A dental staff shortage can become an operational problem very quickly. One unexpected absence can put pressure on the rest of the team, reduce appointment capacity and make it harder to keep the day running smoothly.
Whether the gap is caused by sickness, annual leave, maternity leave, staff turnover, recruitment delays or a sudden increase in patient demand, the priority is to work out what cover you need and secure the right support without creating more disruption.
This guide explains how UK dental practices can manage a staffing gap, when temporary dental staff or locum cover may be the most practical option, and how to prepare for future shortages.
If your dental practice is short-staffed, first identify which duties and appointments are most at risk, then decide whether the gap is best covered internally, with temporary locum support or through permanent recruitment. For urgent or short-term gaps, a specialist dental staffing agency can help you source suitable cover while you protect patient appointments and avoid overloading the existing team.
Work Out Exactly What the Staffing Gap Is
Before you start calling agencies or moving appointments, define the problem clearly. A single day of sickness requires a different solution from a six-week absence or an open vacancy that may take months to fill.
- Which role is missing?
- Which dates and working hours need cover?
- Is the gap planned, urgent or ongoing?
- Which surgeries, clinicians or appointment lists are affected?
- Are there any specific skills, software or practice requirements?
The clearer the brief, the easier it is to choose the right staffing response and find someone who can genuinely support the practice.
Protect Patient Care and the Existing Team First
When a practice is short-staffed, the immediate temptation is often to redistribute the missing person’s workload across everyone else. That may work for a very short period, but it can quickly create extra pressure if the gap lasts longer than expected.
Review the appointment book and identify which activity must continue, what can be safely reorganised and where additional support would make the biggest difference.
The aim is not simply to keep every slot untouched at any cost. It is to maintain a safe, workable day for patients and staff while the shortage is being resolved.
Choose the Right Type of Cover for the Length of the Gap
Not every staffing shortage needs the same solution. In many practices, the best response is a combination of short-term cover and longer-term recruitment.
Internal cover
Suitable for a brief or limited gap where the existing team genuinely has capacity to absorb the work without creating excessive pressure.
Temporary or locum dental staff
Useful for sickness, annual leave, maternity cover, busy periods, recruitment gaps and other situations where the practice needs qualified support without immediately making a permanent hire.
Permanent recruitment
Usually the right long-term approach when the practice has an ongoing vacancy, but recruitment can take time. Locum support can help bridge the gap while the permanent search continues.
Use Locum Cover When the Cost of Being Short-Staffed Is Higher Than the Cost of Cover
Temporary cover is particularly valuable when a missing team member is likely to reduce appointment capacity, increase pressure on colleagues or force the practice to make repeated changes to the diary.
A locum dental nurse, hygienist or other dental professional can provide support for a single shift, a block of dates or a longer placement, depending on the role and availability.
- Unexpected sickness
- Annual leave and planned absences
- Maternity or longer-term leave
- Recruitment gaps
- Busy periods and increased patient demand
- Practice growth or additional surgery capacity
Give the Staffing Agency a Complete Brief From the Start
If you need temporary dental staff, the quality of the information you provide can affect how quickly an agency can assess suitable availability.
- The role required
- Date, start time, finish time and break details
- Practice postcode and travel information where relevant
- Whether the practice is NHS, private or mixed
- Expected duties and any specific competencies
- Practice software or systems the locum may need to use
- Whether you need one shift, repeat dates or ongoing cover
A detailed brief gives the agency a better chance of finding someone who is not only available, but suitable for the way your practice works.
Check Registration, Compliance and Suitability Before the Shift
For registered dental professionals, suitability is about more than availability. Dental professionals must be registered with the General Dental Council before they can work in the UK, and appropriate indemnity or insurance must be in place before they practise.
Ask your staffing provider what checks it completes and make sure any additional practice-specific requirements are communicated before the booking is confirmed.
If you are comparing providers, read our guide on how to choose the right locum dental nurse agency .
Build a Staffing Contingency Plan Before the Next Shortage
The easiest staffing emergency to manage is the one you have already planned for. Once the immediate gap is covered, use the experience to strengthen your contingency plan.
- Booking known holiday cover early
- Keeping an up-to-date list of critical roles and shift requirements
- Knowing which duties can and cannot be redistributed safely
- Maintaining a relationship with a specialist dental staffing agency
- Starting permanent recruitment before a vacancy becomes urgent
- Recording preferred locums for future repeat bookings where possible
Opal Dental Locums supports practices across a growing range of UK locations. You can view the areas Opal currently covers when planning future staffing support.
Dental Staff Shortage Checklist
Dental Staff Shortages Are Easier to Manage With a Plan
A staffing shortage does not always mean cancelling appointments or immediately rushing into permanent recruitment. The right response depends on the role, the length of the gap and the pressure it creates elsewhere in the practice.
For short-term or urgent gaps, qualified temporary dental staff can help maintain continuity while the practice works through its longer-term staffing needs.
Opal Dental Locums works with dental practices looking for flexible locum support. If you need cover, provide the team with your dates, location, role and practice requirements so they can assess suitable availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to cover a dental staff shortage?
Start by defining the role, date, hours and essential duties. For an urgent or short-term gap, contacting a specialist dental staffing agency with a complete brief can be faster than beginning a permanent recruitment process. Availability will depend on the role, location and timing.
When should a dental practice use locum staff?
Locum staff can be useful for sickness, annual leave, maternity cover, recruitment gaps, busy periods and other temporary increases in staffing demand.
Can locum staff cover a practice while permanent recruitment is underway?
Yes. Temporary staffing can be used to bridge a recruitment gap while the practice continues looking for the right permanent employee, subject to suitable locum availability.
What information should I give a dental staffing agency?
Provide the role, date, working hours, practice location, expected duties, type of practice, software used and any specific experience or competencies required. The more complete the brief, the easier it is to assess a suitable match.
What should I check before accepting a locum dental professional?
Check that the person is suitable for the role and that the relevant registration, compliance, identity, right-to-work and indemnity requirements have been addressed. Ask the agency what it verifies and confirm any additional requirements specific to your practice.
How can a dental practice prepare for future staff shortages?
Plan known leave early, keep clear staffing briefs for key roles, maintain relationships with trusted staffing providers and begin permanent recruitment before vacancies become critical where possible.
Need Dental Staff Cover?
Tell Opal the role, dates, hours and location you need covered and the team can assess suitable locum availability for your practice.
Request Locum CoverChoosing a Dental Staffing Agency?
Know what to check before you book, from compliance and response times to pricing, matching and ongoing support.
Read the Agency Guide
