Retaining your dental team can be a challenge. One thing people often look at is how to keep their staff happy.

There are quit a few reasons why dental assistants quit. 

The good news: many of them are preventable. The bad news: not all of them are.

 But never fear, Princess is here for when the inevitable turn over occurs.

Until then, here's some information to help better understand why assistants quit and what can be done to prevent it.

The Challenge of Retaining Dental Assistants

“Good news and bad news. Half our assistants are quitting,” one dentist posted on Reddit. “They were accepted to hygiene, dental, PA, and medical schools. It must have been our stellar recommendations.”

It was a bittersweet moment—the kind that every dental employer understands. 

On one hand, success stories like these mean your team is talented and motivated. On the other hand, it’s another round of interviews, training, and trying to keep the schedule full while short-staffed.

Across the country, practice owners are facing staffing shortages: dental assistants are quitting faster than they can be replaced.

From pay and burnout to lack of growth opportunities, the reasons are layered, but they’re not mysterious.

The good news? Employers who understand why dental assistants quit are also best positioned to keep them.

Related: How to retain your dental assistants

What Dental Assistants Are Really Saying (and Why It Matters)

If you scroll through dental forums, Reddit threads, or Facebook groups, a clear pattern emerges. Here’s what many assistants are saying and what employers can learn from it.

“I love my patients and my coworkers, but the pay is ridiculously low for the amount of work we do. I’m the one ordering supplies, training new hires, managing rooms… and still bartending on weekends just to make ends meet.”

“We aren’t appreciated. The pay plateaus. There are no raises, no bonuses, and barely any benefits. Eventually, you just hit a wall.”

“I’m exhausted. Physically and mentally. I’m sore every day, and by the end of the week, I’ve got nothing left to give.”

These aren’t isolated complaints. They reflect a profession that’s overworked, underpaid, and too often, underappreciated.

According to the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), the top reasons assistants change jobs are:

• Lack of appreciation or recognition
• Low pay or limited benefits
• Poor work-life balance
• Stressful work spaces
• Limited opportunities for advancement

Many assistants also view their job as a stepping stone — to hygiene school, dental school, or another healthcare career. 

As one commenter put it, “Being a DA is great experience for my dental school application. But long-term? It’s not sustainable.”

From an employer’s standpoint, that creates a dilemma: how do you invest in a role that so many people see as temporary?

The True Cost of Turnover

When an assistant walks out, it’s more than an empty chair. It’s:

• Lost productivity while the position stays vacant
• Hours of interviewing, onboarding, and training
• Overworked remaining staff picking up extra duties
• Lower patient satisfaction 

The American Dental Association (ADA) shares that staffing shortages are responsible for causing more stress and costing more money.

Not to mention the cultural cost—the frustration, burnout, and “revolving door” feeling that can infect even the best teams.

Retention isn’t just about kindness. It’s about sustainability.

How Employers Can Get Ahead of the Problem

Here are some proven strategies for keeping your best assistants engaged, appreciated, and committed.

1. Pay Fairly — and Transparently

Dental assistants know what the going rate is in their area. Between online job boards, staffing platforms, and peer conversations, pay transparency is higher than ever.

Use those resources when placing your job post and assure your job matched expectations when it comes to pay.

Related: View dental assistant salaries

2. Prioritize Work-Life Balance

Exhaustion can be a chronic issue for assistants. 

Having to skip lunch breaks or work overtime can create a cycle of burnout.

Offices may consider:

• Staggering shifts or four-day weeks
• Setting clear boundaries around after-hours communication
• Scheduling temps (wink, wink) to cover employee sick days or vacation

3. Build a Culture of Recognition

Saying “thank you” is a great way to help employees feel appreciated.

Make appreciation visible by:

• Celebrating birthdays
• Highlighting milestones
• Recognizing staff in small ways 

Assistants also value being heard. Include them in discussions about workflow improvements, scheduling changes, and new equipment decisions. 

Empowering your team creates ownership and loyalty.

4. Offer Development Opportunities

Many assistants leave because they want to make more money.

Although we can’t really argue with that, offices may consider offering:

• Continuing education stipends or paid CE days
• Expanded function training or certifications
• Defined advancement paths (lead assistant, mentor, coordinator)
• Mentorship for those interested in hygiene or dental school

Even if some ultimately move on, you’ll attract better talent and likely keep them longer.

5. Train Smart and Protect Your Veterans

Training new assistants is a big investment. The Reddit thread captured this perfectly:

“When half your staff leaves, the last thing you want is your overwhelmed veterans having to train rookies and keep up with patients.”

Avoid burnout among your experienced team by creating structured onboarding plans, assigning specific trainers, and spacing out new hires when possible. 

6. Monitor Morale 

Small conversations may prevent big surprises. When assistants feel safe sharing concerns, they’re far more likely to stay in their role.

Schedule a quick, quarterly one-on-one with each team member to check in:

• How’s the workload?
• What’s going well?
• What would make your job easier?

A Better Way Forward

Dental assistants are the first to greet patients, the last to clean up, and the steady hands that keep the day flowing smoothly.

Although we’d love for them to stay in their position forever, turnover is inevitable.

But that’s okay.

Princess Dental Staffing connects dental offices with skilled, motivated dental professionals.

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