Should Hygienists Work at Multiple Dental Offices?

Key Takeaways

• Hygienists may enjoy the opportunity to work at multiple dental offices because of the additional income, scheduling flexibility, and career potential.

• Working at a second office is worth it when you have the scheduling availability, interest in gaining experience, and the capacity to manage it comfortably.

• Make working at additional offices sustainable by understanding the unique processes, ensuring you have space in your schedule, and accounting for the added demand.

Quick Answer: Hygienists may choose to work at multiple offices to earn additional income, gain professional experience, and advance their career potential. It is a good idea for you if you are seeking added flexibility, want to earn extra money, are interested in learning new skills, or are experiencing a slow period at your current office.

Why Some Hygienists Choose More Than One Practice

While some hygienists prefer the consistency of a single practice for the greater familiarity with patients, equipment, clinical protocols, and coworkers, others like the added flexibility and control of multiple offices. For many hygienists, choosing to work at multiple practices is not necessarily a sign of dissatisfaction, but a thoughtful career choice to explore additional opportunities and protect their work-life balance.

Reasons to work at more than one practice include schedule flexibility, the opportunity for additional income, and exposure to new environments. If the office calendar is slow on a given day, hygienists benefit from being able to pivot to another practice to keep their schedules complete.

Altogether, dental hygienists across multiple offices enjoy the ability to manage their schedules, earn more financial freedom, learn new skills, and gain more control over where they would prefer to work and when.

What Hygienists Gain From Working in Different Practices

Dental hygienists who pick up opportunities across multiple practices typically enjoy added scheduling flexibility, new professional relationships, increased earning potential, and exposure to new environments, just to name a few advantages.

Key benefits of working in more than one practice include:

• Flexibility: Rather than working only at one practice, hygienists may enjoy being able to be more selective by working at different practices based on their preferred schedule.
• Financial Potential: Working at multiple practices offers the chance to earn additional income to support your financial goals.
• Control: Hygienists can decide to pivot where they work based on practice schedules and which office offers the most work based on patient appointments.
• Experience: Exposure to diverse professional environments offers new learning opportunities, networking opportunities, and potential for skill development.

For many, the combined benefits of flexibility and professional development are enough to outweigh the consistency of working in a single practice. Exploring different environments and building professional relationships across multiple dental teams helps you find new opportunities down the road, learn new skills from your peers, and equip yourself for professional success well into the future.

When a Second Office Is Worth It

Working at a second office is worth it when you have gaps in your schedule, you want to earn more income, or you’d like more flexibility in your schedule. The option to work at an additional office also allows you to explore new environments and meet new people. For many, the learning opportunities are a big factor as well.

Consider the option in the following scenarios:

• Scheduling Gaps: Between slow weeks and patient cancellations, sometimes your main office schedule may not provide consistent work, making a second office a great way to maintain consistency.
• Increasing Income: Picking up extra shifts at other offices outside your usual schedule is a great way to earn extra income and support financial goals.
• Gaining Flexibility: If you are currently experiencing scheduling challenges, a second office can add more flexibility and variety to when you can pick up work.
• Career Development: If you feel you would like to gain additional skills and learn more about different opportunities, a second office can help you grow professionally at a faster rate.

While the benefits are enjoyable, it’s important to remember that working across multiple offices can be mentally and physically taxing, so make sure you are equipped for the additional time and logistical demands before committing. To be worth it, working at a second practice should provide enough value to justify the additional time and energy.

Look Beyond the Hourly Rate

The hourly rate of other shifts is not the only consideration you should be making before committing to working across multiple offices, as several factors may influence how much effort you can afford to spend on additional opportunities and traveling as a dental hygienist.

Consider the following questions:

• How far away is the other practice?
• How long is the commute?
• How much time will you spend on transportation to get there?
• How well does it fit into your schedule?
• Is the appointment scheduling reasonable?
• What are the offices’ cancellation policies?
• What is the team culture like at each office?

Compare opportunities based on the overall value they provide, not just the hourly rate. Sometimes, after all of the key calculations, you may find that the added work may not be as beneficial as you were expecting.

Considering schedule consistency and the stress of the other office environment may be just as important as the additional money you can earn, as the benefits can go sideways if the opportunities cause burnout in other ways.

Making Multiple Offices Sustainable

Being proactive about finding balance is key to ensuring working at multiple offices adds more value to your weekly routine than it does stress and exhaustion. Some tips for managing a workload that involves multiple practices include:

• Maintain a centralized calendar to visualize shifts and opportunities
• Communicate availability to both offices up front
• Clearly understand each office’s expectations, routines, and clinical protocols before accepting recurring shifts
• Review your schedule proactively and avoid taking on more work than your schedule can realistically accommodate

Working as a dental hygienist is a demanding job generally, so carrying into multiple practices can be stressful if you are not mindful of how to make the schedule work for you. Being mindful of the potential stress of working in multiple offices is key to enjoying the benefits. If you’re not careful and end up overexerting yourself, the costs may outweigh the benefits.

How Flexible Work Can Shape Your Career

Working at multiple dental offices is a great choice for dental hygienists looking to earn additional income or expand their professional career. Flexible work opportunities can make the benefits of working at multiple offices realistic and practical, allowing you to pick up shifts and earn extra money on your terms, without requiring long-term commitments.

As a great resource for finding flexible work opportunities, Toothio equips hygienists and other dental professionals to build their own unique schedules and achieve their career goals. Simply use our platform to find shifts in reputable dental practices that fit your schedule and preferred hourly rate, and put the control in your hands, so you can work when you want.

Sign up with Toothio and start searching for shifts that fit your schedule.