Marcia Cabrera, BS, RDH, an adjunct clinical faculty member in the Department of Dental Hygiene at New York University College of Dentistry, explains how she helps patients understand that a dental hygienist does more than clean teeth.
I have been in the dental field for a very long time, first as a dental assistant for eight years then as a dental hygienist for six years. If I had a dollar for the number of times people asked me “What do you do?” I would be incredibly rich. Surprisingly, people are not aware of a dental hygienist’s job responsibilities. Many people think we are just teeth cleaners; others think we are the dentist’s assistant. I make sure to take time to explain my duties and unique role to patients to clear up any confusion.
EDUCATING PATIENTS
The simplest way I can describe my profession is to say we are the “nurses” of the dental office. Like nurses, dental hygienists can’t do all of the things doctors do, but they are allowed to do more than the medical assistant. I have found this explanation helps patients better understand my role.
As the “nurses” of the dental office, dental hygienists can answer any questions on oral hygiene routines and we help to prevent or arrest oral disease. I reiterate the American Dental Hygienists’ Association’s1 definition of a dental hygienist by explaining we are licensed oral health professionals who focus on preventing and treating oral diseases, protecting teeth and gingiva, and also protecting a patient’s total health. We do this in many ways, including by informing the patient of potential oral disease risks, such as periodontal infection. In our role, we also ensure patients understand the relationship between oral diseases and overall health, and explain the risk of untreated disease and the causes, and consequences that may occur, such as tooth loss or cardiovascular problems.
There is so much we can teach our patients about what we do.
MORE THEN TEETH CLEANERS
It can be upsetting to constantly need to explain to patients that we do more than just clean teeth. That’s why it’s important to seize this opportunity to educate patients on our responsibilities. These conversations may spark a patient’s interest in the profession!
Dental hygienists practice patient-centered care and sometimes spend more time with the patient than with the dentist. We make patients feel comfortable and help them enjoy the dental visit so they are more apt to return for recare. Patients love when we care not only about their oral health but also about their personal lives. We are definitely more than someone who just cleans teeth. We just need patients to understand what we do—and why we do it.
So next time you get this question take the time to educate patients on our important role.
REFERENCE
- American Dental Hygienists’ Association. Important Facts About Dental Hygienists. Available at: https://www.adha.org/resources-docs/72211_Important_Facts_About_Dental_Hygienists.pdf. Accessed March 4, 2021.
