Two different approaches to dental shift coverage. One uses W-2 employment, the other puts you in control. Here is how they stack up for Tennessee dental offices and hygienists.
| Category | Kwikly | HygieNow ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Model | W-2. Kwikly employs the hygienist. | 1099 independent contractor. Hygienist works for themselves. |
| Pricing | Hidden behind a sales call. Bundled rate, markup not disclosed. | Transparent 10% platform fee. Published on the website. |
| Who Sets the Rate | Kwikly sets the pay rate. | Hygienist sets their own rate. |
| Vetting | Claims to accept only 30% of applicants. | Every hygienist's license and credentials are verified. No artificial limits on the pool, so offices have more choice. |
| Quality Assurance | Satisfaction guarantee (credit if unhappy). | Ratings and reviews. Offices pick proven hygienists they already trust. No need for a money back guarantee when you choose who shows up. |
| How Offices Book | App download required. | SMS first. Reply Y to accept a shift. No app needed to get started. |
| Overhead | W-2 employment costs (payroll taxes, workers comp, benefits) are built into the rate offices pay. | Flat 10% fee. No employment overhead passed to the office. |
| Conversion Fee | May apply if you hire a Kwikly hygienist permanently. | Zero. Hire any hygienist full time with no buyout. |
| Geographic Roots | Nashville based company, expanding east. | Built by a practicing dentist in East Tennessee. Local from day one. |
Kwikly's W-2 model is a real advantage for offices that want to avoid the compliance risk of 1099 classification. Because Kwikly employs the hygienists directly, the office does not need to worry about misclassification, workers comp, or payroll taxes for temp staff. For risk averse practices or states with strict employment laws, that peace of mind matters.
Some hygienists also prefer W-2 work because taxes are withheld automatically and they may receive certain protections. If you value simplicity over control, Kwikly's model has appeal.
Kwikly also offers a satisfaction guarantee. If an office is unhappy with a placement, they can receive a credit. That is a reasonable safety net for offices trying the platform for the first time.
With Kwikly, you need to get on a sales call just to learn the rates. With HygieNow, you see the hygienist rate and the 10% fee separately, published right on the platform. You always know exactly where your money goes.
On HygieNow, hygienists name their price. This means they are more motivated and you are getting someone who genuinely wants to be there at that rate. Kwikly sets the pay centrally as part of their W-2 model.
Found a great temp you want to bring on permanently? With HygieNow, there is no buyout. Just make the offer. This alone can save thousands compared to platforms that charge placement fees.
Kwikly claims they accept only 30% of applicants. That sounds exclusive, but it means fewer options for your office. HygieNow verifies every hygienist's license and credentials, then lets you choose from the full pool using ratings and reviews.
Kwikly offers a satisfaction guarantee (credit if you are unhappy). HygieNow takes a different approach: offices rate and review hygienists, so you can pick someone with a proven track record. Prevention is better than a refund.
Kwikly requires you to download an app before you can get started. HygieNow is SMS first. Offices post shifts, hygienists reply Y to a text message. The barrier to filling a shift is as low as possible.
Kwikly is a Nashville based company expanding east. HygieNow was built by a practicing dentist in East Tennessee who understands what local offices actually need. Every improvement is focused on making shift coverage work better here.
When a platform employs hygienists as W-2 workers, they carry payroll taxes, workers comp, and benefits. Those costs get built into what offices pay. HygieNow's 1099 marketplace model means a flat 10% fee and nothing else.
This is the biggest structural difference between the two platforms. Neither model is universally better. It depends on what you value.
Want to go deeper? Read our full guide: W-2 vs 1099 Dental Staffing: Which Model Saves Your Practice More?
Kwikly and HygieNow take different approaches to the same problem. Kwikly wraps everything in a W-2 model, which simplifies compliance but costs more, hides pricing behind a sales call, and gives hygienists less rate control.
HygieNow keeps things transparent and affordable. A flat 10% fee published on the site, hygienist controlled rates, ratings and reviews so you pick who shows up, SMS booking with no app required, no conversion fees, and a founder who is a practicing dentist in East Tennessee. If you want to know exactly what you are paying and why, HygieNow is the straightforward choice.
Join HygieNow free. See exactly what you pay, set your own rates, and connect with Tennessee dental professionals who value straightforward shift coverage.