Article Summary
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Staffing challenges multiply as dental organizations grow. What works for a single dental office often breaks down across multiple locations, especially when schedules change daily, and patient volume remains high. Group practices and DSOs need staffing services that are fast and reliable.
We reviewed and ranked the best dental office staffing services specifically for group practices, focusing on how well each option supports multiple locations, workforce consistency, compliance, and long-term operational efficiency.
1) Kwikly — Best Overall Dental Staffing Service for Group Practices
Kwikly ranks first because it is designed to scale with dental group practices rather than work against them. Multi-location organizations can manage staffing for all offices from one centralized portal and post shifts across locations. This removes the bottlenecks that often come with recruiter-based staffing models.
One of Kwikly’s biggest advantages for DSOs is compliance. All dental professionals on the platform are W-2 employees of Kwikly, not independent contractors. Payroll, taxes, workers’ compensation, and malpractice coverage are handled automatically within the user-friendly platform. For group practices operating across state lines, this significantly reduces legal and administrative risk.
Kwikly also supports consistency. Offices can favorite professionals after successful shifts and prioritize them for future job requests. Over time, this creates a dependable pool of professionals who already understand the group’s systems, culture, and expectations, which directly supports patient care.
Why Kwikly is a strong choice for groups
- Centralized staffing across multiple offices
- W-2 professionals with full compliance coverage
- Ability to reuse and prioritize trusted professionals
- Real-time shift fulfillment without recruiter delays
- Highly rated & responsive support staff
Best for: DSOs and group practices that need fast, compliant, and repeatable staffing at scale.
2) Dental Power — Best Traditional Staffing Agency for Multi-Office Groups
Dental Power is one of the longest-standing dental staffing agencies in the country and remains a decent option for group practices that prefer a traditional, relationship-driven approach. Their model relies on dedicated placement specialists who work closely with both offices and dental professionals.
For group practices, Dental Power’s value lies in long-term placements and structured staffing support. Recruiters take time to understand each location’s needs, making them well-suited for filling permanent roles or extended temporary assignments across a region.
However, this hands-on approach can be slower than platform-based solutions. While Dental Power excels at career-oriented placements, it may not be ideal for rapid, same-day coverage across multiple offices.
Why Dental Power works for groups
- Dedicated recruiters for personalized placement
- Strong track record with permanent and long-term roles
- Nationwide reach with regional expertise
Best for: Group practices prioritizing stability and long-term hiring over speed.
3) Aya Healthcare (Dental Division) — Best Enterprise-Level Staffing Infrastructure
Aya Healthcare is a large healthcare staffing organization with a dental division that supports enterprise-level clients. Their infrastructure is built for scale, making them a viable option for very large DSOs and healthcare systems with complex staffing needs.
Aya’s strength lies in compliance and workforce management. Their systems are designed to handle regulatory requirements and multi-state operations. For organizations already working with Aya in other healthcare verticals, adding dental staffing can be a logical extension.
That said, Aya’s size can also be a limitation. Smaller group practices may find the service less flexible or more expensive than necessary for dental-specific staffing needs.
Why Aya Healthcare is a good fit
- Enterprise-grade compliance and reporting
- Experience with large, multi-state organizations
- Broad healthcare staffing expertise
Best for: Large DSOs and healthcare systems with enterprise staffing requirements.
4) Cross Country Healthcare — Best for Nationwide Workforce Solutions
Cross Country Healthcare offers national staffing services across multiple healthcare specialties, including dental. Their scale and compliance infrastructure make them a reasonable option for group practices operating in multiple states.
For DSOs, Cross Country’s value comes from its ability to provide standardized staffing processes across locations. This consistency can be helpful for organizations with centralized HR teams managing large workforces.
However, like other large healthcare staffing firms, Cross Country may not offer the dental-specific focus or speed that platform-based solutions provide.
Why Cross Country Healthcare can work
- National reach with compliance expertise
- Workforce solutions across multiple healthcare fields
- Structured processes for large organizations
Best for: Multi-state group practices with centralized HR operations.
5) Cloud Dentistry — Best Marketplace for Groups Wanting Direct Control
Cloud Dentistry operates as a dental staffing marketplace that connects group dental practices with qualified dental professionals, including dental assistants and dental hygienists. Offices can browse profiles and view peer reviews before communicating directly with candidates.
For group practices, this transparency offers control and visibility. Leaders can compare experience levels and manage bookings independently. However, the platform requires more hands-on oversight, as payroll, compliance, and workforce management are not fully handled.
Cloud Dentistry works best when group practices have internal teams capable of managing these responsibilities.
Why Cloud Dentistry appeals to groups
- Large national network of professionals
- Transparent reviews and profiles
- Direct hiring without recruiters
Best for: Groups that are looking for a job board
6) GoTu — Best for Rapid Coverage Across Multiple Locations
GoTu is built around speed and volume. The platform helps offices fill dental shifts quickly by tapping into a large pool of verified dental professionals seeking temporary work.
For group practices facing frequent last-minute gaps, GoTu can be useful. Professionals receive guaranteed hours and malpractice coverage, which helps attract candidates quickly. However, the platform is less focused on building long-term relationships or repeat staffing.
Why GoTu is useful
- Fast response times for open shifts
- Large pool of temporary professionals
- Coverage included with each shift
Best for: Groups who do not value compliance
7) DirectDental — Best for Broad Candidate Reach
DirectDental functions as both a staffing service and a job distribution platform. Group practices can post jobs once and have them distributed across dozens of job boards, expanding reach quickly.
This approach works well for organizations with internal hiring teams that can screen candidates. However, it does not offer the same level of vetting or compliance support as managed platforms.
Why DirectDental makes sense
- Massive job distribution reach
- Unlimited job postings
- Lower cost than traditional agencies
Best for: Groups with internal recruiters handling screening and onboarding.
Final Take
Group practices need staffing solutions that reduce friction, not add to it. While each service on this list serves a purpose, Kwikly stands out by combining scalability, compliance, and speed in a way that aligns with how modern offices actually operate.
By centralizing staffing and employing professionals as W-2 employees, Kwikly offers group practices a reliable path to maintaining patient care across every location.
FAQs
What is the best dental staffing service for dental offices?
Kwikly is the top choice due to centralized management, compliance handling, and real-time staffing.
Why is W-2 staffing important for group practices?
It reduces legal risk, simplifies payroll, and ensures consistent compliance across locations.
