What To Ask before Temping as a Dental Hygienist
I’ve been temping each week for the last few months. I’ve always filled in locally here and there during school breaks and when it worked out with my schedule. However, working each week in a new office has been a great experience to see what is out in my area on treatments, spaces, etc, but also learn new skills, softwares, and conversations. As I’ve been navigating this temping world (Full time temps are the real MVP), I’ve picked up a few things that I like to ask before even working there the first day to make the clinical day run a bit smoother. Here is my list of things to ask:
If they have overhead lights. Now, many new offices or rebuilds are taking out their overhead dental lights since so many providers wear a loupe and light combo. However, some still do not. If you’re temping, you’ll definitely want to know if there isn’t an overhead light available if relying on it. As a side note- if you’re thinking of temping or looking for a new job, it might be a good time to look into purchasing a headlamp even if you don’t want to wear loupes. We reviewed an Amazon light if that’s an option you’re thinking about.
What software they use. Each practice uses their own practice management software and usually loves it. Knowing before what you’re getting into will either take away the unknown anxiety of what you’re getting yourself into by confirming you already know it, or giving you time to do a bit of research on how to do simple tasks before your temp day. Bring a little notebook to write some notes as they give you directions through the software morning of.
What color they wear. Honestly, you’ll probably be okay wearing black to each temp job since so many offices wear black every day. In my experience of temping, only 1 office in the last 4 months has not worn black daily. However, some do other colors based on their brand colors and some wear specific colors each day of the week. You definitely don’t have to go out and purchase a scrub to match, but if you have the color on hand, it’s great to be part of the team by something visible like color.
The address of the office. I know that seems pretty straightforward, but actually pay attention to the address before the morning of. I worked at an office a few weeks ago that was in a new part of town and really had nothing around it. So, me planning on running out to grab some lunch wasn’t feasible, since there wasn’t anything close! If you are planning on grabbing lunch out, do a quick Map search beforehand to make sure there are options for you.
You require a full day pay. Maybe this isn’t a question, but more of a statement to let them know your expectations. I’ve had a few temp days recently that the day has “fallen apart” and my hours as the fill in have been cut. Unfortunately, I didn’t have that conversation beforehand and was planning on a full day of pay, when in actuality, I ended up getting only a few hours or a complete day off. If that conversation makes you uncomfortable (and honestly, money conversations are the worst), consider temping through an agency or an online company that sets a contract and pays you for your set hours, no matter how many hours you work.
Do you temp in your area? What are you seeing/experiencing as you temp?
Xoxo, Melia @meliardh
Rubber Cup Polishing Tips with Ultradent
In the office I work at clinically, we run 4 chairs of hygiene during the week. A few weeks ago, one of the ops were having some hand piece/cord issues and for some reason, polishing wasn’t happening anymore. With the difficulties of having to switch out all the cording and figuring out next steps with the unit, the office decided to try a cordless handpiece instead. And honestly, having one in an office is a game changer! They are light, comfortable, have the power behind them like a corded hand piece, and there isn’t cord drag like a traditional hand piece. Now, having a cordless hand piece is definitely talked about throughout the office, and ends up in other ops when that room isn’t in use.
I’ve also used a cordless hand piece in a nontraditional setting while volunteering at nursing homes in Utah. This is so helpful when patients have limited mobility or can’t sit in a traditional dental chair and lean all the day back. It has a saver for both my neck and back, plus be able to perform the best care possible for these populations who need it the most.
That’s why I was so excited when Ultradent released their own, just in time for National Dental Hygiene Month! The perfect addition to your operatory to celebrate the month. To learn more about helpful tips when it comes to polishing, check out our latest video:
I know you’re going to love a cordless hand piece in your practice! To learn more about the polisher and how to get your own, check out the Ultradent website.
xoxo, Melia, RDH
Furcations with Kilgore
I remember when I was a brand new instructor, one of my first days of being back to school I was asked to teach a group of students about instrumenting a furcation. These students have never even seen or felt a furcation before, so explaining something that was completely foreign plus by working in a small area completely blind underneath the gingiva was so hard for me. I definitely felt overwhelmed and did not explain to them as well as I should have. I wish I had the PER 1027 model by Kilgore to explain this difficult concept. The best part of teaching these subgingival concepts with this model is the translucent gingiva where you can actually see the anatomy, calculus, furcations, and bone levels. Even though we can’t see these in a natural mouth, being able to practice and visualize beforehand is key to have proper instrumentation when you can’t see subgingivally.
