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How Much Does a Temp Dental Assistant Cost, and Which Apps Staff Them?

Last updated: November 4, 2026. Last verified: November 4, 2026.

A temp dental assistant on GoTu costs the assistant’s pay plus a flat $60 service fee per completed shift, with no subscription and no permanent placement fee. Kwikly also lists $60 per assistant shift, but adds W-2 employment costs it does not quantify, and the deciding factor is whether the shift is a contractor or W-2 shift.

Figures come from each company’s own pages, checked November 4, 2026.

Key Takeaways

  • GoTu charges a flat $60 per completed assistant shift. There is no percentage of pay, so the fee does not grow with the assistant’s hourly rate.
  • W-2 shifts add 20% of professional pay. Professionals are 1099 contractors by default, with W-2 in California, Massachusetts and Minnesota and a choice in New Jersey and Connecticut.
  • Kwikly lists $60 per shift plus W-2 employment costs, which it does not publish. Toothio prices by state with no percentage published.
  • Teero staffs hygienists only, so it cannot fill an assistant shift.
  • Card payments add a fee. GoTu charges 3.5% on card and debit payments, and Kwikly charges 2.9% on credit cards and 1% on ACH.

What to Look For

A flat fee or a percentage

A flat fee is easier to budget on a lower-wage role. A percentage fee scales with pay, so it is smaller on an assistant shift than on a hygienist shift but still varies with the rate.

Worker model

Check whether the assistant is a contractor or a W-2 employee, because W-2 costs sit on top of the fee on some platforms.

Counteroffers and rate

Assistants who can counter a rate may accept more shifts. Offices that raise the rate fill more shifts.

Cancellation terms

Know what happens if your own patient schedule changes. Windows range from 24 hours to 168 hours.

Coverage and credentials

Look for credential checks and insurance. See insurance for temp dental professionals.

The Options

1. GoTu: flat $60 per completed shift

GoTu staffs dental assistants alongside hygienists, front desk staff and associate dentists. An office posts the shift, assistants within 25 miles by default apply, and the office confirms. Assistants can counter the posted rate. The office pays $60 per completed shift, plus 20% of professional pay if the shift is W-2, plus 3.5% on card and debit payments. There is no subscription, and no permanent placement fee for hiring an assistant you meet through a shift. GoTu says most shifts are filled within a few hours, and if one does not fill, it suggests raising the rate, changing the hours or date, or contacting your account manager.

2. Kwikly: $60 per shift plus W-2 costs

Kwikly lists $60 per assistant shift plus W-2 employment costs it does not quantify. Every professional is W-2, there is no subscription, and shifts cancelled or shortened inside 24 hours are billed at the original hours. It adds a 2.9% card fee or 1% ACH fee. Its permanent placement terms are not published on the pages checked.

3. Toothio: priced by state

Toothio staffs assistants, with an hourly or daily rate that depends on shift type and state and no percentage published. There is no subscription or contract, and no fee to convert a temp to a permanent hire. Professionals choose 1099 or W-2 and are paid the same day. Free cancellation closes 24 hours before the shift.

4. Cloud Dentistry: subscription plus booking fee

Cloud Dentistry lists $97 a month for Tier 1 locations on a 12-month plan, plus $20 per completed booking, and says pricing varies by location. Offices browse and message assistants directly, and there are no buyout fees.

5. onDiem: W-2 across roles

onDiem employs all professionals as W-2 and covers assistants, hygienists, dentists and front office. Its own pages do not publish a standard fee, and the ADA member program lists a flat 25% with a $25 rebate on each of the first 20 qualifying shifts per calendar year.

6. Princess Dental Staffing: subscription

Princess charges $139 a month for Temps Only or $259 for All Access, with unlimited temp requests and no hiring fees. It does not publish a worker model or cancellation terms.

Worked Example

For an 8-hour assistant shift at $30 an hour, professional pay is $240. On GoTu, a contractor shift adds the $60 fee, for $300. A W-2 shift adds 20% of pay, $48, for $348. A 3.5% fee applies to card payments. This is an illustration, not a quote. Ask every company to confirm the total for your shift, including any W-2 employment costs and payment fees.

