This week’s blog is actually a podcast from my good friend Rachel Wall, CEO and Founder of Inspired Hygiene. For 20 years, Inspired Hygiene has led the industry in results-focused clinical and hygiene business coaching. Their team brings nearly 200 years of combined hygiene experience and decades of coaching expertise to practices nationwide.
A Note from Holli
Hygiene compensation is something that comes up every single day in my conversations with dentists and office managers. It’s easily one of the biggest operational and financial challenges practices are facing right now. Supply and demand have driven hygienist wages to historic highs, and many offices are struggling to balance fair pay, rising costs, and shrinking reimbursements.
But there are solutions. And that’s why I’m so excited to share this two-part conversation with Rachel. She offers clear, realistic guidance on how to evaluate your hygiene compensation structure, communicate changes effectively, and build a model that supports both your team and your profitability. If hygiene pay has felt overwhelming, confusing, or downright stressful, you’ll find real clarity and direction here.
The Podcast: Two Parts, Two Sides of the Compensation Challenge
Part 1: Hygiene Benchmarks, Profitability and the New Reality
Part 1 focuses on the financial foundation behind hygiene compensation. Rachel breaks down the classic 3:1 hygiene production to compensation benchmark, why it still matters, and how shifts in wages and reimbursements are impacting practice profitability. She also explores the challenges of hiring new hygienists at higher pay levels—and how to evaluate compensation in a way that supports both team morale and the bottom line.
Watch Now
Part 2: Paycheck to Partnership
Part 2 moves into pay models and implementation. Rachel explains the pros and cons of hourly, commission, and hybrid systems, and how practices can transition to performance-based compensation without creating friction. She shares real-world examples of successful (and not-so-successful) shifts, offering a clear roadmap for building a hygiene department that delivers a true “win-win-win” for patients, providers, and the practice.
Watch Now
Work With Rachel — or Let DirectDental Support Your Hiring
If you’d like to work with Rachel and the Inspired Hygiene team, click here.
And if you’re hiring a hygienist, let DirectDental help you find the right fit.
Smiles,
Holli Perez
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