What's Next for Dental Recruitment in 2025? The Predictions of a Dental Recruitment Consultant

John Churchward has pulled together his mystic meg-predictions of 2025 for the dental space. Take a read below of his insights and let us know if you agree, or have any further insights for 2025 that you’d like to share with us. Share them here.

“I talk to dentists and practice owners all day long, and one thing is certain, the state of dental recruitment is moving quickly. So if you're a dentist, a practice owner or hiring manager here's what I think you can look forward to in 2025.

My Predications For: Candidates

1, It's Still a Candidate-Led Market!

Private practices are hiring left and right with more and more patients moving away from NHS dentistry. These groups are giving competitive packages but be prepared to have at least 3 years under your belt (excluding your foundation year) to be considered as a candidate for these roles. Hiring Managers and practice owners can afford to be picky and select key team members to ensure standards are maintained at an extraordinary level.

2, Technical know-how. How will you stand out in a busy market?

 AI-driven diagnostics, digital scanning, and teledentistry are not just the future, they’re already here. If candidates have experience with innovations from companies like Dentsply Sirona, Align Technologies, and Straumann Group, it will give the candidate an advantage within the market. This is the future of Dentistry, so ensuring you leverage your skillset to align with the innovative strides within the dental space, will allow for further opportunity and growth as a dental professional.

3, Earning Potential

Rural practices continue to pursue relocating dental professionals and continuously strengthen their benefits package to attract the best talent. If money is a candidate's main motivator, it is highly recommended that a discussion should be had about relocating to an area where your skill set is in demand, such as Scotland or Devon.  Being flexible to these options will allow for your salary expectations to be finally answered along with some attractive bonuses.

My predictions for: Practice Owners/Hiring Managers

1, Retention, Retention, Retention

Attracting talent is one thing, keeping them is another. Competitive UDAs and percentage (%) splits are great, you’ve all got this nailed entering 2025. But what about career progression, streamlined workflow, work-life balance, and positive work culture? This will be the real difference in securing talent or losing them to your competitors. Organisations like British Dental Association and General Dental Council continue to push for better working conditions for dental professionals. This is something candidates are paying attention to across 2025.

2, NHS Under Pressure 

Our National Health Service is still stuck in a hiring crisis. Having to rely on overseas recruitment remains crucial. In doing this however, practices must offer more incentives to keep UK-trained professionals. More discussions about policy changes from the General Dental Council are expected throughout 2025. 

3, Hiring speed is everything! 

The best candidates will not wait around for a practice's slow recruitment process. I can assure you that you’ll miss out on the best talent by doing so! If you are hiring, it's now important to streamline your process and quick responses are a must. The candidate is the most treasured part of the recruitment process, so if you want something, there is simply no time to drag your heels.

Modern technology will be a dealbreaker in 2025. Practices implementing AI-driven diagnostics, digital scanning, and automation tools will have an edge when it comes to hiring. Applicants want to be working in a technology-forward environment that will help enhance their skills and efficiency. Companies like Henry Schein UK, Straumann Group, and Dentsply Sirona keep pushing innovations, even the smaller ones like DAN-Dental Audio Notes, are on the move. Principals and business owners should ensure that their practice moves with the times to be able to attract top talent.

Demand for specialist services are still on the rise. Cosmetic and restorative dentistry will remain in demand, and those practices investing in clear aligners, implants, and digital workflows will require the right people. If your practice offers these treatments, are you hiring the right people to support expansion?

What are your 2025 predictions?