What to Consider When Committing to a Dental Office

Finding a perfect company to commit to long-term can take some time for dental hygienists just starting off in their careers. With more than 40 years of experience in clinical dental hygiene, Dimensions Peer Review Panel member Lucinda B. McKechnie RDH, BS, describes how her office is able to retain dental hygienists, and what to consider when accepting a job offer. 

Those of you reading this should know I am a lucky dental hygienist. I have practiced with my husband for decades. But before you start the eye-rolling, please know that I have also worked with incredible general dentists and periodontists in my early career. There was only one dentist I can recall where I left the practice because he expected me to see patients every half hour, be in charge of ordering supplies, clean the floor, and help out at the front desk. After a month I gave my resignation and never regretted it, except feeling sorry for the next dental hygienist that might work in the same dreadful place.

Years of experience, both bad and but mainly good, have led to an understanding of what dental hygienists should consider when committing to a dental practice for the long haul.

EQUIPMENT

After several years of working with my husband, he has allowed me to purchase most any evidence-based product that would enhance the expertise and comfort of our dental hygiene team. From instrument selection to quality ultrasonics, comfortable and ergonomic operator chairs (treatment and clinician chairs), loupes, uniforms and shoes, product lines, and now personal protective equipment. I was not, nor ever have, been relegated to the oldest of equipment. I have never been denied ordering instruments that I thought would augment the periodontal expertise of our dental hygiene team.

I recall teaching continuing education (CE) courses at the University of Pennsylvania on scaling and root planing and participants showing up with worn down, completely worthless, and ineffective instruments! Curettes that had been turned into sickle scalers from overuse and now functioned like “scalettes.” Their bosses did not want to spend the money on the required instruments necessary to participate in the program. A decision I consider heartbreaking.

LET’S TALK SALARY

Aside from working with top-quality equipment, let’s discuss salary and benefits. While our dental practice offers an hourly wage that exceeds the average for the state of Vermont (this hourly fee can be researched in each state and should be knowledge you take to an interview), holidays are paid, along with personal days, vacation days, 401K plan, and personal dentistry. 

Another reason for our dental hygiene team sticking with us for decades is that we also pay for the “lunch hour.” When in your career have you finished on the hour? Does not happen when we have a career that requires extensive documentation for each and every patient, instruments to sharpen, treatment rooms to stock and disinfect (unless you have a dental assistant helping you out, which we do provide, but that is a hopeful story for many).  The lunch hour is catch-up time and should be paid for as we take a deep breath (salaried not commissioned). While many dental hygienists are relegated to a half-hour lunch at best, and, have to clock in and out, our office provides 60 minutes with the expectation that after 50 minutes the dental hygienist proceeds to his/her treatment room and prepares for the afternoon schedule, checks instrument availability, and determines that all staff members are not in need of additional help. 

The sense of camaraderie and caring for each and every staff member makes for a respectable dental team. Amazing what the words, “Can I help you with anything” do for a colleague you work with daily. You get what you give as they say. Longevity in an office is created by a modicum that embraces the tenor of appreciation for each and every staff member.

INVESTMENT IN CONTINUAL LEARNING

In addition, CE is of invaluable importance. We subsidize any and all CE that our staff is interested in taking. Nothing will impact the value of your day more than your sense of being on top of your game intellectually. Dental hygiene is a demanding career and has become significantly more so since I graduated in 1970 where the only medical considerations were diabetes and heart disease. Add to that list the connection between oral and systemic diseases, as well as collaborative care with the entire dental and medical team caring for patients and our “job” becomes a lifesaver.

Finally, the reason for our dental hygiene team’s longevity is because we care about them. We care about their daily comfort. We care about their personal situations, which may require time out of the office. 

If you can find an office whose mission statement is not entirely production-driven, the production will surmount what is expected because you, as dental hygienists, will be happy and fulfilled in your daily employment, and the rest of the “production” will exceed everyone’s expectations.