Another great feature about this model- it is completely customizable. Want different teeth to have calculus? Done. Want the tissues to be different colors, translucent or opaque? You can have that! Want the teeth to be able to be prepped for restorations? That can happen! It really is a helpful model for so many procedures that happen in the dental office.
To see this model in action and to learn more about how to instrument furcations, watch this video:
To learn more about the PER1027 Kilgore model, and all the Kilgore products, check out: www.kilgoreinternational.com
xoxo, Melia
Handheld Radiology Safety with Digidoc
When hand held radiograph units were introduced to the world, I’ll be the first to admit that I was a bit weary of them. We had been taught that we need to run into a completely separate room, stay behind a wall, and stay there until the radiation had been completed. Now, I’m supposed to stand in the room with the patient while holding the machine?! Definitely a tricky concept to change in my brain. However, as research has been published and these hand held devices, like the Digital Doc unit, are commonplace in dental offices all over the world, I have literally and figuratively gotten behind them. Even last week, I was in a different operatory than I normally work out of, and was asked to use the regular tube head. Making the switch back was tricky, and I honestly missed the hand held unit.
So, what is the difference between a wall mount and a handheld unit?
Design
Handheld Radiograph Unit: As the name says, a handheld radiograph unit is designed to be held by the dental professional during the exposure. It is smaller and more compact and offers greater portability and flexibility in positioning.
Tubehead Unit: A tubehead unit, on the other hand, is a stationary unit typically mounted on a wall or ceiling in a dental operatory. It consists of a tubehead housing that contains the X-ray tube and other necessary components. It is not portable and requires the patient to be positioned in front of the unit.
Beam Control:
Handheld Radiograph Unit: The handheld unit usually has a set range of exposure settings, which are pre-determined by the manufacturer. The operator activates the X-ray beam by pressing a button on the unit.
Tubehead Unit: The tubehead unit offers a wider range of exposure settings, allowing the dental professional to adjust the X-ray beam intensity, time, and other parameters based on the patient's needs. The controls, including the activation button, are typically located on the control panel of the unit outside of the opatory.
Positioning and Technique:
Handheld Radiograph Unit: With a handheld unit, you direct control over the positioning and angulation of the X-ray beam. They can move around the patient to obtain the desired angle and positioning for each radiograph, and the patient can move their body or head to get the proper angle. This is great for patients who have limited mobility or working in alternate settings.
Tubehead Unit: The tubehead unit requires the patient to be positioned in a specific location relative to the unit. The dental professional adjusts the position of the tubehead itself to align it with the desired anatomical area to be radiographed.
Both definitely have a place in dentistry and either will completely go away. We as professionals should know both methods to get the best images possible for our patients, with the minimal amount of retakes. That doesn't mean you might not have a preference on either method (I know I do), but knowing both will easily take you from one op to another and be able to expose the best possible radiographs.
A huge thank you to Digital Doc for supporting us at Hygiene Edge. To learn more about helpful tips on using a handheld unit, check out our latest video below.
Do you use a unit like this in your office?
xoxo, Melia
Dental Hygienist Spotlight with Amanda Trenerry
We have been so lucky enough to meet and get to know Amanda Trenerry, dental hygienist, entrepreneur, and mouth guard expert from Australia. Every time we chat to Amanda, we feel inspired and excited on what’s next in our profession, and how we as dental hygienist can be such a force for change in our patient’s lives. This a true testament of who she is since we usually have to meet in the middle of the night due to time zones! Learn a bit more about Amanda and what she’s doing now with her company Neomorph.
Where you went to school?
