What Is TempStars?
TempStars is a mobile marketplace that directly connects dental offices with temporary hygienists, dental assistants, and office staff. The model is simple: an office posts a shift with the date, time, role, and pay rate. Dental professionals in the area receive real-time notifications and can send offers that include their resume and preferred hourly rate. The office reviews reliability ratings and performance history, then accepts the best fit.
What makes TempStars work is the network. With 8,000+ dental offices and 18,000+ dental professionals, the platform has the critical mass needed to fill shifts quickly -- even on short notice. The 24/7 real-time availability means you are not waiting for an agency to open at 9 AM when your hygienist calls in sick at 7 AM.
Dr. James Younger built TempStars because he experienced the dental staffing problem firsthand as a practicing dentist. That origin story shows in the product: the workflows are designed around how dental offices actually operate, not how a generic staffing platform thinks they should.
Who Is It For?
Dental offices that need emergency fill-ins: Your hygienist called in sick. You have a full column of patients. TempStars lets you post a shift and get offers from available hygienists in your area within minutes.
Offices that use temps regularly: If you consistently need 1-2 temp days per week (to cover multiple hygiene columns, maternity leave, vacations, etc.), TempStars' per-shift pricing is more economical than agency contracts.
Dental professionals who want to temp on their terms: Hygienists and assistants set their own rates, choose their own shifts, and build their own schedules. The app shows office details, pay, and reviews before you commit.
Offices looking to hire permanent staff: TempStars charges zero hiring fees if you want to convert a temp to a permanent employee. Most staffing agencies charge 15-25% of annual salary for permanent placements.
Canadian and US practices: TempStars started in Canada and expanded to the US. The Canadian network is particularly strong given TempStars' first-mover advantage there.
Key Features
Real-Time Shift Posting: Offices post shifts with role, date, time, and pay rate. Notifications go out immediately to matching professionals in the area. Available 24/7 -- no waiting for business hours.
Two-Way Matching: Professionals send offers with their resume and hourly rate. Offices review reliability ratings, performance history, and qualifications before accepting. Both sides have information to make an informed decision.
Reliability and Performance Ratings: Transparent rating system that builds accountability. High-rated professionals get more shift offers. Low-rated professionals (or offices) see their options narrow. This self-policing mechanism improves quality over time.
Invoice and Job Management: Professionals can manage invoices and track past jobs directly in the app. Payment terms vary but the platform facilitates the financial relationship between office and professional.
No Hiring Fees: If an office wants to hire a temp permanently, TempStars charges nothing. This is a major differentiator from traditional staffing agencies.
Coverage for Multiple Roles: Not just hygienists -- TempStars covers dental assistants and office staff as well, though hygienist staffing is the primary use case.
Pros
- Largest dental temp network in North America (8,000+ offices, 18,000+ professionals)
- Most transparent pricing in dental staffing -- flat per-shift fee, no surprises
- Zero hiring fees for permanent conversions
- 97% satisfaction rate among dental professionals (630+ Google reviews)
- Founded by a dentist who understood the problem firsthand
- 24/7 availability for same-day and short-notice shift posting
Cons
- 1099 contractor model means offices and professionals handle tax compliance themselves
- No workers' comp or malpractice insurance provided (unlike Teero's W-2 model)
- Quality varies -- some offices report inconsistent temp quality despite the rating system
- Canadian pricing ($73/shift) is nearly double the US rate ($38/shift)
- Payment flows through the platform but is not instant -- professionals may wait for payment
- App interface could use a design refresh