WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY?
It's not just about global warming or the use of plastic bags, although they’re the most common examples associated with the word “sustainability”. It’s an environment that can continuously exist and replenish itself without depleting its resources needed or the ability to maintain and support a process perpetually over time.
If we take that idea and look at our hygiene cultures, environments, systems and most importantly, our North American hygiene career lengths, the statistics are difficult to read.
The average career length of a dental hygienist is about 12-13 years. Some as short as 5 years at full time hours (36hrs/week).
There is a strong correlation between
career length and weekly hours.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER FOR MY BUSINESS AS A CLINIC OWNER?
If you’re a practice owner, it doesn’t need to be explained that there is a hygiene shortage. Turnover is extremely high, wage demand has increased and the “good ones” won’t last in your practice very long because of high burnout rates. Clinic owners have mostly just accepted this reality and adapted to the wave of employment change.
The clinics that understand the connection between a strong hygiene team and a high standard of care have even surrendered. You can’t quite have a structured care plan if your hygiene department is lacking or falling apart.
Realizing that the traditional systems and work philosophy that hygienists are exposed to are no longer sustainable is a difficult reality to accept.
The good news about this, is that it's completely reversible. Building a preventative department that works full time, is dedicated to your business, turns your patients into mega fans and delivers the highest standard of care is not out of reach. There is a solution for everything.
FOR THE RDH: WHY DOES THIS MATTER FOR MY CAREER? The burnout rate for hygienists is at an all time high: 1/3
It's much more than being tired and unhappy with working conditions or stress. It negatively impacts the overall well-being which results in physical and mental harm that cascades into personal life and relationships. Time constraints, low control over job functions that are illogical to efficiency, high work loads with inadequate breaks and working in isolation. Ouch.
The systems that hygienists work under are counter intuitive, let alone the traditional instruments and technology that is used.
ITS PROBABLY MORE THAN 92%
If a hygienist wants to beat this statistic, accepting, immersing into and implementing Biofilm Management technology and standards of care is the way to save their career. In another 20 years, it will be the standard equipment used just as we learned ultrasonic and piezo technology over hand scaling.
BRIDGING THE GAP
By bringing together dentists and hygienists to build a sustainable preventative department, hygiene can turn into a life long career; as it should be! Arguably the heart of the clinic, circulating patients into all corners of dentistry.
CLINIC OWNER POV: YOU ALREADY HAVE BIOFILM MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY
Amazing! You understand the importance of following the advancement of technology in dentistry and you strongly believe in continuing your education alongside of your preventative department. Whether your team has fallen head over heels or is feeling a bit lost about it, believe it or not, there is still work to be done.
Having and using high-end technology are two very different things. It can take upward of 1-2 years to fully adapt your clinic to new changes, especially when implement air polishing systems like Guided Biofilm Therapy, the Woodpecker, Florida Probe or Laser Therapy. It’s a completely different hygiene model and philosophy, which takes time to fully implement; it disrupts the core of a hygienist’s education where calculus removal was the #1 priority.
The next question is: are you now using your equipment to it’s capacity? Are you taking advantage of it for your ROI? Are you following a perio protocol and standard of care that aligns with your new hygiene framework (i.e. your new equipment?).
Are your patients being treated with the same standard of care throughout your entire hygiene department?
Building your own standard of care and protocols that reflect your business model is an arduous project within itself, but it doesn’t have to be.
RDH POV: YOU ALREADY HAVE BIOFILM MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY
Again, Amazing right!? If you’re a hygienist who has advanced hygiene technology, you are utterly blessed. You’ve been given the opportunity to practice nearly pain free, deliver the highest standard of care and you have a chance to lengthen your career by an additional 7-12 years; if used appropriately.
To implement air polishing systems we must break down our clinical practice and adopt an entirely new approach to treating our clients. Whether you’re a new graduate practicing for 2 years or a veteran of 12+, re-learning a fundamental aspect of our scope is difficult to say the least.
Following a ready-made periodontal therapy protocol that reflects your new technology could be the missing element to fully immersing yourself into the clinician benefits. Not only that, your standard of care will turn your clients into mega fans, turning you into their forever hygienist.
Want to find out which technologies are right for your practice? Lets chat about which technologies are right for your clinic
Chantalle, RDH & Consultant
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