How to Find Dental Temps to Fill Shifts at Your Dental Office (2026 Guide)
Updated April 2026
9 min read
The fastest way to find a dental temp is to post your shift on a dental staffing platform like TempStars. You select the role you need — hygienist, assistant, receptionist, or associate dentist — enter the shift details, and qualified dental professionals in your area are notified immediately. Most offices receive their first offer within hours, and you review each candidate’s ratings, credentials, and experience before accepting.
TempStars charges a flat $73 per completed shift with no hourly markup, no subscription, and no hiring fees. You can also use a traditional dental staffing agency (more expensive, less control) or your personal network (cheapest but unreliable). This guide covers all three methods, what each costs, the types of dental temps available, and how to fill shifts as fast as possible.
What Types of Dental Temps Can You Hire?
“Dental temp” covers several different roles. The type you need determines where to look, what to pay, and what credentials to verify.
Dental Hygienist
The most commonly temped role in dentistry. Hygienists perform cleanings, scaling, periodontal assessments, and patient education. They must be registered with their provincial college (CDHO in Ontario, CDHBC in BC).
Dental Assistant
Assistants handle chairside support, sterilization, room setup, and patient flow. Level II dental assistants are certified for intra-oral duties including suctioning, impressions, and applying topical anaesthetic.
Dental Receptionist / Admin
Front desk staff manage scheduling, patient check-in/check-out, billing, insurance claims, and phone management. Experience with your specific practice management software matters most.
Associate Dentist
Licensed dentists who fill in for the practice owner or another associate during vacations, emergencies, or to expand capacity. Typically hired through the TempStars Job Board for longer-term or recurring coverage rather than single-day temp shifts.
3 Ways to Find a Dental Temp
1. Dental Staffing Platforms (Fastest, Most Control)
Platforms like TempStars work as a marketplace. You post your shift, qualified dental temps see it and submit offers, and you choose your candidate based on their profile, ratings from other offices, credentials, and proposed rate.
- Cost: $73 flat per completed shift. No hourly markup, no subscription.
- Speed: Offers typically within hours. 24/7 posting.
- Control: Full — you see ratings, credentials, experience, and rate before accepting.
- Roles: Hygienists, dental assistants, admin, and associate dentists (via Job Board).
- Permanent hire: Free — no hiring fee.
Best for: Any office that values transparency, cost control, and the ability to choose who works in their practice. The platform model is fastest for routine temp needs (sick days, vacation, expanded hours) and scales well for multi-location practices.
2. Traditional Dental Staffing Agencies
You call an agency, describe the shift, and they send someone from their roster. The agency handles candidate selection — you have no visibility into who’s coming until they arrive.
- Cost: $80–$150+ placement fee, plus $15–$60/hr markup on the professional’s rate.
- Speed: Hours to same-day (during business hours).
- Control: Minimal — agency assigns the candidate.
- Roles: Varies by agency; most focus on hygienists and assistants.
- Permanent hire: 15–25% of annual salary.
Best for: Offices that want a fully hands-off experience and are willing to pay a premium for it. Works best for offices that need coverage very rarely.
3. Personal Network & Word-of-Mouth
Texting professionals you’ve worked with before, posting in dental Facebook groups, or asking colleagues if their staff is available.
- Cost: No placement fee — hourly rate only.
- Speed: Unpredictable — depends entirely on who’s available.
- Control: High for people you know; no vetting for strangers from Facebook groups.
- Roles: Whatever your contacts can provide.
- Permanent hire: No fee.
Best for: Offices with an established bench of trusted professionals they’ve worked with repeatedly.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Staffing Agency | Personal Network | Platform (TempStars) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placement fee | $80–$150+ per shift | None | $73 flat per shift |
| Hourly markup | $15–$60/hr | None | None |
| Choose your candidate | No | Limited | Yes — profiles, ratings, credentials |
| Ratings & reviews | No | No | Yes — bilateral review system |
| Speed | Hours (business hours) | Unpredictable | Hours (24/7) |
| Roles available | Hygienists, assistants | Your contacts | All dental roles |
| Candidate pool | Dozens (agency roster) | Your contacts | 32,000+ professionals |
| Permanent hire fee | 15–25% of salary | None | None |
| Cancellation protection | Varies | None | Auto-repost + guarantee |
| Build favourites list | No | Informally | Yes — request directly |
How to Post a Shift and Get Offers (Step by Step)
Here’s exactly how to fill a dental temp shift on TempStars. The whole process takes about 5 minutes.
Sign up for free
Create an office account at tempstars.com or download the app. Enter your office name, address, and contact details. No subscription, no credit card required.
Post your shift
Select the role you need: dental hygienist, dental assistant, receptionist, or associate dentist. Enter the date, start time, end time, and your preferred hourly rate. Add any specific requirements — certifications, software experience, or special skills. Available professionals in your area are notified the moment you post.
Review candidate offers
As dental temps respond, review each profile: ratings from other offices, total shifts completed, credentials, experience level, and proposed hourly rate. Compare candidates side by side and pick the best fit for your office.
Accept and prepare
Confirm your preferred candidate. Use the in-app messaging to share any pre-shift details — parking instructions, where to check in, dress code, office protocols, or patient schedule notes.
Complete the shift and review
After the shift, confirm hours worked and leave a rating. The dental temp also rates your office. You’re charged a flat $73 placement fee only after a successful shift. No shift, no charge.
After a great shift, add the professional to your favourites list. Next time you need coverage, request them directly — combining the reliability of your personal network with the accountability and convenience of the platform.
