Enhancing patient treatment outcomes through effective dentist-hygienist communication

The United States is facing a massive dental hygiene shortage. It has been estimated that there has been an 8% decline in actively working dental hygienists and that roughly 40% of dental practices are struggling to fill vacant dental hygiene positions.¹

The primary concern with this shortage is attempting to meet the demand for patients who need timely care and treatment. Oral health-care providers aim to provide patients with quality, equitable, positive, and effective services. As we investigate how to turn this dental hygiene shortage around, it is important to consider every angle-including the role of positive communication between the dentist and dental hygienist. This is not only intrinsically linked to the dental hygiene shortage but is even more crucial to ensuring positive and effective patient treatment outcomes.

The importance of positive and effective communication

Studies have suggested that cooperation among health-care professionals is essential in facilitating high-quality services.² As oral health-care providers, we have an ethical responsibility to provide every patient with high-quality care, so it is vital that we focus on the link that positive communication can have on patient outcomes.

Job roles within the dental practice

It is also important to consider what factors may influence communication, including the perception of job roles between dentists and dental hygienists. Awareness of dentists and dental hygienists sharing job responsibilities can directly impact the relationship they foster with each other. Hygienists commonly report feeling undervalued by their dentists. However, it is important to note this is not a blanket statement, as every dental practice and its staff are unique.

Hierarchical perceptual differences from a dentist's point of view of the dental hygiene profession can complicate collaboration between professions. If either the dentist or hygienist perceives each other's profession negatively-or as unimportant-they may

communicate poorly with each other. But if they highly value each other's profession, their communication will be positive and respectful.

Communication and patient treatment outcomes

Research has shown that conflict among health-care professionals influences the quality of treatment provided to patients.² Lack of communication between the dentist and hygienist can hinder the dental team's ability to create a collaborative treatment plan that's best for the patient. Poor communication also decreases a patient's treatment satisfaction and comfort level in the dental office.

Studies have shown positive dentist-hygienist communication significantly improves health and reduces fear scores in patients as well. Patients felt safer when their dentist and hygienist worked collaboratively, with neither assuming a dominant role over the other.²

In the dental office, interprofessional collaboration between the dentist and hygienist is vital in adapting to changes in oral health care, dental treatments, and individual patient preferences.³ Each professional must understand the roles and services the other provides, as well as their value.

If a dentist fails to acknowledge this, their treatment outcome may be hindered. This also applies to hygienists and their awareness of the importance of quality restorative services in ensuring the success of their preventive services.

If the needs of a patient with extensive periodontal disease are not addressed through preventive services, the success of restorative services such as implants could be hindered; the bone and gingiva would be unable to successfully uphold these interventions. Dental health providers must work symbiotically to provide successful services to their patients-one provider would not be successful without the other.

Mutual respect, communication, and improved understanding of roles and responsibilities are crucial for effective collaboration.³

How communication affects quality of life

The type of communication between dentists and dental hygienists can also affect their quality of life, work satisfaction, and mental health. As discussed, there is a significant shortage of dental hygienists, and poor communication in the dental office should be recognized as a contributing factor.

Dental hygienists experience many stressors daily, whether it be due to uncooperative patients, heavily booked schedules, practice management conflicts, or the intense physical demands of the profession. These stressors can lead to professional burnout, poor work satisfaction, poor quality of life, and mental health issues, ultimately leading to hygienists exiting the profession. Job satisfaction is also closely related to communication with patients, colleagues, dentists, and other health service providers.⁴ Negative communication could lower job satisfaction and motivation for hygienists, and in turn, impact the level of compassion and quality of care they provide to patients.

Methods to improve communication

It is important to examine methods that can be utilized to improve interprofessional communication. Dental teams can conduct communication and leadership seminars, courses, classes, and team-building exercises to constantly strengthen these skills. It is also suggested that courses on stress management and communication should be integrated into dental hygiene and dental school curriculums. By integrating these courses, it is hoped that oral health professionals will learn and develop these skills in their educational journey so that when they enter the workforce, they have experience in effective communication. The American Dental Education Association acknowledges the importance of learning effective communication as they have included communication and interpersonal skills among their list of core competencies expected of graduates from general dental education programs. Through frequent training within the dental office and in dental education programs, skills for effective communication skills can be learned and continually improved.⁵

Enhancing relationships and communication

The roles that we hold as oral health-care professionals are paramount, as we strive to provide ways to create a better world. At a primary level, positive interprofessional collaboration can help to create positive patient treatment outcomes and dental hygiene work conditions. However, another part of being a health-care provider is trying to improve our world and profession. One way to achieve this in the dental health profession is by expanding the scope of practice for dental hygienists through the integration of dental hygiene therapists (DHTs). The implementation of DHTs could help provide access to dental care to millions of individuals.

Dental hygiene therapists are part of a dentist-led team that provide their normal preventive services but can also provide basic restorative services under the direct supervision of a dentist.6 Currently, dental hygiene therapy is approved in 14 states.7 Some dentists are concerned about educational requirements and experience, while other dentists see the potential benefits of this advanced role.

Effective collaboration and communication between dental health professionals could increase the acceptance of this DHT role.

Conclusion

Positive and effective communication between the dentist and dental hygienist can improve the entire field of oral health care. Through positive communication, patients will receive quality, comprehensive, and collaborative treatment, hygienists will have higher levels of work satisfaction and mental health, and the expansion of the dental hygiene scope of practice has the potential to evolve.

References

1. Danko T. Impact and management of the dental hygienist shortage: How it affects your practice and what can you do? HR for Health. May 31, 2024. https://hrforhealth.com/blog/dental-hygienist-shortage

2. Hamasaki T, Kato H, Kumagai T, Hagihara A. Association between dentist-dental hygienist communication and dental treatment outcomes. Health Commun. 2016;32(3):288-297. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2016.1138376

3. Kersbergan M, Creugers NHJ, Hollaar VRY, Laurant MGH. Perceptions of interprofessional collaboration in education of dentists and dental hygienists and the impact on dental practice in the Netherlands: A qualitative study. Eur J Dent Educ. 2020;24(1):145-153. https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12478

4. Rederiene G, Buunk-Werkhoven Y, Aidukaite G, Puriene, A. Relationship between job satisfaction and health of hygienists in Lithuania. Int Dent J. 2022;72(4):512-518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2021.07.005

5. Fico AE, Lagoe C. Patients' perspectives of oral healthcare providers' communication: Considering the impact of message source and content. Health Commun. 2018;33(8):1035-1044. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2017.1331188

6. Howell AL, Tolle SL, Ludwig EA, Clairborne, DM. Attitudes of Virginia dentists towards dental therapists: A pilot study. J Dent Hyg. 2021;(95)6:13-22. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34949678/

7. Machado KP. Update on dental therapy in the United States. Decis Dent. July 18, 2024. https://decisionsindentistry.com/2024/07/update-on-dental-therapy-in-the-united-states/