Mitcham Girls High School in South Australia, Australia.
Why did you get into dentistry?
I would love to say it was always a passion of mine yet in all honesty, I just fell into it!
In Australia, most high schools provide the opportunity to do “work experience”. This is as it sounds, you volunteer a week of your time to work at a place that interests you and see if it still appeals after you have spent some time there.
I had thought I wanted to be a Physical Education (PE) teacher working with special needs children. My sister had special needs and I loved the community that surrounded her. I also loved PE, so thought about combining the two and becoming a PE teacher for kids with special needs.
As part of this process, I had one week of work experience in a special needs school (loved it), and then the second was at my old primary school with a PE teacher. Unfortunately the PE teacher was unwell that week so as a backup they put me in the onsite dental clinic .
Despite the randomness of that, I really enjoyed it so did further work experience in a private dental practice. After 2 weeks there I was offered a dental assistant position. My boss became one of my greatest mentors. He encouraged travel and self-improvement. After a couple of years in this practice, I decided to follow his advice and worked /backpacked overseas for 2 years. When I returned home I decided to study again so applied for Dental Hygiene.
Favorite part of dental hygiene/being a dental hygienist:
Ultimately, it would be the relationships and trust I built with my patients and colleagues. I also really enjoyed the variety and autonomy.
As a veteran of over 30 years now, I have been fortunate to have worked in a variety of different specialties in both the Private and Public sectors. I was part of a team in the High Caries Unit at Adelaide Dental Hospital, I have worked in Prosthodontics, general practice and been a clinical tutor and presenter for both BOH & Dental Hygiene. While I enjoyed the variety, I really found my niche in Orthodontics and it’s here that led me on a quest to find a better mouthguard for our patients.
I suppose I could wrap that up by saying being a DH helped me discover my true calling!
What are you up to now?
I am the founder of the Neomorph Mouthguard – a triple-layered re-mouldable alternative to the dental-made mouthguard. Neomorph was designed to provide a similar custom fit, comfort and protection to that of the dental-made mouthguard yet with the convenience, price-point and mouldability of the over-the-counter “boil & bite”.
What inspired you to start something new and how did you start that?
Ultimately, it was the regular complaints I would hear from my patients about their mouth guards. I had always had a fundamental belief that we could improve moldable mouth guards and could never really understand why we hadn’t quite got there.
I tried to educate myself as much as possible on them, I read loads of research papers, papers on alternate materials, impact and other testing, standards, regulations and guidelines. I physically trialled a variety of professionally made mouthguards and every moldable mouthguard that I could find. I also did the fabricating mouthguards unit of the dental technicians' course. I gathered a "pros & cons" list for my ultimate mouthguard and then formulated a design.
Once I had a basic proof of concept (made in my kitchen), it became apparent that I would need to invest in formal research and prototyping.
Through a fortuitous discussion (at a funeral), I was introduced to the Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) at Flinders University in South Australia. The MDPP is an ideas incubator that offers 250 hours of grant assisted technical support with access to any speciality I needed, primarily researchers, polymer specialists, scientists, engineers and industry collaborators. This was a game-changer for me. The support I received through MDPP confirmed that the Neomorph Mouthguard could be the solution we were looking for and was worth pursuing. With that knowledge, I applied and received an Accelerating Commercialisation Grant through the Entrepreneurs Program (a co-contributor grant) to help further research, develop, and test Neomorph to ensure it performed as intended and was able to be manufactured on a commercial scale.
After 3+ years, many mistakes, failed trials and frustrations, we have now successfully realized our goal.
What would you want to tell a dental hygienist who is interested in starting their own company?
If you have a passion for something, follow it and see where it takes you. It doesn’t always mean that you need to heavily invest financially, but sometimes it does. If it does, look into what options are available to help you (there may be grants available) and more importantly grants often come with a mentor. Either way it will require dedication and perseverance. Speak to people that have inspired you as most of them will love your passion and be keen to help.
What I know about our profession is that we generally have a passion to do good things and the camaraderie that is forged from that can help you in amazing ways.