What Does a Dental Temp Cost?
The total cost has two parts: the professional’s hourly rate and the placement fee from whatever service connects you.
Hourly Rates by Role (Ontario, 2026)
| Role | Typical Hourly Rate | Key Credentials |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienist | $45–$60/hr | CDHO registration |
| Dental Assistant (Level II) | $26–$35/hr | Level II cert + HARP |
| Dental Assistant (Level I) | $20–$28/hr | Sterilization, room setup |
| Receptionist / Admin | $20–$28/hr | Software experience |
| Associate Dentist | Daily rate or % of production | DDS/DMD + provincial license |
Annual Cost: Agency vs. Platform
For an office that books 4 temp hygienist shifts per month (the most expensive role):
| Agency | TempStars | Savings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hygienist rate (8 hrs × $52/hr × 4) | $1,664 | $1,664 | — |
| Placement fees (4 shifts) | ~$500 | $292 (+ HST) | ~$180/mo |
| Hourly markups (8 hrs × $35 × 4) | ~$1,120 | $0 | $1,120/mo |
| Annual total | ~$39,400 | ~$23,470 | ~$15,900/yr saved |
How Fast Can You Fill a Dental Temp Shift?
| Lead time | Typical response | Fill likelihood |
|---|---|---|
| 7+ days | Offers within hours | Highest — widest candidate selection |
| 3–7 days | Offers within hours | High — strong pool |
| 1–2 days | Offers within hours | Good — competitive rate helps |
| Same day | Minutes to hours | Possible in major markets |
Hygienist shifts fill fastest because it’s the highest-demand role — more professionals are looking for temp hygienist work. Dental assistant shifts also fill well, particularly in the GTA and Ottawa. Admin/reception shifts are less common on temp platforms and may take longer.
TempStars offers Insta-Book (instant matching with professionals who meet your criteria) and Auto-Book (automatically accept the first qualified offer) for urgent situations. Some shifts fill within minutes using these features.
Tips for Filling Dental Temp Shifts Faster
- Post at a competitive rate. Shifts at or above the going market rate in your area attract more candidates, faster. Posting below market is the single biggest reason shifts go unfilled. The difference between filling and not filling often comes down to $3–5/hr.
- Post early. The more lead time you give, the better your options. Even an extra day or two before the shift makes a meaningful difference in the quantity and quality of candidates.
- Be specific about requirements. Listing exactly what you need (Level II, HARP, Dentrix experience) filters out unqualified applicants and attracts professionals who know they’re the right fit.
- Build a favourites list. Your first shift is the hardest. After working with 3–5 strong professionals and adding them to your favourites, you can request them directly — faster and more reliable than any agency.
- Be a good office to temp at. Offices with strong reviews from dental professionals attract better candidates. Clear communication, a clean workspace, fair rates, and a friendly team build your reputation on the platform.
- Plan recurring coverage in advance. If you know about a vacation or extended leave, post the entire series of shifts at once. This lets professionals commit to the full block, which increases fill rates.
Related Guides
Need a Dental Temp? Post Your Shift in Under 2 Minutes.
Hygienists, assistants, admin — whatever role you need, get offers from qualified professionals in your area.
Sign Up Free — Post Your First Shift
No subscription · No sign-up fee · $73 flat per completed shift
Frequently Asked Questions
The fastest way is to post your shift on a dental staffing platform like TempStars. Select the role you need (hygienist, assistant, or admin), enter the shift details, and qualified dental professionals in your area are notified immediately. Most offices receive offers within hours. You can also call a traditional staffing agency or reach out through your personal network.
You can find temp dental hygienists, dental assistants (Level I and Level II), dental receptionists and administrative staff, dental office managers, and associate dentists. On TempStars, hygienists and assistants are the most commonly booked roles for temp shifts, while the Job Board supports all dental roles for longer-term hiring.
On TempStars, offices pay a flat $73 CAD per completed shift (plus HST) with no hourly markup — you pay the dental professional’s rate directly. Temp hygienists in Ontario typically charge $45–$60/hr; dental assistants charge $22–$35/hr. Traditional staffing agencies charge $80–$150+ per placement plus hourly markups of $15–$60/hr.
On TempStars, most offices receive their first offer within hours of posting. Shifts posted 3–7 days in advance at competitive rates have the highest fill rates. Same-day and next-day fills are possible in major markets. Insta-Book and Auto-Book features can match shifts within minutes.
A dental temp agency assigns a professional from their roster — you don’t choose who comes, and you pay a markup plus placement fee. A dental staffing platform like TempStars lets you post your shift, review candidate profiles with ratings and credentials, and choose who you want — for a flat $73 fee with no hourly markup. Platforms give you more control, more transparency, and lower cost.
Yes. While advance posting gives you the best selection, same-day shifts do get filled on TempStars — especially in major markets like the GTA, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Calgary. Post as early in the day as possible and set a competitive rate. Insta-Book can also auto-match you with available professionals who meet your criteria.
On TempStars, all dental professionals must hold valid provincial registration. Hygienists must be registered with their provincial college (CDHO in Ontario, CDHBC in BC). Dental assistants performing intra-oral duties must hold Level II certification. Every professional also carries ratings from other offices, a reliability score, and a visible shift history — giving you more quality information than a traditional agency provides.
Yes. On TempStars, there is no hiring fee if you want to bring a temp professional onto your permanent team. Traditional agencies typically charge 15–25% of the annual salary as a placement fee.
