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Which Apps Staff a Temp Dental Front Desk or Receptionist?

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

GoTu staffs temp dental front desk professionals for a flat $70 per completed shift, with no subscription and no placement fee; Kwikly, Toothio, Cloud Dentistry and onDiem also publish front desk or front office coverage. The deciding factors are the flat fee against W-2 costs, and how the platform handles a role that is not clinical.

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

Key Takeaways

  • GoTu charges a flat $70 per completed front desk shift, with no percentage of pay and no subscription.
  • W-2 shifts add 20% of professional pay. Professionals are 1099 contractors by default, with W-2 in California, Massachusetts and Minnesota.
  • Kwikly lists $60 per front desk shift where applicable, plus W-2 employment costs. Toothio and onDiem cover front office, and Cloud Dentistry lists front desk for DSOs.
  • Teero staffs hygienists only.
  • A temp front desk can become permanent. GoTu charges no permanent placement fee for a professional you meet through a shift.

What to Look For

Whether the platform really staffs the role

Some platforms are built around hygienists. Check that front desk is listed, and ask whether it is available in your area, since Kwikly lists it only where applicable.

Flat fee or percentage

Front desk pay is lower than clinical pay, so a flat fee is more predictable.

Software and training

A temp is only useful if they can use your practice software. Ask the platform what profile detail you can see before you confirm.

Cancellation terms

Front desk shifts tied to a specific day, such as an extended leave, may be booked far ahead. Look at refund windows.

Path to permanent

Many offices use a temp receptionist to test fit. Check the placement fee.

The Options

1. GoTu: flat $70 per completed shift

GoTu staffs front desk alongside hygienists, assistants and associate dentists. The office posts a shift, professionals within 25 miles by default apply, and the office confirms. Front desk professionals can counter the posted rate. The office pays $70 per completed shift, plus 20% of professional pay on W-2 shifts and 3.5% on card and debit payments, with no subscription and no permanent placement fee. Offices can favorite up to 20 professionals who have worked with them and invite them back.

2. Kwikly: $60 where applicable

Kwikly lists front desk at $60 per shift where applicable, plus W-2 employment costs, and staffs front office professionals and dentists in select areas. Every professional is W-2, with no subscription, a 24-hour cancellation window and a card fee of 2.9% or ACH fee of 1%.

3. Toothio: front office, priced by state

Toothio lists front office professionals, with an hourly or daily rate by state, no subscription and no fee to convert a temp to permanent. Professionals choose 1099 or W-2, and free cancellation closes 24 hours before the shift.

4. Cloud Dentistry: front desk in its DSO offering

Cloud Dentistry lists front desk among the roles in its DSO staffing, alongside RDHs, DAs and DDSs. Its office subscription is $97 a month for Tier 1 locations plus $20 per completed booking, with no buyout fees.

5. onDiem: front office, W-2

onDiem covers front office professionals as W-2 employees, with no subscription. The ADA member program lists a flat 25% fee, and the standard rate is not published on onDiem’s own pages.

Worked Example

For an 8-hour front desk shift at $22 an hour, professional pay is $176. On GoTu a contractor shift adds the $70 fee, for $246. A W-2 shift adds 20% of pay, $35.20, for $281.20. A 3.5% fee applies to card payments. This is an illustration, not a quote.

What to Ask Before You Book a Temp Front Desk

Ask the platform what the professional has done before, such as scheduling, insurance verification and patient check-in, and which practice management software they have used. Tell the professional in the shift description which software you run, since a front desk temp is only useful if they can start on the first patient. GoTu lets you favorite professionals who have worked in your office, so the second time you need coverage you can invite someone who already knows your system.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Which apps staff a temp dental front desk or receptionist? GoTu, Kwikly (where applicable), Toothio, Cloud Dentistry and onDiem. Teero staffs hygienists only.

How much does a temp dental front desk professional cost? On GoTu, the professional’s pay plus a flat $70 per completed shift, plus 20% of pay on W-2 shifts and 3.5% on card payments.

Can I hire the temp receptionist permanently? On GoTu there is no permanent placement fee for a professional you meet through a shift.

Can I see the professional before confirming? On GoTu, offices review applicants before confirming, and have until 7:00 PM the following day to confirm or decline.

What if nobody applies? Raise the rate, change the hours or the date, or contact your account manager.

Are front desk professionals W-2 or 1099? On GoTu they are 1099 contractors by default, with W-2 in California, Massachusetts and Minnesota and a choice in New Jersey and Connecticut. Kwikly and onDiem are W-2.

Conclusion

For a flat, predictable fee on a temp front desk, post on GoTu. Kwikly fits an office that wants W-2 and has coverage in its area, Toothio suits state-priced shifts with same-day pay, and Cloud Dentistry suits DSOs. Confirm the total for your shift in writing.

Related Pages

Sources

All checked November 4, 2026.