We all have a background of baggage which can hold us back, but just know that:
- You will never have all the answers but there are people that can help you with that
- There is no such thing as a stupid question - you don’t know what you don’t know…so ask away.
- You are only alone if you choose to be, there is often a mentor/helping hand closer than you think.
- Your family loves you and in most cases will have great intentions, but they will also want to protect you so they may not be your most supportive network.
- When you feel like everything is piling up, remember this phrase “How do you eat an elephant……one bite at a time!” (P.S it’s actually not OK to eat elephants!)
- There will always be “naysayers”. If you believe that what you’re doing has merit and is for the right reasons, then just accept that anything that has magnitude may attract “naysayers”. Listen, use whatever may be valuable to you, then file it wherever it belongs. This could be in a drawer or the bin. Don’t let it consume you – there is way too much to do!
Dental and Dental Hygiene Shadowing Tips
A few weeks ago, I showed up at my office and the front desk just came in to chat as I was setting up my room. After the morning niceties, she casually mentioned that someone who was applying to dental hygiene school would be there in 10 minutes to shadow me during the day. I’m not gonna lie. It took me a little bit off-guard as I was hurrying to set up my operatory for my first patient to now have someone coming in in the middle of an appointment to watch me during the day. I’m honestly not the biggest fan of shadowing days. I feel like I have to split my time between the shower and the patient, but I’ve had several people shadowing me during my career. I’ve picked up a couple helpful tips during that time as well. So, if you are looking into shadowy a dentist, dental hygienist, or a dental practice, here are a few things to do to make sure that you are the best shadow possible, you can learn the most, get the best experience, and the office will love you and ask you to come back.
1. Come dressed professionally and on time. I’ve had shadows show up in scrubs, jeans and a T-shirt, a suit, whatever. When you confirm the shadowing you could definitely ask to see if there’s something you could wear. But, black scrubs is a great option when it doubt. We want to make sure feel comfortable having an extra person there in the room especially when we’re talking about private things such as health concerns and issues, and dressing the part can help.
2. If you can, talk to the hygienist before hand. Some hygienists do not want you to talk during the appointment. Some absolutely love it, want to chat the entire time and will explain everything that’s happening. Have a conversation before hand so that you both are on the same page. I personally don’t love it when the shadow talks to me or especially talks to the patient during the entire appointment. I feel like the point of shadowing is not to chat and to get to know the patient, but to see what goes in to a dental hygienist day to see if hygiene is the career for you. But that’s just me! See what the RDH you’re shadowing prefers.
3. Keep questions until after the patient leaves. It’s so tempting to ask why the patient is bleeding so much or if something is normal. Pointing out abnormalities can definitely make patients anxious, especially in a space where they might not feel comfortable already. We love to talk about what we see, what we do, and treating disease. Keep these questionable questions until after the patient is out of the op.
4. Use this as a learning and growing experience, as well as a networking opportunity. It’s so easy to show up to a shadow day and leave with out a second thought. However, these offices you are going into could be your future place of work, a future letter of recommendation, or even a place you want to come be a patient! Be positive and helpful during these days to set yourself up for the future.
We love showing off what we do, how we help patients, and how dentistry can change a person’s life. We want you there in that conversation as well! We can definitely work together to make the shadowing day the most productive and pleasant experience for the both of us. Who knows? Maybe after you graduate, you will work or collaborate with the offices you shadowed at!
xoxo, Melia
Biofilm Reduction with Hybenex
Do you remember in dental hygiene school when bacteria and biofilm was explained? Back when I was in dental hygiene school, it was just switching from being called plaque to biofilm, which with research showed that the bacteria found in the oral cavity was more complicated than originally thought. This complex matrix that bacteria forms is a key part in managing infection anywhere, but definitely in the mouth. Now, years after I have graduated, there has been so much research on biofilm, what it is, and how it reacts to the space around it in the oral cavity. And with that research has come better ways on managing it.
