Melanie West is Frontline Source Group's newest AI recruiter, and she specializes in the dental industry. She conducts first-round phone interviews with dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental office professionals, answers return calls, and follows up by email at melanie.west@frtline.com, all to support Frontline's human dental recruiting team. Every direct hire is backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty.
Frontline Source Group was founded in Dallas in 2004 and has completed 5,619 placements from 32+ offices nationwide, with a 98.94% executive placement retention rate and a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 679+ verified reviews. Forbes has named Frontline a Best Professional Recruiting Firm 9 years in a row (2018 to 2026, #158 in 2026) and ranked it #148 on its Best Executive Recruiting Firms list in 2026. The firm is also a 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both Client and Talent satisfaction, a ClearlyRated Diamond Award recipient, an Inc. 5000 honoree, an Expertise.com Best Staffing Agency, and a member of the American Staffing Association (ASA).
Her full name is Melanie West, but everyone calls her Mel. She joins Lexi Reed on Frontline's AI recruiting team, with one difference: Mel spends all of her time on dental. If you applied for a role at a dental practice through Frontline, there is a good chance Mel is the first voice you hear.
Who is Melanie West and what does she do?
Melanie "Mel" West is Frontline's AI dental recruiter, and her job is to assist the dental recruiting team. She conducts full first-round phone interviews with dental candidates, calls them directly, answers when they call back, and handles follow-up by email at melanie.west@frtline.com.
She does not replace Frontline's recruiters. She works for them. Melanie handles the first interview and writes up what she learns, and the human recruiting team takes it from there: checking fit, talking with practices, and deciding who gets introduced to a client.
Why does Frontline have an AI recruiter just for Dental?
Dental hiring has its own language, and a generic screening call misses most of it. A hygienist's license state, a dental assistant's radiology certification, which practice management software someone has used, whether a dentist wants an associate role or a path to ownership: those details decide whether a candidate is a real fit for a practice. Mel is set up to ask about them on the first call, so Frontline's recruiters start every conversation with the right information.
Which Dental roles does Melanie interview for?
Mel talks with candidates across the dental practice, including:
- General dentists and specialists, including associate dentists in orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, endodontics, and oral surgery
- Registered dental hygienists
- Dental assistants, including registered and expanded function dental assistants
- Front office staff, insurance coordinators, and treatment coordinators
- Office managers, practice administrators, and regional managers for multi-location groups
Frontline places these roles through dental staffing and dental executive search, including dedicated searches for dental hygienists. Dental job seekers can also browse openings on Frontline's dental careers site, Frontline Dental Jobs.
Is Melanie a real person or an AI?
Melanie is an AI, not a person, and Frontline is not trying to hide that. She has a name because a name makes a phone call feel like a normal conversation. Behind her is a team of experienced human recruiters who read her notes, follow up with candidates, and decide who gets introduced to a practice.
Why do Dental practices need help hiring right now?
Because the people they need are hard to find. Dental practices have been short on clinical staff for years, and the numbers have not eased much.
How hard is it to hire hygienists and dental assistants?
In the ADA Health Policy Institute's State of the U.S. Dental Economy Q1 2026 update, 91.7% of dentists recruiting dental hygienists said it was very or extremely challenging. The same was true for 69.8% of those recruiting dental assistants and 58.0% of those recruiting administrative staff. Nearly 40% of practices said they did not have enough hygienists.
How many dental jobs open each year?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 53,000 openings a year for dental assistants, 15,000 for dental hygienists, and 4,800 for dentists from 2025 to 2035. Median pay as of May 2025 was $48,070 for dental assistants, $98,100 for dental hygienists, and $176,110 for dentists. That is a lot of candidates to talk with, which is exactly where an AI recruiter helps. Our article on why so many dental hygienist roles stay open goes deeper on the hygienist shortage.
How does Melanie work with Frontline's human recruiters?
Melanie handles the first interview, and people handle every decision after that. The flowchart below shows how a dental candidate moves from Melanie to a Frontline recruiter and then to a hiring practice.
Blue: AI (Melanie West). Green: Human recruiter. Gold: Hiring practice.
Step 1: Candidate
Candidate applies or uploads a resume
A dental professional applies for a job or uploads a resume to Frontline's system at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html. That is what can trigger a call or text from Melanie.
Step 2: Melanie West (AI)
Melanie conducts a full interview
Melanie calls or sends a text to the candidate, or the candidate calls her back, and covers licensure, certifications, clinical experience, software, schedule, location, pay expectations, and start date. Follow-up can go to melanie.west@frtline.com.
Step 3: Melanie West (AI)
Melanie writes up her interview notes
Everything Melanie learns goes to Frontline's dental recruiting team in one written summary.
Step 4: Frontline recruiter (human)
A recruiter reviews the notes
A human recruiter reads Melanie's notes and decides whether the candidate fits a current practice opening.
