental hygienists. Unlike full-time employees, temp workers often miss out on important benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave. This can lead to extra financial strain, as temp hygienists may need to cover healthcare costs out of pocket and face concerns about long-term financial security. 

Without employer-backed health plans, some may delay necessary medical treatments, impacting their well-being and work performance.

Finding and Securing Temping Positions

Finding the right temping position involves exploring various platforms and strategies to connect with dental practices that need your expertise. Here’s how you can find temping opportunities that align with your career goals:

Using Digital Platforms

Digital platforms have made it easier for dental hygienists to find temporary positions, offering more control and flexibility in your job search.

Specialized platforms like Teero let you connect directly with dental offices seeking temporary staff, cutting out the middleman and giving you the freedom to set your own rates and schedule. Keeping your profile updated with your latest skills and certifications helps you stand out, and using networking sites like LinkedIn can further enhance your job search.

Networking and Referrals

Networking plays a big role in landing temping positions in the dental field. Joining professional associations, like the American Dental Hygienists' Association, can open doors to events, workshops, and forums where you can meet potential employers and connect with fellow hygienists.

Social media platforms are also great for networking. Joining LinkedIn or Facebook groups for dental professionals lets you engage in discussions and increase your visibility, which can lead to job referrals.

Legal and Logistical Considerations

If you're working as a temporary dental hygienist, it's important to stay on top of a few key legal and logistical details that can affect your work. This includes managing taxes, keeping your license up to date, and coordinating your schedule with dental offices to ensure smooth operations.

Tax Implications

Being classified as an independent contractor rather than an employee comes with important tax responsibilities. As an independent contractor, you're in charge of handling your own taxes, which includes:

• Self-Employment Taxes: You’ll need to cover both the employee and employer portions of Social Security and Medicare taxes.

• Quarterly Tax Payments: To avoid penalties, it’s a good idea to make estimated tax payments every quarter.

• Deductions: Keep track of expenses like professional development, travel, and supplies, as you may be able to deduct them.

Most hygienists opt to find W-2 platforms (like Teero) as they streamline taxes by classifying you as a W2 employee so it won't be a worry.

Licensing Requirements

To stay on track as a temporary dental hygienist, it’s important to keep up with licensing requirements, which can vary depending on the state. Here are a few things to consider:

• Active Licensing: Make sure your dental hygienist license is up-to-date and valid wherever you plan to work.

• Continuing Education: Different states may have specific education requirements, so staying informed ensures you meet those and stay ahead in your career.

• Reciprocity Agreements: If you’re working across state lines, it’s helpful to look into reciprocity agreements, which can make getting licensed in other states easier.

Taking care of these details will give you peace of mind and let you focus on providing great care to your patients.

Find Temping Dental Hygienist Positions

Temping as a dental hygienist gives you the freedom to choose your schedule and work environments, helping you maintain a healthy work-life balance while gaining diverse professional experience. However, it can come with challenges, like inconsistent hours and no benefits, so flexibility is important.

Fortunately, digital platforms like Teero make finding temp positions easier and more efficient. By using Teero, you can connect directly with dental practices that need temp hygienists, allowing you to select assignments that match your preferences.

Download the Teero app today and take charge of your temping career by managing your schedule and finding the perfect opportunities that fit your lifestyle.