Why is managing biofilm and the bacterial load so important? We know that the bacterial load in the mouth refers to the number and types of bacteria present in the oral cavity at any given time. The mouth is home to a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The bacterial load in the mouth can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as diet, oral hygiene practices, and overall health. When this load becomes unbalanced, these harmful bacteria can cause infection or decay in your patients, especially in patients who are immunocompromised or fighting bacteria somewhere else in their body.
One product that I’ve been using the last few months and am sold on is HYBENX. With numerous supporting research, and now my anecdotal research, this product helps decrease biofilm and in turn decrease inflammation in any patient that presents with biofilm (and let’s be honest- isn’t that everyone?!). It’s easy to use, comes in easy to use liquid or gel, and is easy to see when applied due to the color. If you’ve been searching for something new to help mitigate biofilm in your patients, you’ll definitely want to check out this product.
To learn more about the application process, check out our latest video:
xoxo, Melia
Interested in learning more, and how you can incorporate HYBENX into your practice, check out there website. Thank you to EPIEN Medical, Inc for supporting dental hygienists around the globe, and for supporting us at Hygiene Edge.
Typdonts with Acadental
When I think of typodonts, it always takes me back to when I was a dental hygiene student. My first day of school, we took a tour of the school and clinic, just to get familiarized with the area and where we will spend the next 2 years. I remember walking into the lab and on the wall was a row of heads and teeth. Yikes! Then, when it was finally time to pull them out and practice in clinic, they turned from a bit scary to a bit annoying. The gingiva was so firm and bulky, the mouth wouldn’t stay open, and they were awkward to work around.
Thank heaven they’ve come a long way since that 1st day of dental hygiene school more than a decade ago. Now, so much more research and development have gone into them to help simulate a real patient experience. Just like this Acadental typodont.
To learn about it, what it can do, and how it can help both in school and in practice, check it out in our latest video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BezLi3HxOY
When you see a typodont, what do you think of?
Thank you to Acadental for supporting us at Hygiene Edge! To learn more, check out adadental.com.
xoxo, Melia
Aphthous Ulcers: A Deeper Dive
Author Sarah Bateman
Minor Aphthous Ulcer Photo source Hygiene Edge
Idiopathic is a term that may come to mind when we think of an aphthous ulcer as they seem to arise with no rhyme or reason. Our patients often ask us how to avoid getting them altogether and we are often left wishing there was something we could suggest for prevention. Yet, in the end we tell our patient something like, “I am sorry, I wish I had the secret to make it so you no longer get them.” While there may not be anything we can do to prevent them, we should ask ourselves if there could be an underlying systemic cause of the lesion. For example, there is evidence that links aphthous-like ulcers to other chronic diseases like Crohn’s Disease.
Minor Aphthous Ulcer Photo source Hygiene Edge
Have you ever had a patient that had an unusually large aphthous ulcer; possibly twice the size (> 1 cm in diameter) compared to the minor aphthous ulcer ( < 1cm) in image below? If so then this is categorized as a major aphthous ulcer. 1
One time I had a patient in my chair with a major aphthous ulcer on the palette that was about 1cm in diameter. I had recently been learning about aphthous ulcers in correlation to Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), and more specifically Crohn’s Disease (CD). I asked the patient, who had not indicated anything regarding IBD on her health history, if she had ever had any issues with IBD. She told me she had been seeing doctors for the possibility of CD and she was shocked I even asked.
So the next time you see one or have a patient that gets them frequently ask yourself, does their health history indicate IBD or more specifically CD? If your patient does have CD, ask if they have any ulcers or other oral manifestations in their mouth during flare-ups.
An article from the Journal of Colitis and Crohn’s stated, “Oral manifestations such as oral aphthous ulcers are frequently associated with active disease and improve with the resolution of intestinal inflammation. Although oral manifestations can occur in both forms of IBD, it is more common in CD, with almost 50% of subjects reporting oral manifestations.” 2 Even though prevention of these lesions is not a current possibility, the ability to link them to a flare up of CD, can help a patient understand why they may be experiencing them.