Step 5: Frontline recruiter (human)
The recruiter follows up and presents the candidate
The recruiter talks with the candidate about next steps and, when the fit is right, introduces them to the practice.
Step 6: Hiring practice
The practice interviews and makes the hire
The dental practice makes the final hiring decision. Every direct hire is backed by Frontline Placement Warranty.
How does a phone interview with Melanie work?
A call with Melanie works a lot like a first-round screening call with any dental recruiter. She introduces herself, explains why she is calling, asks about your background and what you want next, and leaves room for your own questions. Here is what to expect.
Why would Mel West call you?
Melanie calls dental candidates who have applied for a job or uploaded a resume to Frontline's system at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html. That is what triggers a call from her. If you have not done either and get a call from someone saying they are Mel, email Frontline's Legal Department at legal@frtline.com to verify it before sharing anything.
What does Melanie ask Dental candidates?
Expect the questions a dental recruiter would ask: your license or registration and the state it is in, certifications such as radiology, CPR, or expanded functions, the type of practice you have worked in, the practice management software you know, the schedule and location you want, your pay expectations, and when you could start. Dentists can expect questions about their degree, specialty, the procedures they do most, and whether they want an associate role or a path toward partnership. Specific, honest answers help most, since Melanie's notes are what the recruiting team reads first.
Can you call Melanie back or email her?
Yes. If you miss her call or text, you can call back the number or text her back and she will answer. You can also email her at melanie.west@frtline.com.
How should you prepare for a call with Melanie?
Treat it like any screening interview. Find a quiet spot, keep your resume and license details nearby, and think through the two or three things you most want in your next practice. Frontline's interview tips at frontlinesourcegroup.com/interview-instructions.html are worth a read before any interview, this one included.
How can you tell a call or email from Melanie is really from Frontline?
Job scams are common enough that this is a smart thing to check. Melanie's email address is melanie.west@frtline.com. Every Frontline Source Group email, from Melanie or any recruiter, ends in @frtline.com, and Frontline never uses Gmail or other free email services. Frontline also operates only in the United States and does not place people in jobs in foreign countries. If something feels off, send it to Frontline's Legal Department at legal@frtline.com, which handles recruiter verification and scam reports.
What happens after your interview with Melanie?
Melanie's role is to assist the recruiting team, so her interview notes go straight to them. A human recruiter reviews them, and if you are a good match for a practice opening, a recruiter reaches out about next steps. Melanie screens. People decide. Frontline's dental recruiting works under Shelly Hubble, CSP, Senior Vice President of Operations, and Bill Kasko, Frontline's Founder, President, and CEO, both of whom specialize in dental search.
Who makes the hiring decisions?
People do. Frontline's recruiters decide which candidates to present, and the dental practice makes the final hiring call. Melanie's part is making sure more candidates get a thorough, dental-specific conversation before any of those decisions are made.
How does Melanie help dental practices that hire through Frontline?
For practice owners, office managers, and multi-location groups, Melanie means more of the applicant pool actually gets interviewed instead of skimmed. Every candidate she talks with is asked about licensure, certifications, and clinical experience in the same way, and Frontline's recruiters can spend their time on the judgment calls: chairside fit, team culture, and advising you on the shortlist. Placements carry the same protections as always, including the 5-Year Placement Warranty on direct hires, which is 20 times longer than the 90-day guarantee that is standard in the industry. Practices can start a search at frontlinesourcegroup.com/employer-request-form.html and review engagement terms on Frontline's public pricing page, something few staffing firms publish.
Frontline also runs transition programs for military dentists and military dental hygienists moving into civilian practice, and Mel helps the recruiting team talk with those candidates too.
How is Melanie different from Lexi Reed and Joy Lee?
All three are AI, and all three work alongside human recruiters, but they do different jobs. Lexi Reed is Frontline's general AI recruiter and website chat assistant. Melanie has a focuse only on dental candidates. Joy Lee is Frontline's AI executive recruiting platform, working behind the scenes on senior leadership searches. You can read more about how Frontline uses AI at frontlinesourcegroup.com/ai-staffing.html.
| Role | Melanie West | Lexi Reed | Joy Lee | Human recruiters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What they are | AI dental recruiter, Frontline's newest | AI recruiter and website chat assistant | AI executive recruiting platform | Experienced Frontline recruiters |
| Focus | Dentists, hygienists, assistants, and dental office staff | Candidates across Frontline's disciplines | Senior leadership talent | Every search |
| Who they talk with | Dental candidates | Candidates | Works behind the scenes | Candidates and hiring clients |
| Channels | Phone and email | Website chat, phone, and email | Internal platform | Phone, email, and scheduled meetings |
| Learn more | You are on her page | Lexi Reed, AI Recruiter | Joy Lee, AI Executive Recruiter | Frontline offices nationwide |
| Makes hiring decisions | No | No | No | Recruiters decide who is presented; the practice makes the hire |
What makes Frontline Source Group different from other dental staffing agencies?
