Culture in Dental Practices: The Dentist and Dental Hygienist Working Relationship
Each dental office team member is vital to keeping the practice alive and thriving. Their unique roles facilitate the day-to-day tasks, and all of these tasks collectively keep the operations of the practice progressing forward. One of the many vital work relationships is among the dentist and dental hygienist; their roles complement one another and depend on optimal professional collaboration to provide care for their patients that goes above and beyond the standard. Historically, the relationship between dentists and hygienists was not viewed as a collaborative partnership. There was a clear division of roles with limited communication. Over the years, it has become evident that professional collaboration and open communication are vital for the longevity of successful work relationships and improved patient outcomes.
Tracing the Dentist-Dental Hygienist Relationship
In the past, the roles of dentists and dental hygienists were distinct; the dental hygienists provided the preventative care, and dentists performed the restorative treatment. It was not uncommon for these providers to operate with limited communication. As a result, the lack of communication surrounding expectations led to several negative outcomes for both parties. Expectations went unmet, frustrations festered, and ultimately, a disconnect was created.
Contributing Factors:
- Undefined Roles
- Varying Priorities
- Poor Time Management
- Uncommunicated Expectations
Undefined roles in the dental office can lead to incomplete tasks and decreased productivity. Clearly defined duties of each provider are important to maintain accountability and consistent performance. Specifically, this will ensure the highest quality of patient care and safety measures for patients and providers.
Varying priorities among providers can create challenges concerning differing opinions of patient care needs and maintaining a work/life balance. Defining priorities, communicating them, and creating attainable goals to uphold those priorities is essential for fostering job satisfaction and a meaningful purpose, both professionally and personally.
Poor time management throughout the workday can affect the team as a whole. Addressing solutions to time constraints, work-flow issues, and other limiting factors that hinder efficiency is important to managing the schedule more effectively. Thus, significantly reducing the occurrences of inadequate handoffs, missed conversations, and delayed treatment.
Uncommunicated expectations create disorganization and frustration among providers. Communicating expectations and explaining the rationale behind them can enhance clarity. Likewise, open communication allows providers to address issues before they become larger problems and adjust accordingly. Creating attainable ways to manage expectations and being willing to adapt is essential for ensuring expectations are met.
Fostering a Dynamic Partnership Among Dentists and Dental Hygienists
Fostering a dentist-dental hygienist dynamic partnership is crucial to effectively communicate, achieve business success, and deliver exceptional patient care. In a study aimed to explore dental hygienists’ experiences of their physical and psychosocial work environment, it was revealed:
“Motivating factors were the good relationship with co-workers, managers and patients, seeing the results of your work, having your own responsibility and making your own decisions. The new, pleasant and modern clinics, good cooperation between co-workers and varying duties were described as facilitating factors. The trying factors, as described by the dental hygienists, were above all being controlled by time limits or by some elements of the work, such as teamwork. The dental hygienists also felt stress because appointments were too-short.”
Strategies to Strengthen the Partnership:
- Comprehend Business Operations
- Optimize Preventative Care
- Collaborate Through Education
- Promote the Office Culture
- Engage in Clear Communication
Comprehend Business Operations
Understanding the business perspective is necessary for both providers. It is especially important for hygienists to understand the value their services can provide the practice by optimizing preventative care. Thus, they can better advocate for fair compensation by highlighting their contribution to patient outcomes and the practice’s growth.
Optimize Preventative Care
Focusing on optimizing preventative care enables hygienists to gain a clear direction and value in their work. When hygienists are empowered to take the lead in their area of expertise, this can positively impact patient outcomes. As more patients take control of their treatment decisions, hygienists are the front line in communication with patients. Thus, they are often bridging the gap between the patient and dentist. It is important that hygienists are equipped with continuing education, advanced equipment, and support from the dentist to ensure successful outcomes.
Collaborate Through Education
Completing continuing education courses jointly helps providers stay aligned by maintaining a unified approach to patient care. This promotes evidence-based dentistry and a continuity of information between providers. When providers are on the same page and can respond to patients with similar recommendations, it boosts patients confidence, alleviates doubt, and demonstrates a cohesive team. Patients are more likely to have confidence in a dental team that operates seamlessly to address their oral health.
Promote the Office Culture
Promoting the office culture is important to the overall longevity of the practice and employee retention. Creating a space where dental hygienists feel valued and a part of the team is crucial for establishing a sense of purpose and building trust. A demanding workload along with personal responsibilities outside of work can be challenging to manage. Therefore, offering flexibility and understanding will ensure providers feel supported.
Engage in Clear Communication
When important conversations need to take place, it is necessary to plan ahead. Last-second conversations can disrupt workflow, and being rushed can lead to a lack of resolution. Communicating the desire to schedule a meeting improves the likelihood a conversation will take place promptly and encourages a purposeful conversation. In a study aimed at defining the association between dentists and dental hygienists communication and dental treatment outcomes, the final conclusion stated:
“Our evaluation of the effects of dentist-dental hygienist communication on patient outcomes indicated a significant correlation, suggesting that inter-professional communication in the field of dentistry affects patient satisfaction.”
Ultimately, professional collaboration and open communication are vital for the longevity of successful work relationships and improved patient outcomes. A supportive work environment strengthens the dentist-hygienist partnership as both providers work toward a common goal of providing patient-centered care that goes beyond the standard.
Kayla Makowski, RDH, BS
Kayla is a registered dental hygienist with a passion for providing education on the importance of oral health as it relates to overall health. She is committed to staying up to date on the latest advancements in dentistry through continuing education courses. Kayla finds joy in being a mom to her son, and in her free time she cherishes spending time with family.