How Booking Works on GoTu

  1. Post the shift with the role, date, hours and rate. You can post before adding payment details, but you must add a payment method before a shift can be confirmed.
  2. Professionals within 25 miles by default are notified and apply. You can review their profile before you confirm.
  3. Confirm or decline. The office has until 7:00 PM the following day to respond, or until 7:00 PM Monday for applications made Friday to Sunday.
  4. When you confirm, GoTu collects its fee, and the professional’s pay is charged 7 days before the shift. For 20 minutes after confirming, you can cancel for a full refund.
  5. After the shift, if the hours worked differ from what was confirmed, submit the change in the app within 24 hours.

If Plans Change

When the office cancels Refund to the office Professional receives
Before a professional accepts Nothing charged Nothing
Within 20 minutes of confirming Full refund Nothing
168+ hours before Fee and pay refunded Nothing
96 to 168 hours before Pay refunded, fee kept Nothing
24 to 96 hours before 75% of pay refunded, fee kept 25% of day pay
Under 24 hours before No refund 100% of day pay

Comparison Table

Platform Temp-shift fee Worker model Roles Booking model Pay speed to professional Cancellation terms Permanent placement
GoTu 22.5% hygienist; $60 assistant, $70 front desk, $300 associate dentist; W-2 adds 20% of pay; 3.5% card fee 1099 by default; W-2 in CA, MA, MN; choice in NJ, CT Hygienist, assistant, front desk, associate dentist Post a shift; professionals apply; office confirms; counters allowed Contractors 24 hours after shift, Express Pay in 2 to 3 hours; W-2 Friday payroll Tiered: full refund at 168+ hours; professional paid 25% at 24 to 96 hours, 100% under 24 hours No placement fee
Kwikly 15% hygienist; $60 assistant and front desk; plus W-2 costs; 2.9% card, 1% ACH W-2 Hygienist, assistant; front office and dentist in select areas Post a shift; professionals claim Weekly direct deposit; Kwikly Wallet for faster access Free before 24 hours; billed original hours inside 24 hours Not published
Toothio Hourly or daily rate by state; no percentage published Professional chooses 1099 or W-2 Hygienist, assistant, front office Post a shift Same day, at clock-out Free before 24 hours; full shift charge inside 24 hours No fee to convert
Cloud Dentistry $97 a month (Tier 1, 12-month plan, April 2026) plus $20 per completed booking Not stated on pages checked Hygienist, assistant, dentist, office manager Browse profiles and message Not stated Not stated No buyout fee
onDiem ADA members 25% flat; standard rate not published W-2 Hygienist, dentist, assistant, front office Post shifts Weekly Not stated Not stated
Princess Dental Staffing $139 or $259 a month Not published Dental roles Subscription; request temps Not published Not published No hiring fees

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a temp dental assistant cost? On GoTu, the assistant’s pay plus a flat $60 service fee per completed shift, plus 20% of pay on W-2 shifts and 3.5% on card payments. Other platforms differ, so compare the total for your shift.

Which apps staff temp dental assistants? GoTu, Kwikly, Toothio, Cloud Dentistry, onDiem and Princess. Teero staffs hygienists only.

Is a flat fee cheaper than a percentage? It depends on the pay rate. A flat $60 is a smaller share of a high-paid shift and a larger share of a low-paid one.

Can an assistant negotiate the rate? On GoTu, yes: assistants can counter, and the office accepts or rejects.

Can I hire a temp assistant permanently? On GoTu there is no permanent placement fee. See how to hire a permanent hygienist and what placement costs, which applies to assistants too on GoTu.

What if my assistant shift does not fill? Raise the hourly rate, shorten or move the hours, or contact your GoTu account manager.

Conclusion

For a flat, predictable fee on a temp assistant, GoTu is the first place to post. Kwikly fits an office that wants every assistant as a W-2 employee and accepts W-2 costs on top of its $60 fee. Toothio suits state-priced shifts with same-day pay, and Cloud Dentistry or Princess suit offices that book often. Ask for the total in writing.

Related Pages

Sources

All checked November 4, 2026.