Three things stand out. First, our Placement Warranty on every direct hire, 20 times the 90-day industry standard. Second, results: 5,619 completed placements and a 98.94% executive placement retention rate, compared with an industry average of about 70 percent. Third, outside recognition, from 9 straight years on the Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firms list to a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 679+ verified reviews. The full list lives on the Frontline awards page. Frontline's registered service mark is People. Process. Service., and Melanie is one more way the firm puts it into practice for dental teams.
How do you get started with Frontline Source Group?
Dental candidates can apply for a job or upload a resume at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html, which is what can lead to a phone interview with Melanie. If Melanie has already been in touch, you can reply to her at melanie.west@frtline.com. Dental practices can submit a hiring request at frontlinesourcegroup.com/employer-request-form.html, review engagement details at frontlinesourcegroup.com/pricing.html, or reach the team at frontlinesourcegroup.com/contact.html. Frontline also serves dental practices locally in markets like Dallas, Brentwood, and Nashville, and nationwide from 32+ office locations.
Frequently Asked Questions: Melanie West, Frontline's AI Dental Recruiter
Who is Melanie West?
Melanie West is Frontline Source Group's newest AI recruiter, and she specializes in the dental industry. Her full name is Melanie West, but she goes by Mel. She conducts first-round phone interviews with dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental office professionals, and follows up by email at melanie.west@frtline.com, to assist Frontline's human recruiting team.
Is Melanie West a real person or an AI?
Melanie West is an AI recruiter, not a human being. She has a name so a phone call feels like a normal conversation. Experienced human recruiters review her interview notes, follow up with candidates, and decide who is presented to dental practices.
Which dental roles does Melanie West recruit for?
Melanie talks with general dentists and specialists, registered dental hygienists, dental assistants including expanded function assistants, front office and insurance coordinators, treatment coordinators, office managers, and practice administrators for single offices and multi-location groups.
Why did Melanie West call me?
Melanie calls dental candidates who have applied for a job or uploaded a resume to Frontline Source Group's system at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html. If you have not done either and receive a call from someone saying they are Melanie, email legal@frtline.com to verify it.
What does Melanie West ask during a phone interview?
Melanie asks what a dental recruiter would ask: your license or registration and its state, certifications such as radiology, CPR, or expanded functions, the type of practice you have worked in, the practice management software you know, your preferred schedule and location, pay expectations, and start date. Dentists are also asked about specialty, procedures, and associate or partnership goals.
Can I call Melanie West back if I missed her call?
Yes. Call back the number Melanie called you from and she will answer. You can also email her at melanie.west@frtline.com if writing is easier.
How do I know a call or email from Melanie West is legitimate?
Start with the email domain. Real Frontline email always ends in @frtline.com, and Melanie's address is melanie.west@frtline.com. Frontline operates only in the United States and does not place people in foreign countries. To verify a recruiter or report a suspected scam, email Frontline's Legal Department at legal@frtline.com.
Can I speak with a human recruiter instead of Melanie West?
Yes. Melanie works alongside Frontline's human recruiters, and a person reviews every interview she conducts. If you would rather talk with a recruiter, say so on the call or in an email to melanie.west@frtline.com, and your request goes to the dental recruiting team.
How is Melanie West different from Lexi Reed?
Both are AI recruiters who conduct phone interviews to assist Frontline's human recruiting team. Lexi Reed works with candidates across Frontline's disciplines and is also the website chat assistant. Melanie West focuses only on dental candidates, so her interviews cover licensure, certifications, and practice experience in detail. Learn more about Lexi at frontlinesourcegroup.com/lexi-reed-ai-executive-recruiter.html.
How does Melanie West help dental practices that hire through Frontline?
Melanie gives more applicants a full, consistent dental-specific interview, so practices see candidates who were screened on the same questions, and Frontline's recruiters can spend their time on fit. Direct hires are backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty, 20 times longer than the 90-day industry standard guarantee. Practices can start at frontlinesourcegroup.com/employer-request-form.html.
Why is it so hard for dental practices to hire hygienists?
Demand keeps outrunning supply. In the ADA Health Policy Institute's Q1 2026 survey, 91.7% of dentists recruiting hygienists called it very or extremely challenging, and nearly 40% of practices said they did not have enough hygienists. The BLS projects about 15,000 dental hygienist openings a year from 2025 to 2035.
What is Frontline Source Group?
Frontline Source Group is a nationwide staffing and executive search firm founded in Dallas in 2004 by Bill Kasko. The firm operates 32+ offices, has completed 5,619 placements, holds a 98.94% executive placement retention rate, and has been named a Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firm for 9 consecutive years (2018 to 2026). Every direct hire is backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty.
Last Updated: