The Growing Use of Locums Tenens Dentists
LOCUM TENENS DENTISTS FILLING GAPS Following the pattern set by locum tenens physicians in the 1970s, locum tenens dentists today are frequently used in rural areas, particularly by FQHCs, and in urban areas. In general, FQHCs use locum tenens dentists to provide services while they seek to recruit permanent dentists. Since recruiting dentists and other clinicians to rural areas and inner-city areas can be challenging, some FQHCs have become reliant on locum tenens dentists to work assignments that can last for months or even over a year. Private dental practices in both rural and metropolitan areas also use locum tenens dentists. Typically, private practice dentists use locum tenens dentists to fill in during maternity leave, vacations, illness, or military deployment. They also may use temporary dentists to maintain services from the time they have recruited a new graduate to the time the graduate is licensed and is able to practice.
Some practices are using locum tenens dentists to fill in for dentists who were furloughed and who now have either retired or are unwilling to return to their former employers.
© AMN Healthcare 2025
AMNHealthcare.com | 11
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease