YO! If your dental practice is in growth mode, two realities collide fast: you need another dentist, and you need that dentist calibrated to your systems, pace, and patient experience—quickly. Here are some practical steps you can use this quarter.

Vet Beyond the Résumé

High-standard, reputation-driven practices can’t roll the dice on culture or clinical fit. Start with remote vetting to narrow the field:

• Do two Zoom calls (behavioral + clinical). On call #2, review a pano/clinical photos and ask, “How would you treat this?”
  
• Complete reference checks early to confirm patterns.
  
• Align on money and capacity upfront to avoid late-stage surprises.
  

When you’re down to 2–3 finalists, host a working interview (use a temporary license if permitted by your state). Keep it simple but telling: a filling, a crown preparation, a limited exam. Pair the candidate with your most trusted assistant to evaluate empathy, communication, and chairside flow.

Compensation Clarity (No Guesswork)

Yes, a percentage of adjusted production is standard; tiers can reward growth. I like daily guarantees in perpetuity, because after 30–60 days, a well-run practice makes them irrelevant. If a candidate requests a high guarantee, ask for a W-2 or tax doc from the previous role. You want them to win financially, and you need proof they can produce at the level they’re asking for.

Calibrate Associates—On Purpose

Speed without sloppiness comes from modeled reps:

1. Observe first: 2–4 weeks of structured shadowing (treatment planning, anesthesia, scan-to-temp flow, patient communication).
2. Swap roles: They assist you, then you assist them, coaching in real-time.
3. Set time targets: E.g., two-surface filling ≤ 60 min room time; crown prep ≤ 120 min. Clear benchmarks reduce drift.
4. Flagship first: Make 90 days in your flagship a non-negotiable. Learn our kitchen before cooking solo in a satellite.
   

Hygiene Checks Without Sinking the Day

This is where schedules go to die. Use expectation design:

• After a block: “This anesthetic needs ~20 minutes to set. I’ll step out and be back when you’re perfectly numb.”
• While a temp is made: “This takes ~15–20 minutes; I’ll return to fine-tune it.”
  

Teach a redirect script for question-heavy patients, “I want to give this the time it deserves. Let’s schedule a short consult so I can study your X-rays/scans and answer everything thoroughly.” Patients feel respected; your day stays intact.

Key Takeaways

• Front-load fit: Remote clinical vetting + working interview beats gut feel.
• Show your math: Transparent comp, tiered % of adjusted production, sensible daily guarantees.
• Model, then coach: Observe → assist → be assisted; set time standards.
• Protect onboarding: Flagship immersion and structured 90-day plan.
• Design the schedule: Clear timing language and consult redirects keep hygiene checks tight.

Want the full playbook with scripts, checkpoints, and onboarding structure? Listen to the entire conversation on the Dental Lighthouse Podcast for more insights