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A hot topic in the dental space right now is staffing. A recent news story showed there are more dentists than hygienists in Virginia, and I don’t think this state is unique.1 Patients are having to wait longer than normal for their preventive appointments or the hygiene appointment is happening in the dentist’s chair.
There’s much speculation about why so many hygienists have hung up their scalers in search of a new career path. But recently, I read on social media that dental hygiene is “a 10-year career.” This means that after 10 years of treating patients, the natural progression is to move on.
Dental hygiene school was hard, not to mention expensive. There was a lot of blood (mostly my patients’), sweat (PPE is hot in the summer), and tears (oh so many tears …) that went into attaining that coveted RDH license. The idea of going through all of that for a decade-long career doesn’t seem worth it.
I firmly believe that much of any experience is how we approach it. So, how do we stay in this profession and feel fulfilled? I reached out to numerous clinical hygienists who’ve been in the op for 10-plus years to find out how they counteract what many say are the reasons they have left the profession.
Note: employers, listen up. You can help solve some of these issues and keep your hygiene positions filled and fulfilling.
It’s repetitive
“All we do is clean teeth all day. It’s the same thing over and over.”
If you are just cleaning teeth all day, then this job is repetitive. But if you are embracing your role as a health-care professional, this career is exciting. The role of dental hygienist is changing fast. The more that science proves and our patients understand that the health of our mouths directly affects our overall health, the more impactful we can be.
Lani McBeth has been a full-time clinician for 38 years and still loves it. “When we view it as repetitive, we are only focusing on the tasks we are doing and not on the patients. It boils down to looking at what we need to do to meet the individual needs of our patients during that visit. That looks different at every appointment. We achieve this by getting educated outside of our standard education requirements. Never stop learning!”
You will be plagued by aches and pains
“My body can’t handle all the physical stress. I ache all over, and I’m only three years in.”
With stats out there showing that up to 91% of all dental hygienists experience musculoskeletal disorders,2 one might think we will all leave this profession hobbling to the disability office. But that does not have to be your fate.
Ergonomic specialist and clinician for 17 years, Katrina Klein says she practices without pain: “We have to use prevention within ourselves. Stretching, strength training, hydrating, sleeping, and not overworking ourselves. Treating more than eight patients four days a week might be too much. Invest in good ergonomic equipment, loupes, saddle chairs, and even instruments if you need to. Protect your money-maker.”
It’s a difficult work environment
“I can’t get the necessary instruments and supplies to do my job. The doctor is a jerk. The staff is backstabbing.”
We spend a lot of time with the people we work with, and when you are in an unsupportive environment or one that doesn’t align with your values, you will be left running for the door. There is no perfect office, but some are certainly more supportive of the hygiene department than others. The problem might not be your profession. It might be your office.
Erin Haley Hitz has been a clinical hygienist for 29 years: “Five years in, I wanted out. Through a lot of self-discovery, I learned that it’s important to communicate your needs. Once I began to understand the business within the dental practice, I could communicate my needs in a way that made sense. We all avoid the numbers, but when you know the numbers, you can advocate properly.
“When it comes to workplace drama, don’t play the game. Hold your ground, but do it diplomatically. Listen to what they are feeling; don’t react. You have the ability to control your actions. Understand some things you can’t fix. Sometimes you have to leave. Some practices aren’t meant for you to be there forever. It’s OK to leave your patients, especially if it is for your own well-being. But you must commit to leaving the drama behind when you go. Come in with a clean slate.”
Patients can be impossible
“The patients are so draining. They don’t listen to anything I say and only want what their insurance will pay for.”
We are often accused of being nags, doling out brush-and-floss lectures to tone-deaf ears. Finding ways to incorporate our patients into their care allows them to take ownership of their condition. Learning to listen and not talk over our patients can turn an impossible patient into a compliant one.
Michelle Strange has been practicing for 19 years. “Before I found motivational interviewing, I was ready to leave the profession. My appointments changed once I learned how to incorporate communication that focuses on the patient. By always keeping in mind patients’ autonomy, they are more empowered in my operatory. Giving room for the patient to say no often ends in the patient saying yes.”
It’s too busy/stressful
“This job is go go go! I never have time to go to the bathroom, let alone take a day off.”
I’ve often said that dental hygiene is a flexible, inflexible job. You can work one day a week or seven, but the moment you set your schedule, you are showing up no matter what. I’ll never forget when I tore my retina and was blind in one eye. The office manager asked if I could come in to see my patients.
Caitlin Parsons has been practicing for 15 years: “This job can get overwhelming. We are thinking about our patient at hand and the next one, writing notes, turning over our operatory, etc. In that time, we need to look out for ourselves. When we are writing notes, take deep breaths to get centered. Stretch between patients or during the doctor’s exam. When we are present, we deliver better care. We need to prioritize ourselves. Drink water and go to the bathroom, even when you’re running late. Otherwise, it’s a fast track to burnout.”
You’ll be lonely
“I’m the only hygienist in my practice and constantly question if I’m doing it right. My doc doesn’t get it.”
I’ll never forget my first few months as a hygienist. I hated hygiene. I immediately returned to school to start my master’s, thinking I’d made a colossal mistake. Then, I attended my first study club, run by a local periodontist, and discovered networking. Sitting in a room with other hygienists of varying experience gave me a perspective I was missing by being alone in my op. Suddenly, the feelings of overwhelm and imperfection were normalized, and I learned not to be so hard on myself.
Tracey Martin has been a clinical hygienist for 36 years and loves it more now than ever: “I spent the better part of a decade on an island with only my patients. I was over it. I was in an office with hundreds of people, but I was still alone, and the walls were closing in on me. I focused so much on the patients, but when I started to focus on my career, I felt the shift. We are a profession of giving, and it doesn’t always give back. I had to go outside of my op to find other things that fed me.
“First, I found my local hygiene component. Then, I branched out into national meetings and even retreats. You have to spend money on your career. This was hard for me to accept, but when I did, everything changed.
“I always say, ‘Find your tribe and love them hard.’ Your tribe isn’t necessarily your coworkers, and you have to be selective about whom you surround yourself with and whom you serve. But when you find the right balance for you, you become a better clinician and a more fulfilled person.”
10 years and beyond
Every career has challenges, but it also has many positives. What is interesting about each hygienist I interviewed is that they all hit a wall (or multiple walls) at some point in their careers. They each consciously chose to invest in their career through learning, networking, setting boundaries, and getting to know and take care of themselves.
Expecting someone else to be responsible for your success isn’t realistic. This is your career, not just a job. When you change your focus, you change your life, and that will allow you to soar far beyond the 10-year mark!
Editor's note: This article appeared in the July 2024 print edition of RDH magazine. Dental hygienists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.
References
- Burns J. Why it might be difficult to schedule a dentist appointment in Virginia right now. WTVR CBS 6. May 2, 2024. https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/dental-hygienists-shortage-virginia-may-2-2024
- Saccucci M, Zumbo G, Mercuri P, et al. Musculoskeletal disorders related to dental hygienist profession. Int J Dent Hyg. 2022;20(3):571-579. doi:10.1111/idh.12596
