Should I Stay or Leave A Dental Practice?

Chimere C. Collins, RDH, MS, BS, who practices in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and is an adjunct clinical dental hygiene faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry, shares what makes her run from—or stick with—a dental practice. 

I have been a registered dental hygienist for many years and have worked with many different people and personalities. As a hygienist, you have the option to choose your work environment.

MONEY MATTERS

At the beginning of my clinical dental hygiene career, I worked as a temporary/contract worker to get a feel for what type of environment in which I would like to work.  As a temp, I worked in the private and corporate sectors. After trying out many different offices, some very small and some very large, I decided to work in a single dentist-led private practice. I worked part time in two offices, a periodontal practice and a general practice. I really enjoyed working at both places, however, I did not stay long at either. I worked well with the dentists and the staff and the main reason for leaving was the compensation. One office offered me what I requested and the other office was much lower and had a much heavier workload. I ended up leaving the practice with a heavier workload to become a full-time employee at the other office but stayed PRN (worked as needed) because I really enjoyed it. 

Unfortunately, a week after I became full time, our city was hit with a terrible hurricane and my office flooded and had to close for a while. After the office re-opened, I stayed for a few months to help them get reestablished but decided to leave because I was so far behind financially. I made the tough decision to move. I loved working there but I had to make an adult decision to get back on my feet. So, I left.

WORKLOAD MATTERS

In moving to a different city, there was a minor freeze in the hiring of dental hygienists, so I decided to take the first opportunity that presented itself. This happened to be a corporation. This was extremely different for me—the pace, the workload, and the managerial style. I did not agree with the concept of multiple columns of patients a day and moving from room to room. Building a good rapport with my patients and providing them with excellent dental care has always been my goal, however, with the busyness of the practice, it was sometimes hard to do both. It seemed like the managers only cared about bringing in the money instead of having a happy medium. I was unhappy because I wasn’t able to be my best self as a clinician. So, I left.

MANAGEMENT MATTERS

After having my first full-time experience in corporate dentistry, I went back to my first love, private practice. It was a single-dentist practice, newly purchased (had a previous owner), a young dentist who was progressive, patient-centered, and an excellent clinician. I knew I had found my forever dental hygiene home. Feeling appreciated and respected are important in a healthy work environment. 

Let’s just say that no matter how great a clinician is, if he or she doesn’t know how to treat people, a high turnover rate is inevitable. I stayed to see if it was me being too sensitive or if it was really an issue with the dentist. It got so bad that this dentist would embarrass staff in front of patients and degrade his staff in front of each other. I left for vacation, and during that time I reflected and realized that life was too short to be unhappy and be treated poorly, no matter how good the money. So, I left.

TIMING MATTERS

Being in such a toxic environment was honestly damaging to my confidence and I was afraid to go to another practice in fear of it being the same. Instead of working full-time for someone else, I worked for a temp company and was assigned to offices on a temporary basis just to be able to clear my head. Fortunately, one of my assignments requested for me to stay on for an extended period and I loved it! The dentists were amazing as well as the staff. It also gave me a new perspective. This was a nonprofit organization that served patients unable to receive care elsewhere due to financial hardships. I absolutely loved it and they wanted me to stay full-time, but because I came through a temp company and the organization was a nonprofit, they could not afford the fee required to void my contract. I am an honest person and believe in karma, so I did not renege on my contract with the temp company to work there. They needed a full-time person and I couldn’t be that due to the circumstances. So, I left.

FEELING VALUED MATTERS

Now that my head was clear from the negativity I experienced previously, I decided to start looking for a full-time job. I found an office where I enjoyed working, the dentist was kind, respectful, and cared about the patients and the staff. I was well compensated and they understood my work and family life balance and trusted me as a clinician. I was able to build a rapport with patients and be a great clinician. So, I stayed.