Posted 01-30-15
From Effectiveness to Greatness in Hygiene by Wendy Briggs, RDH
We work with hygienists all over the country who are highly effective at what they do. Once you have achieved effectiveness, what comes next? How does one achieve greatness in dentistry? There is a lot of concern in our profession right now about job security. There are many areas of the country where the hygiene job market is extremely saturated. Hygienists that are more than effective, that are truly performing at a level of greatness don't have to worry about job security. They have already created it for themselves.
Steven Covey wrote a book called from Effectiveness to Greatness. In this book he talks about the four qualities of high achievers. When studying those at the top of our profession, they often share these qualities.
Vision The first quality of a high achiever is Vision. World-class dental professionals have a very clear vision of where they want to be. They know exactly what type of practice they want to have, they know how they want their patients to be served, and they are able to do this consistently. Part of having a clear vision is setting goals. What goals that you set for this year? Are they specific and measurable? What effort have you made to improve yourself both clinically and professionally to be able to achieve this vision?
Truly high achievers take action on their vision. It's not enough just to write down goals, but they are taking steps on a daily basis to further them on their plan. High achieving Hygienists also have a clear vision for what they want to accomplish are often those we see at CE events, they are taking online courses, they are reading books that can help them further their goals. They are probably the ones reading this article!
Stephen Covey also said "Vision also means affirming others, believing in them and helping them realize their potential." Part of my personal Vision is to help hygienists realize a higher level of their potential.
What is your vision for your role in the dental practice? The role of the modern dental hygienist has changed! There are many changes within our profession that can be somewhat alarming. We are seeing a move towards more dental insurance and PPO influence. We are seeing a rise of corporate dental practices. We are seeing a higher level of expectations on us as producers within our practices.
Some hygienists grumble about this, and wish for the good old days where they could just clean teeth and not worry about the rest. On social media, they gripe about current conditions of the hygiene profession. Some even advise hygiene students to choose another path. "It's not possible to realize success as a dental hygienist anymore." How sad and disheartening! My vision is completely different. I see a tremendous amount of opportunity for hygienists today.
Those who are adapting to the changes in our profession, have a clear vision and embrace their new roles are realizing incredible success.
Passion The next quality necessary for becoming a high achiever is Passion. When we become discouraged, or burned out we lose our passion. When we feel challenged, we realize a new level of energy and enthusiasm. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Passion makes all things alive and significant."
Dwelling on the negative, or wishing things haven't changed diminishes our passion for what we do. When we embrace new challenges we are able to renew our passion for dentistry. There are so many new aspects of dentistry today that are exciting. We have incredible technology that enables us to serve our patients better than ever before. We have amazing products to use that enhance our clinical skills. It is an exciting time to be a dental hygienist! High achievers have a strong passion for serving their patients, and it is contagious.
Discipline The next quality for achieving greatness is Discipline. Steven Covey taught that our behavior is a function of our decisions, not our conditions. This is such an incredible truth! Having the discipline to provide World Class hygiene isn't always easy, it can be exhausting! Deciding to embrace our new roles, and the discipline necessary to provide a higher level of care can also be rewarding.
We help hygienists maximize 3 important roles when serving patients. The first role is that of a Preventive Therapist. Dental Hygienists have a significant responsibility to be focused on the prevention of disease. We are the only health professional who is given the primary role of prevention! The truth is, many patients of today are considered high risk by the ADA. Those who consistently struggle with chronic decay have a very high level of frustration. They do not want cavities, they are tired of always having problems with their teeth and they are very interested in preventive options.
Too often we assume that if insurance doesn't cover a certain preventive procedure, the patient will not want it. When we present the opportunity the right way, patients jump at the chance to prevent future problems. Preventive services like fluoride, sealants, de-sensitizing agents, radiographs, advanced oral cancer screenings, and many others become commonplace procedures happening daily in hygiene. If we are truly maximizing Preventive therapy in hygiene, a nice thing happens to productivity. It goes up drastically.
We should also note that with more markets seeing the influence of insurance and PPOs, maximizing the preventive role can help our profitability even when on a "discounted" insurance plan. Having patients choose a higher level of care, and more services at their hygiene appointments benefits the patient, and the practice.
The second role is that of a Periodontal Therapist. Many consultants and hygiene educators focus heavily on Periodontal therapy, as it is a critical component in the life of a dental hygienist. However, it is not uncommon to see a practice that is still treating periodontal infection today with the same strategies and technology that they were using 5 years ago. Sometimes even 10 years ago. This is truly alarming! Many things have changed. We have better tools, better science about what causes periodontal infection, and how to drastically reduce it. We know so much more about the Oral-Systemic link, and serious health risks that exist with the presence of inflammation in the body.
We have laser techniques, we have Oral DNA testing methods, we have better homecare products, we have additional resources like Arestin and other adjunctive options for patients. If we are truly maximizing potential in our role as a Periodontal Therapist, we are seeing periodontal disease, talking about it and treating it. We have extremely high acceptance rates for these advanced services, supervised neglect is not an option. We discuss Periodontal Disease with existing patients, as well as New Patients, and we are treating it with every available weapon in our arsenal.
The third role is that of a Patient Treatment Advocate. Hygiene often underestimates what a critical role we have in helping our patients make choices about the dentistry they need. How many times have they turned to the hygienist, or another clinical team member to ask, "Do I really need to have this done?" or "How long can I wait before I get this taken care of?" The reality is, patients do want the team's opinion, and recommendations when it comes to the choices they have about treatment.
We also teach providers how to embrace and incorporate technology that aids us in better maximizing this role. Having time, and the skills necessary to use the Intra-oral camera on every patient is vital. Other incredible devices like the cavity-detecting lasers and enhanced imaging tools can help us facilitate treatment being accepted. Verbal skills, knowing which questions to ask and helping the patient decide which option best accomplishes their goals are what we are aiming for in developing this role. Presenting treatment and having the patient choose better dentistry can be incredibly rewarding.
Conscience The fourth quality for High-achievers is Conscience. This is an important issue right now in our profession. Sadly many dentists feel that in order to remain competitive given recent changes they must shorten hygiene visits, and cram more patients through per day. This affects the conscience of many hygienists who don't feel comfortable sacrificing the quality of care that they provide.
It probably affects the conscience of dentists too. No one wants patient care to suffer, but some may feel there is no other alternative. The good news is that we have seen hygienists who maximize their potential still be incredibly productive without having to sacrifice patient care. When we are able to remain profitable while serving reduced fee patients the need for shortening appointment times and other adaptive strategies become unnecessary.
The Hygienists who have achieved greatness exhibit the four qualities we have discussed on a daily basis. They love what they do, and their practices love having them as a part of their team. It doesn't matter what happens in the marketplace around them, they are irreplaceable.
One final gem from Mr. Covey, "Your economic security does not lie in your job; it lies in your own power to produce – to think, to learn, to create, to adapt."
If you would like help on your journey from Effectiveness to Greatness, I hold a 60 minute FREE Training every Wednesday night. Click here register and join us.