How Airlocum Works for Dental Practices
Airlocum is a UK dental locum booking platform giving practices direct access to over 1,100 verified dental professionals - dental nurses, dentists, hygienists, and orthodontic therapists. This article walks through the complete process, from creating your account to payment, so you know exactly what to expect at each stage.
⚡ The process at a glance
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Stage 1 — Register Your Practice
1 | Create your account Registration is free and takes under 2 minutes. No subscription, no setup fee. Go to airlocum.co.uk and click Quick Registration → Practice. Enter your name, mobile number, email address, and practice details. Set up your payment method — card (via Stripe) or invoicing (14-day terms, available instantly). Your account is live immediately. You can send booking requests the moment registration is complete. |
Stage 2 — Find the Right Locum
2 | Search and filter Use search filters to narrow results to locums who match your exact requirements for that shift. Role: dental nurse, dentist, hygienist, or orthodontic therapist Date and time: same-day, next-day, or planned shifts Location: distance from your practice in miles Skills: conscious sedation, implant nursing, orthodontic nursing, intra-oral scanner proficiency, and more Hourly rate: set a maximum to stay within budget Star rating: filter by minimum rating to see only top-rated locums |
3 | Review profiles before booking Before sending a request, you can view each locum's full profile: Star rating and reliability score — updated after every completed shift Review history — written feedback from other practices Verified qualifications — GDC registration, skills, indemnity insurance, and Hepatitis B status all confirmed Average response time — how quickly they typically accept or decline requests All-inclusive hourly rate — the rate shown covers the locum's pay, Airlocum's service fee, and VAT |
How the matching algorithm works
When search results are returned, Airlocum's matching orders locums by best fit for your shift. The factors it weighs are:
Factor | What it means |
Reliability score | How consistently the locum accepts bookings and completes shifts without cancelling |
Response rate | How quickly and reliably they respond to booking requests |
Star rating | Aggregated score from written reviews left by practices after completed shifts |
Distance | Travel time from the locum's location to your practice |
Skills match | Whether their verified qualifications match the requirements of your shift |
Availability | Confirmed availability for your specific date and time |
Stage 3 — Send a Booking Request
4 | Choose your booking method Airlocum offers two ways to book, depending on whether speed or selection matters more for that shift. Book a locum (recommended for urgent cover): Airlocum's algorithm contacts the most reliable, available locums in fast sequential waves. You don’t choose a specific locum — the first suitable person to accept is confirmed. Most urgent shifts are filled in under 15 minutes. Manuel select (recommended for planned shifts): Browse individual profiles, compare ratings and rates, and send a request to one or more specific locums. Best used when you have time to be selective. |
5 | Track your request in real time Once your request is sent, the Booking Request Tracker updates every 20 seconds. You can see how many locums have viewed the request, how many have been contacted, and the live status. Automated rebooking: if no locum accepts within 2 hours, Airlocum automatically widens the search and resends — no action needed from you. 94% of automated rebookings successfully find cover. You receive an SMS and email notification the moment a locum confirms. |
Stage 4 — The Day of the Shift
6 | Day-of notifications On the day of the shift, Airlocum keeps you updated automatically. The locum receives a reminder notification before the shift. ETA check-in: the locum sends an ETA as they travel to your practice, so you know they’re on their way. If anything changes — delay or cancellation — you’re notified immediately and rebooking activates automatically. |
Stage 5 — Timesheet and Payment
7 | Locum submits their timesheet At the end of the shift, the locum submits a digital timesheet via the platform recording the hours worked. You receive a notification to review and approve. You have 24 hours to approve or raise a dispute. If no action is taken within 24 hours, the timesheet is approved automatically. Approved timesheets trigger payment processing immediately. |
8 | Payment processes automatically Once the timesheet is approved, Airlocum handles everything. Card payments: charged to your saved card via Stripe (PCI DSS Level 1). Locum is paid within 8 days of approval. Invoice payments: invoice issued with 14-day payment terms. Locum is paid within 18 days of approval. You receive two invoices — one for the locum’s hours, one for Airlocum’s service fee. The total is the same all-inclusive rate shown at booking. No upfront payment, no hidden fees. You only ever pay for completed, approved work. |
After the Shift
Once payment is processed, you’ll be prompted to leave a rating and review for the locum. Ratings contribute to their reliability score and help other practices make informed booking decisions. Locums who receive a 5-star review are automatically added to your Favourites list.
❤️ Build your go-to team over time Every shift helps you build a picture of which locums work best at your practice. Save the best to your Favourites list — they receive your booking requests first, before the wider pool. Use the Blocklist to prevent locums who aren’t a good fit from appearing in your results again. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to book a dental locum on Airlocum?
Most urgent shifts are filled in under 15 minutes using Quick Book. Planned bookings sent in advance typically confirm within a few hours. Practices that send requests to 30 or more locums simultaneously achieve a 92% fill rate.
How does Airlocum match locums to my practice?
Airlocum's matching algorithm ranks locums by reliability score, response rate, star rating, distance from your practice, skills match, and confirmed availability. The result is an ordered list of the best-fit locums for your specific shift — not just anyone who is available.
When am I charged?
Only after the shift is completed and you approve the locum's timesheet. If you take no action within 24 hours, the timesheet is approved automatically and payment processes. You are never charged upfront.
What happens if no locum accepts my booking request?
If no locum accepts within 2 hours, Airlocum's automated rebooking system activates and resends your request to a wider pool — without any action needed from you. 92% of automated rebookings find cover. For urgent situations, contact the support team via live chat — response time is under 2 minutes.
Can I use Airlocum to book locums for multiple practice locations?
Yes. Each location has its own account, Favourites list, and Blocklist. The Account Switcher lets you move between locations from a single login without logging out. Corporate groups can also set group-wide rate controls and a shared blocklist across all sites.
Ready to get started? Register free at airlocum.co.uk — takes under 2 minutes. Support is available via live chat at any time — ask to speak to a person for direct assistance. Email: [email protected] | Phone: 07716 580305 |
