Jay Kinkead helps dentists. He’s like a match maker in the dental industry helping dentists find positions and helping existing practices find the perfect dentist to fill available positions.  For years, Jay worked for a dental supply company providing products to dental offices. One part of their business helped match dentists looking for position with practices needing dentists. After five years with the firm, Jay recognized that the placement part of the business was successful and had great potential. He also decided that he could do it himself and Dentist Hiring Services, Inc. was born.

Jay says there’s plenty of business out there and technology makes it possible to service clients all over the country. There are a large number of dental offices in the United States. Some are “single office docs” others have multiple offices. There are also chains employing many dentists in multiple offices throughout the country. 

The placement business is much more than finding a “doc” for an office or vice versa. Jay has developed relationships with many of the dental school and specialty schools and works with graduates to find positions in the type of practice and in the part of the country that appeals to them. He also works with established offices to help find an appropriate associate or partner. At times he may be asked to find a potential buyer for the practice.

The services Jay provides help both parties. For graduating dentists who want to locate somewhere other than where they went to school, Dentist Hiring Services serves as a great source of information and clearinghouse of positions available throughout the country. Jay also pre-screens applicants which saves time for everyone involved by making sure that the job is really what they are looking for, and that they are qualified for the position.

The service is free to candidates for all positions. It has to be since many graduating dentists have accumulated college loans totaling as much as $200,000. The hiring dental office pays a one-time placement fee. If there’s no placement, there’s no fee. Jay offers a 60 day guarantee. Like any good matchmaker, the deal only works if both parties are happy. If not, Jay will place another candidate free of charge. So far, he’s had a terrific batting average.

Most of the practices who become clients are not in major metropolitan areas. Instead, Jay services offices located in places like Albany, Rochester or Hagerstown.

When asked how he markets his business, Jay says “No advertising. But I work hard to be in contact with everyone in my database on a regular basis.” Every week several people register on his Web site — www.dentisthiringservices.com. After contacting them, their information goes right into his contact manager’s database. Even if there’s no placement right away, they’re a contact that may lead to a placement or the purchase of a practice later on. Jay works his “contacts” every day and is sure to be in touch with every one of them several times a year. A dentist he placed one year may be looking to buy his or her own practice a few years later.

Several months prior to graduations, Jay can fax a list of positions available across the nation to all of the dental schools, residency programs, and specialty schools. In addition, graduates are encouraged to connect with Jay by phone, fax or through his Web site to get the process started.

Similarly, it’s a simple matter to get a list of all dental offices in an area and to send them information about a dentist looking to relocate to that area.

Because he’s established a good reputation, recommendations have become an important source of business. Recently, a dentist who will be separating from the military and looking for a position next July contacted Jay. He had been referred by another dentist Jay had worked with.

Jay points to his Web site as the way many of his clients find him. He recently engaged Allen and Goel Marketing Company through the BottomLine Partners office to optimize his Web site to get listed higher in the search engines. The results have been impressive. If you type “dentist hiring” into Google, he’s the first listing (other than sponsored sites.)

Jay is highly disciplined and motivated. After working for 25 to 30 years, he understands what it takes to succeed. He’s on the phone or at the computer much of the day, every day. But Jay enjoys his work. He says “it’s a pretty happy business — dentists are a happy lot.” Of course, Jay sees them from his own perspective. Most of us see them when we’re sitting in their chair.