Sarah Bateman, MEd, BSDH, RDH
Sources:
1. Amin, S., & All, R. (2018, October 3). Crohn's mouth ulcers: Symptoms, causes, and treatments. Medical News Today. Retrieved April 25, 2023, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323244
2. Hu, S., Mok, J., Gowans, M., Ong, D. E. H., Hartono, J. L., & Lee, J. W. J. (2022, May 2). Oral Microbiome of Crohn's Disease Patients With and Without Oral Manifestations. Academic.oup.com. Retrieved April 25, 2023, from https://academic.oup.com/ecco-jcc/article/16/10/1628/6577053
Note: Consent was given to use images.
Sarah has been a dental hygienist for eleven years and has been in the dental field for 17 years. She lives on a ranch with her husband and their little boy who is almost a year old! Sarah has worked private practice and was a clinical instructor and professor at the Utah College of Dental Hygiene for 8 years before she had her baby and moved to their dream ranch in Idaho! She still temps in private practice two times a month right now while enjoying baby cuddles!
Stuck in the Hygiene Rut?!
I found myself two years into my hygiene career not loving it. Have you been there? Are you there right now?! You are not alone! For me, I was working 5-6 days a week, long hours, no assistant with double or accelerated hygiene. I would get asked to work through lunch or stay an hour late to accommodate a new patient. I was new to the hygiene world and the market for hygiene was so different! There were not a lot of hygiene opportunities and I felt as if there was not another option other than sticking it out, proving myself and just pushing through. Heck, I had made it through dental hygiene school, so I knew I could do hard things. I was in the career I had spent year working hard towards and I was not feeling fulfilled. My body was in pain, I didn’t have any energy to do anything after work like work out or do much other than go home, sit on the couch, and just get ready to go to sleep, wake up and do it all again. I had vented to my mom on the phone and one day she had just spoken to her hygienist and that hygienist had given my mom some advice to pass along and that advice changed everything for me! Disclaimer: that this did not happen all at once. But the pieces of advice I slowly implemented, and I truly feel it changed me into a different hygienist and person all around.
The first thing she said was, “Yes- what your daughter is going through what a lot of hygienists go through. That is normal but she needs to get involved!” The first way she recommended getting involved was going to continuing education courses and try to constantly take as many courses as she can. Continuing education courses not only help us keep our licensure and keep up us to date but kind of refresh us as hygienists and motivate us to be better. I come out of most CE courses ready and excited to implement what I have learned; it helps with the monotony of 1-hour patients back-to-back to back, right?! I also recommend that you take classes throughout your renewal period so that you are consistently feeling refreshed with new information or new motivations/tips and tricks to try. You can learn about so many new products to try as well.
The second thing she recommended was getting involved with my own body. She recommended taking time to do yoga for my body. Now, I have tried yoga and I am not great at it but stretching and breath work is so beneficial for not only our bodies but our minds. I have also implemented strength training into my work-out regiments and that has helped my back and neck tremendously. Strengthening my core has made a huge different in the pain I used to have in my back. A quick side story to combine these first two ways of getting involved. I was at an in person continuing education course and met a hygienist who had been a hygienist for 42 years. She was vibrant and so healthy and fit. I asked her what her secret was, and it was YOGA!
The third thing she said was “to get involved in changing my frame of mind”. I asked my mom what that meant, and my mom responded, “I don’t know what exactly she meant but that was the last thing she told me.” So, I have now had a few years to ponder that and here is what I have come up with. First, I had been in this mindset of oh my 2:00 o’clock patient didn’t show…. Do you see what I was doing there?? I wasn’t thinking of my patient as a patient I was thinking of the patient as a one-hour block of time to hurdle through before the next hour block of time etc., until I got to go home. Later I found out that the 2:00 o’clock patient had been in a car accident on her way to our office. I felt horrible that I had thought of the patient as a block of time and not as a human. (Let me be clear yes, I know we as hygienists all have a set amount of time to see our patients and that time is not unlimited so yes, we do see patients in blocks of time. But I am speaking to the way we think and treat patients.) So, I started really focusing on my patients, really getting to know them, asking them more questions about themselves as I was waiting for a sensor or doctors’ exam. I focused on trying to relate and really connect with each patient. Are there patients I clicked with much better than others? Yes of course! Are there some patients who I could tell would rather not talk much at all? YES! But 8/10 patients, I would say most patients wanted to converse and we would laugh, talk about tv shows or podcasts we were watching or listening too. I truly worked on relating to my patients and in time I would look at my schedule for the next day and I would see patients’ names and I was excited to see and visit with as I helped care for their oral hygiene. I would look at my schedule and I would say to my manager so many amazing fun patients are coming in tomorrow it’s going to be great. And those days and patients helped me change my mindset.
