An increase in starting pay is the primary new benefit that owner dentists have offered to dental hygienist or assistant applicants that was not provided prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an April poll from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.
The poll is part of the ADA's monthly "Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry" survey. This month's poll was conducted during the week of April 17.
New benefits owner dentists have offered to dental hygienists or assistants applicants that were not provided before the COVID-19 pandemic:
Note: Respondents could select multiple answers. Question included 473 responses.
Raised starting pay rate: 89 percent
Offered new retirement plan: 23.5 percent
Offered health insurance: 21.6 percent
Offered a sign-on bonus: 9.9 percent
Offered paid time off: 33 percent
Changed hours to meet applicants' needs: 48.6 percent
Other: 2.1 percent
None of the above: 7.4 percent