It has been said so many times, "You don't know what you don't know." How true! Without venturing out of your comfort zone, experience never has a chance to become a teacher. The same applies for the woman dentist and her relationship with the practice's hygienist. Moreover, this dentist/hygienist connection is vital in the development of office protocol. Patient care will significantly improve when rapport is built from trust and expectation.
So expect to learn in this issue how to create a dynamic hygiene team, why it is central to your practice's production, and how to better manage the patient flow once a great hygiene program is implemented. Many women dentists still do their own hygiene. Realize that to ultimately offer better patient care, you need a great hygienist and a great dentist. The hygiene models that currently exist are changing rapidly, adapting to the needs of individual practice styles, teams, and patients. See what is out there and working!
A new teacher for many in the dental world is the use of magnification. Whether it be a dental microscope or high-powered loupes, the need to see better for restorative and hygiene care is becoming not only widely accepted, but valued. Many women dentists are making the use of magnification a standard of care in their practices. As leaders in dentistry, we also need to extend this opportunity to our hygienists.
The month of May could not pass without showcasing some incredible mothers and daughters. What a moment to see your daughter graduate from dental school! How about the day your child starts to hang out at your office with a certain intended future under discovery? Why is the balance of motherhood and dentistry a unique merge of multitasking, patience, and perseverance? And a message to continually elevate our profession for those who are not mothers: Use the opportunity you have in dental practice to share and to mentor others.
The blend of dentistry in families is distinctive, and it is a privilege to share these exceptional journeys. Families often have great teachers from within. My own family has three special people — my mother, grandmother, and daughter — who constantly ready me with their continual love and support. Thank you!
Lori Trost, DMD
Dr. Trost is the managing editor of Woman Dentist Journal. She can be contacted by email at [email protected].
We welcome letters to the editor. Please email your letters to Dr. Trost. Include your name and the city and state where you practice.
