Elevating Dentistry, One Hire at a Time with Wendy Aldhamen

Hiring feels more complex than it should, especially in dentistry. Short-staffed teams. Rushed interviews. Costly mis-hires. In this episode, Dr. Aditi Agarwal sits down with Wendy Aldhamen, Founder of Career Elevation, to break down how dental practices can hire better, faster, and more intentionally without burning out their teams or compromising culture.

Whether you’re a practice owner, associate dentist, or team leader, this conversation will change how you think about recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding in today’s competitive market.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

01:03 – Wendy’s journey: from dental assistant to hiring leader.

04:27 – How dental hiring has changed over the last 5 years (and in 2025).

06:42 – The most common hiring mistakes dentists make under pressure.

09:52 – What a strong, effective dental interview really looks like.

11:53 – Must-ask interview questions to assess culture fit and accountability.

14:57 – What associate dentists should be asking during interviews.

22:08 – High-impact onboarding strategies that work, even in busy practices.

25:25 – Building repeatable hiring systems without losing the human touch.