Hiring a dental assistant in 2026 means competing for a shrinking pool of qualified professionals. This guide covers the full process: defining the role, writing a job description that attracts the right candidates, sourcing through multiple channels, interviewing for both technical skills and team fit, verifying credentials, and onboarding in a way that actually keeps people around. Whether you need your next dental assistant fast or you're building a long-term hiring system, these steps apply.