I just wanted to shop around—in a dental catalog. In the age of modern dental technology, it’s easy to aspire to have the latest and greatest equipment in the dental office. But do we allow it to measure the quality of our workday? Or the quality of our work? Of course, dental hygienists want to stay up to date with the latest in dentistry, and returning to a work environment after attending a dental conference filled with information about top-of-the-line equipment can be especially difficult.
Upgrades can even cause resentment in the office if they are not well received. In those moments of frustration, dental hygienists go home and browse the accounts of new friends in the industry who brag about their privileged access to the most incredible tools. That’s when they wonder: Can I still be a top clinician without top-of-the-line equipment?
Hygienists who work in offices with top-of-the-line equipment will share with you the efficiency, convenience, and patient satisfaction they experience, which is undoubtedly what they “want.” One hygienist who spoke to her who does not currently use the latest and greatest equipment said, “Of course I want to provide the highest standard of care to my patients, but I regret that I don’t.
My boss disagrees.” For hygienists who are fortunate enough to use top-of-the-line equipment, it’s important to remember that we are often limited to what the office provides. One could argue that hygienists can invest in products or equipment themselves, but most are unable to do so. So how does this happen in offices with multiple hygienists who don’t invest? Does a coincidence of scheduling determine which patients receive better care? How does care delivery differ when looking at only one variable, medical equipment?
A study comparing traditional rubber cup polishing to pneumatic polishing concluded that pneumatic polishing was more effective at removing plaque and was preferred by patients and staff. 1 The development of mechanical plaque debridement has sparked a lot of interest in methods such as guided biofilm therapy,2 but not all dental hygienists have access to these devices. But that doesn’t mean these hygienists are doing it “wrong.”
This equipment can cost up to $10,000 per operatory unit but offers little direct improvement to the office’s output, making it a hard sell in some offices. However, we know that better treatment outcomes improve patient retention, and more ergonomic equipment improves staff retention, saving the office a lot of money in the long run.
So knowing these facts and being passionate about providing the best care for your implant patients, such as supporting their investment in maintenance visits, will encourage your boss to order it. But sometimes it won’t. In these cases, you’ll continue to do the best you can to care for these patients with the resources you have.
Getting a model that produces more “direct” output or less upfront investment may be a more direct approach. For example, one study showed how intraoral cameras improve treatment acceptance for patients needing restorative treatment, increase office output, and improve the effectiveness of oral hygiene instruction.
Similarly, more advanced cameras, such as periodontal endoscopes, can significantly increase office revenue, achieve better treatment outcomes than blind cleanings, and reduce or eliminate the need to refer patients for surgical interventions. Technology like this makes hygienists surgical hygienists; that certainly sounds like top-tier, right?
We do so much more than just clean teeth. Hygienists shouldn’t feel limited by their limitations. Hygienists are proficient in mechanical plaque debridement using hand instruments and ultrasound. We spend double the time providing essential care in assessment, evaluation, and oral hygiene instruction. Blood pressure, oral cancer, periodontitis, caries risk screening, nutritional counseling, smoking cessation counseling, home care demonstrations, and simple human interaction can save a patient’s teeth and life. That’s top-tier.
When sharing your excitement, be kind, not authoritative (remember, there are still hygienists developing film in a darkroom, and likely against their will). Offer advice to fellow hygienists who aren’t up to date on the latest treatment modalities, tell them how your practice started using these technologies, or give them the name of the rep who helped you get your practice on board.
There will always be new tricks and “better” ways of doing things in this industry, but it will always be critical to provide patient-centered care in a caring and effective manner. If you are a hygienist who lacks passion, even getting a new complementary therapy like topical, drying agent or fluoride can be refreshing. Don’t give up on your bucket list! As long as you dream big, opportunities will come to you one way or another.
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