Why Hiring an Associate Earlier Might Be the Smartest Move You Make

Many dental practice owners wait until they’re completely overwhelmed before hiring an associate. Their schedule is packed, their team is stretched thin, and patients are starting to feel the strain. At that point, hiring feels urgent: almost reactive.

But what if the better strategy is to hire before you desperately need to?

The Mindset Shift: Growth Before Crisis

Some practice owners worry that hiring early means “wasting money” or bringing someone on before the schedule is full enough. But many successful dentists see it differently: they’d rather invest early, allow the practice to grow intentionally, and create a better patient experience, even if it means a short-term dip in efficiency.

Instead of waiting until the practice is red-lined, these owners set clear internal benchmarks:

• Schedule volume
  
  
• New patient flow
  
  
• Long-term growth goals
  
  

They bring associates on before the breaking point, not after it.

“What If the Associate Doesn’t Have Enough Work?”

This is one of the most common concerns we hear:

“Aren’t you worried the associate won’t be busy enough?”

It’s a fair question, but it also shifts responsibility in the wrong direction. Practice owners who hire early see it as their responsibility to:

• Drive new patient growth
  
  
• Invest in strong marketing
  
  
• Build the right team and systems around the associate
  
  

If there’s a brief ramp-up period, it’s addressed honestly and upfront:

“You’re an additional associate. It may take some time to fully build your schedule, but you’ll have support, marketing, systems, and a team that sets you up to succeed.”

In reality, most associates understand this, and in many cases, the lag time is shorter than expected.

Onboarding Matters More Than Speed

One of the most uncomfortable experiences for a new associate (or team member) is walking into a practice that’s chaotic, rushed, and too busy to train them. Too often, practice owners run at full speed until they’re exhausted, then hire an associate and expect them to magically keep up. The result?

• Poor onboarding
  
  
• Minimal mentorship
  
  
• Frustration on both sides
  
  

Hiring earlier creates space:

• Space to train
  
  
• Space to mentor
  
  
• Space to integrate someone into the culture
  
  

A calm, structured onboarding process is far more effective than throwing a new associate into a frenzy and hoping for the best.

The Big Mistake Many Dentists Make

Waiting too long to hire doesn’t just hurt the owner, it hurts:

• The associate experience
  
  
• Team morale
  
  
• Patient care
  
  

Bringing people on before chaos sets in allows practices to grow sustainably, build trust with new hires, and create a work environment where people can actually learn and thrive.

The Bottom Line

Hiring an associate isn’t just about filling chairs: it’s about leadership, planning, and long-term vision. Practices that grow successfully don’t wait until it’s “too late.” They hire intentionally, onboard thoughtfully, and build systems that support both their team and their patients.

When you invest in people before the chaos hits, everyone, the team, the associate, and the patients, wins.

If you’re thinking about hiring an associate dentist—or wondering if your current associate is truly the RIGHT fit—we’re here to help. Connect with the Dentist Job Connect team here!