Reasons Why I Left or Stayed in a Dental Practice

Dorrie Miller, RDH, BSDH, explains how ethics led her to an ideal dental practice. 

I knew at a very young age that I wanted to pursue a career in dentistry. With every opportunity I decided to pursue, I have approached each with the goal to learn something new, whether it be a new technique, technology, or even just a personal lesson. In one way or another, every dental practice I have worked in has given me an important takeaway. Trying to find a dental practice that fits not only your personality but your philosophy as well can be tricky.

ETHICS

When I was a dental hygiene student, one of my professors asked us to define the term “ethics.” After receiving a few responses, she turned to us and said, “Ethics is doing the right thing when nobody’s watching.” That didn’t seem like a hard concept to grasp. As healthcare providers, we strive to do what is best for our patients. I promised myself when I entered this profession that if I ever felt my ethics were compromised, I would remove myself from that situation. It is sad to say but I have been in situations where I was asked to perform a treatment I did not feel a patient needed. What is the takeaway from this experience? It showed me the type of dental practice to avoid.

PART TIME VS FULL TIME

When I first graduated, the job market was different than what I had envisioned. I had been a dental assistant for 6 years but had never worked in an office with a dental hygienist. I was surprised to find that full-time dental hygiene positions were few and far between. The majority of available opportunities were part time, and for only a few days a week, and sometimes less than 8 hours a day. This may be a different story depending on the state you live in, but in the New York/New Jersey area, this was the first challenge I faced as a new graduate. 

Over the course of a year, I slowly pieced together a full-time schedule with multiple part-time positions in different practices. This allowed me to learn a lot from different dentists and types of practices; however, my schedule was all over the place. I worked different hours and in a different location every day. As time went on, I was able to consolidate days with some of these practices and leave my positions at others until a position that started off as 1 day a week led to a full-time position. I have worked with some incredible dentists over the years who have taught me so much. The decision to leave those practices was solely because I was looking for better structure in my work schedule.

GROWTH VS QUALITY OF LIFE

When I finally became full time in one practice, it did come at a price—10-hour work days and weekend hours plus a 90-minute commute. I was out of the house by 6:45 am and back home by 8:30 pm or 8:45 pm most nights. I was exhausted. I also worked every weekend. Work was my life. I found myself too tired to eat dinner some nights, and I either missed or arrived late to any family party or friend gathering held on the weekends.

Although I absolutely loved my boss, co-workers, and patients in this office, I had no quality of life. I kept with this schedule for almost 4 years. My boss always made me feel valued and gave me a lot of responsibility. He trusted my knowledge and skills as a clinician and made me feel more like a colleague than an employee. Even though my schedule was tiring, I truly enjoyed going to work every day. Eventually, I encountered an opportunity to join a practice with hours that were 9 to 5, no weekends, and a higher salary. I made the difficult decision to start a new chapter. 

TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION

I was drawn to my current practice due to its strong emphasis on continuing education and use of the latest technology. My boss goes above and beyond for his staff and patients. I am extremely proud to be part of such high caliber dental practice. Working with a team that shares common goals is extremely rewarding. 

If I could give any advice to current dental hygiene students it would be to never lose sight of your ethics. When looking at potential job opportunities, don’t consider only what you bring to the table, but consider what the practice can offer you to grow as a dental hygienist. You are starting a career, not just looking for a job.

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