By Debra Wood, RN, contributor Aug 09, 2018
Calling
all dentists: whether you are just starting out and want to earn extra money to
pay off student loan debts, or a seasoned practitioner tired of running a
practice but don’t want to give up the joy of practicing dentistry, locum
tenens dentist assignments can provide a number of options to meet your goals.
“Locum
dentists are helping communities, taking care of patients and doing what they
are passionate about,” said Danielle Theiss, senior recruiting consultant in the dentistry
division at Staff
Care. “It’s rewarding to take care of patients in need or in an
office in need of someone with experience.”
Most
locum tenens dental jobs are for general dentistry. However, some specialists,
including endodontists, oral surgeons and pediatric dentists, also are in
demand.
“If
dentistry is being practiced, we will see locum dentist jobs
there,” Theiss said.
The dentists who work locum
tenens jobs—and where you’ll find them
These temporary or part-time dental jobs may be in corporate
dental practices, private practice, community health centers and government
facilities, including the Department of Corrections, said Dustin Winters, senior recruiting consultant in Staff Care’s
dentistry division.
Most of
the locum tenens positions are in suburbs or rural areas, according to Theiss,
with fewer available in large metropolitan areas, such as Dallas or Miami.
“Dentists
are in short supply in certain areas,” Theiss said.
Some
newer dentists will work at their own practice two or three days per week and
accept locum tenens assignments in a nearby area on the other days, she
explained.
Other
dentists consider locum assignments when they are looking for a permanent job
and want to try out different areas.
Retired
dentists often work locum tenens, because they are not ready to give up
dentistry.
“A lot
of them like to travel to different states,” Winters said. “The majority just
love what they do. They may have retired or taken a year off. Locums is a good
way to get back in, doing a week or two a month.”
Some
locum tenens dentists work seasonally, desiring to spend summers in Minnesota,
Wisconsin or Michigan for instance.
Work options and logistics for
locum dentistry assignments
Locum dentists
must be licensed in the state where care is provided, and Staff Care will help
their dentist candidates secure additional licenses, which gives them more
opportunities. Federal
government positions, such as those at the Indian Health Service,
accept a license from any state.
Typically,
credentialing is quick for dental jobs, rarely more than a couple of weeks,
depending on what is needed.
“We can
sometimes get a dentist to work tomorrow,” Theiss said.
Locum
tenens assignments can be brief, sporadic, recurring or long-term. The
assignment might be for two days per week or two weeks per month or five days
for three months.“I’ve
had locums in place for more than a year, straight,” Winters said. “Some will
stay in another state for six or seven months.”
The
locum tenens dentist might cover for vacation or maternity leave or fill a
vacancy while the practice attempts to hire a full-time dentist. If it ends up
being a good fit, the practice may want to hire the locum dentist, and that is
allowed.
Compensation
depends on the job market, location, and size and type of practice, with some assignments
competitive with associate dentist pay rates. The hiring practice or clinic
sets the rates, based on their budget. Some clients will pay a percent of
production; those practices might pay a daily minimum guarantee or percent of
production, whichever is greater for the day, Theiss said.
In
addition to wages, locum tenens dentists receive reimbursement for lodging and
mileage, as well as medical malpractice insurance covered by the locum tenens
agency.
The
outlook for the dentist job market
The American Dental Association
reported that 198,517 dentists were practicing in the United States in 2017, averaging
60.9 dentists for every 100,000 people. However, there are dentist shortages in
certain geographic areas or among disadvantaged populations.
Demand for dentists is expected
to remain high. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the outlook for
dental jobs is growing faster than the average occupations, with a 19 percent
increase predicted from 2016 to 2026.
“The
need for dentists, including locum tenens dentists, is always high,” Winters
said.
Related:
The States Most in Need of
Dentists
STAFF CARE has numerous assignments for locum
tenens dentists; CONTACT OUR DENTISTRY
DIVISION to learn more.
SEARCH ALL LOCUM DENTIST JOBS