In our story, Dental Hygienists Among the Fastest Growing Occupations in the U.S. we revealed that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook for 2008-2018 expects the demand to hire more hygienists to perform preventive dental care will continue to grow.
According to the ADA, independent dentists reported paying full-time dental hygienists $33.90 per hour in 2008.
Considering the current economic environment The Wealthy Dentist decided to conduct a survey asking dentists if they pay their hygienists an hourly wage or if compensation is based on commission.
It seems most dentists still pay their dental hygienists an hourly wage, but some feel paying on commission is more fair. Said one dentist, “Hygienists are worth their weight in gold!” Another dentist disagreed saying, “Practices couldn’t run without them, but the current economics barely breaks even at best … hygienists seem to think they are cash cows for the office and fail to recognize the support and facilities the utilize.”
It’s an interesting economic issue. Click on Play to hear more of what dentists say about paying hygienists —
How do you pay the hygienist in your practice?
About Jim Du Molin
Setting Dental Fees for Maximum Case Acceptance
$10,000 a Month Chart Audit
DIY Office Brochure
Practice Answering Machine
Maximize Case Acceptance
Maximize Your Marketing: Target High-Value Patients
Turn Your Front Desk into a Marketing Machine
Structuring a Dental Associate Program
Designing the $1,000,000 Dental Practice Sign
Internal Marketing & Communications
Doctor-to-Doctor Marketing
