Frequently Asked Questions

IthacaRDH is a free service that connects dental offices with local per-diem hygienists to help keep your hygiene schedule covered. Offices submit requests through our booking form, and available hygienists contact you directly to arrange coverage.

No, IthacaRDH is not a temp agency. That means:

• No fees to use our service

• No pay rate markups

• No middleman involved

Just a simple, free tool to connect your office with hygienists who are available to provide coverage.

We currently support practices in:

• Ithaca

• Cortland

• Vestal

• Binghamton

• Trumansburg

• Lansing

There is no fee for dental offices. Using the booking request form is free. Once you’ve connected with a hygienist, all pay arrangements (rate, structure, and payment method) are agreed upon directly between you and the hygienist.

Fill out the booking request form with your office name, contact information, and the dates/times coverage is needed.

To help find the best fit, consider including additional details such as:

• Appointment lengths

• Break schedule

• Equipment available

• Office policies

Once you’ve confirmed coverage with a hygienist, mark your request as Booked to stop receiving responses.

Once you've secured coverage from a temp hygienist through IthacaRDH, you should confirm the following directly with the hygienist:

• Pay rate and pay structure

• Exact start/end hours

• Appointment lengths and flow

• Equipment availability

• Breaks/lunch times

• Method of payment

Yes. If you’d like a particular hygienist to cover, include their name in your booking request.

Once you’ve made arrangements with a hygienist, all communication about changes or cancellations is handled directly between your office and that hygienist. IthacaRDH does not manage cancellations.

In New York State:

• Workers must receive a 30-minute unpaid break for shifts of 6+ hours.

• Registered dental hygienists work under the license of a dentist. This means that hygienists, including temps, should be hired as employees (W-2), not independent contractors (1099). The 1099 classification does not apply to registered dental hygienists under New York law. IthacaRDH per-diem hygienists are provided with a W4 form when they join the community and should be able to provide this upon booking.

For questions or comments, please email [email protected].