Since my mom’s hygienist left “change the frame of mind” open to interpretation I will also associate it to the pressure of being perfect. I don’t know about you as a hygienist, but when I left school, I felt this immense pressure to be the perfect hygienist, to say the right things and to always do everything perfect, perfect, perfect! I have learned to give myself grace. No one is perfect. We can try every day to do our best and of course treat our patients with the standard of care, but we are not perfect and that is okay. If you have worked in an office that has a morning huddle (which I think are great), when has the day ever gone as you planned in that morning huddle? NEVER!!!! There are so many things that are out of our control as a hygienist. Waiting for a doctor’s exam, a patient arriving late, technology issues, operatory issues, the list goes on and on, you know this! But what helped me in those times of looking at the clock and thinking oh my gosh I have seven minutes left in the appointment…. I still need the doctor to come in here and not chat my patients ear off…. I still need to place fluoride varnish AND flip my operatory over….. how am I going to do all of that?! Well, the thing is that I didn’t have control over some of that. My best advice is to remember that and to focus on the patient in your chair. If the patient in the chair feels like you are going to be rushing them out the door, or that you are frustrated with the doctor or whatever circumstance that is out of your control, the patient will not want to come back and be seen by you or maybe that office again. It is okay to apologize to the patient and let them know the doctor is coming, and that they know we are ready for the exam. While you wait for the doctor spend time educating, scheduling their next appointment, getting to know them, and connecting with them. Then when you bring the next patient back make sure to say thank you so much for waiting, it’s great to see you again or it’s so nice to meet you, let’s get you back! If you make each of your patient’s time with you feel valued and appreciated, you can have patients who are happy to come back and see you.
I would also like to recommend two things that also helped me out of my rut- education and community. I had the opportunity to become a clinical instructor at a dental hygiene school about 3 years into my dental hygiene career I truly feel that I became a better hygienist by being able to explain and teach students. I felt that explaining how to do instrumentation techniques, or explaining why I do something helped me solidify the things I knew. Being at a college also helped me stay very up to date and continually learning other tips and tricks from other hygienists! You may be reading this thinking; well, Sarah, I don’t have that same opportunity to teach at a college. That is okay. Maybe something you can do instead, is to ask yourself the why you do the things you do during your appointment. Why is the OCS so important? That can open a door to you doing research on nodes, muscles joints etc. and can help you learn. Deep dive into the things that aren’t your favorite things to do or skills you don’t feel as confident in and try to immerse yourself to become an expert in those things!
Community! I do hope that you are a part of your association, within our dental hygiene association we have components that meet, and you literally be among other hygienists that are in your physical area, and you can network. You can make new friends and meet up with old friends and really get to talk to other hygienists, that may have similar feelings of being a rut too. Being able to bounce ideas and get advice from others who truly understand situations you may be in, is so helpful. I hope this has helped you if you are stuck in a rut. If you are in a rut, you are the only one who can get yourself out. You can do it and feel excited about your career again. You have got this!
xoxo, Sarah Bateman, RDH
Sarah has been a dental hygienist for eleven years and has been in the dental field for 17 years. She lives on a ranch with her husband and their little boy who is almost a year old. Sarah has worked private practice and was a clinical instructor and professor at the Utah College of Dental Hygiene for 8 years before she had her baby and moved to their dream ranch in Idaho. She still temps in private practice two times a month right now while enjoying baby cuddles.