Dental Compliance – Do Hygienists Need Training?

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Q: Should my hygienists attend your seminar, they feel it is unnecessary since they get OSHA training at their other office they work at.

A: I wonder what your hygienists tell the employer at the other office they work at???

There is a lot more to dental compliance than OSHA, in my seminar OSHA is only 5% of the material I present.. I am amazed why dentist leave out key employees in meetings, trainings or seminars then think their office is compliant and everyone is on the same page as a “team”. I am also amazed why dentists allow their hygienists to refuse to follow policies & procedures or do things their way – are they not EMPLOYEES and are you not the EMPLOYER, get it?

Hygienists, why do you feel that you are above everyone else in the office and that there is nothing new to learn because you have infinite intelligence? How do you expect to contribute to the standard of the office and be a team player when you are not even close to being on the right page?

Now before I start getting a ton of hate email let me clear something up, my comments ARE NOT directed to ALL hygienists, I have worked with some of the greatest hygienists in the profession, these people in my mind are TRUE healthcare professionals of the highest caliber, they know who they are and they make-up only 2% of the hygienists population.

Bottom line, in order to be a Patient Compliant office that provides “Excellence in Patient Safety and Infection Control” every member of the team MUST be pulling in the same direction. Every member must add value to what they do, be able to teach others by example and themselves be teachable.

Filed under Ask Tom Terry, Business Issues, Employee, Infection Control, OSHA, Rants & Raves, Training

2 Responses to “Dental Compliance – Do Hygienists Need Training?”

1. Connie Langan Says:
   February 6th, 2010 at 2:06 PM

   “Hygienists, why do you feel that you are above everyone else in the office and that there is nothing new to learn because you have infinite intelligence? How do you expect to contribute to the standard of the office and be a team player when you are not even close to being on the right page?”

   Hey Tom Terry,

   Your statement above sadly reflects an attitude I have received as a hygienist in many offices – no one understands why the hygienist “makes so much money.” We are accused of not being a team player, yet we are prevented from being on the team — kept from full-time status deliberately to keep from paying benefits. Yet the dentist receives the fees billed out for our work.

   Staff who are resentful OF THE DENTIST, often seek to punish the dentist by sabotaging the hygienist. I have seen dentists allow this and even encourage it because they don’t understand where it’s coming from.

   We may not have “infinite intelligence,” as you put it, but we are in a unique position. We not only have a bird’s eye view of more than one office, but also within one practice we are privy to patients’ needs and fears like no one else. I hope you are aware that as a representative of the dentist, a hygienist is a vast often untapped resource. Patients confide in us things they don’t tell anyone else. Things that impact the practice.

   Detail-orientation (inborn and trained), regular unfettered access to patients, a passionate dedication to a patient pool, and a personal economic stake all add up to an employee who is an incredibly valuable resource to a dentist! Some dentists get this and some don’t.

   Your characterizations “above everyone else,” “not even close to being on the RIGHT page,” sound like one of those who don’t.
   Working for any 2 dentists (not to mention more!), hygienists find that there is no standard – no “right” page. Each one is a little king or queen in their own domain, virtually accountable to no one. You should hear the divergence of “science” from one dentist to the next! It’s incredible! Scientific knowledge aside, the ones who act like they care are easier to respect.

   Yes I agree hygienists are not immune to the same failings of all of us. I just hope you don’t continue to add to an inaccurate myth.

   I hope I added to your understanding about an often misunderstood member of the dental team.

   Keep up the good work you do – your name is highly respected everywhere I go!

   Sincerely,

   Connie Langan

2. Tom Terry Says:
   February 6th, 2010 at 8:32 PM

   Hi Connie,
   Hi Connie,
   Thank you for taking time to write your comment and for sharing your insights. A Professional Dental “team” must provide the highest quality of care at the highest level of safety to each and every patient. In some offices the team includes the hygienist and in some offices the team includes the dentist, but very few offices it includes both, when it comes to patient safety this is not acceptable.

   Although I am not a hygienist I do meet and talk with hygienist everyday, this interaction provides me with a good understanding from their perspective so its not a myth but reality I can tell you that many are not willing to change or make improvement for the sake of the patient. I receive emails and phone calls everyday from hygienists who want to know why they must attend their office seminar or staff trainings because they don’t think its necessary or is an inconvenience.

   I am not gunning for hygienists or care how much they get paid, however I am bothered by the large percentage of hygienists that are making hygienists like yourself look bad. Like I mentioned there are some really excellent hygienists and your insights and mindset tells me you fall into the elite group.

   As far as dentists goes, well all I can say is to keep your eyes on my blog, I haven”t even begin writing the rants or address the issues I discover everyday!

   Take care of yourself,
   Tom

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