How Dental Hygienists Find Flexible Temp Shifts Without Agency Markups

A practical guide to picking up temp hygiene shifts on your own terms — choosing your rate, your schedule, and your offices, with no agency taking a cut of your pay.

Reviewed by the TempStars team. TempStars was founded in 2015 by Dr. James Younger, DDS, a practicing dentist.

What “without agency markups” actually means for your pay

Traditional dental staffing agencies typically charge the office a placement fee and add a markup of roughly $15–$60 per hour on top of your rate. That markup doesn’t go to you — it’s the agency’s cut, and it quietly caps what offices feel they can pay. In a direct marketplace, that layer disappears. The office pays a flat placement fee, and you negotiate your hourly rate directly. When the markup is gone, offices can pay you more and still come out ahead.

Start with the flexibility you actually want

Temping isn’t one thing. Naming your goal makes every search sharper:

• One extra shift a month to top up income without burning out.
• A flexible weekly rhythm that fits family, school, or a second job.
• A shorter commute by working closer to home some days.
• A test drive of different offices before committing to a permanent move.

How it works on TempStars, step by step

1. Create a free professional profile with your role, location, and credentials.
2. Browse open shifts near you and send an offer at the hourly rate you choose.
3. The office reviews your profile, ratings, and rate, then accepts or counters.
4. You work the confirmed shift, submit your invoice in the app, and get paid — backed by a Payment Guarantee.

Top-rated professionals can earn Pro or Elite status, which unlocks Insta-Book — the ability to confirm eligible shifts instantly without waiting for office approval. Many shifts on TempStars fill within minutes of being posted.

You stay in control of every shift

You decide which shifts to offer on, what rate to ask, and which offices to add to your favourites. You can also see an office’s ratings from other professionals before you accept — so a “flexible” shift never means a blind one. TempStars also backs every shift with a PPE/Infection Control Guarantee and a Cancellation Guarantee, so a last-minute change isn’t your financial risk.

Confirm the requirements that apply to you

Licensing, tax (1099 vs. T4/W-2), and registration rules vary by state and province. TempStars supports both U.S. and Canadian markets, but you are responsible for confirming the licensing and employment requirements where you work.