Recently, one morning at work, I had one of those moments when I felt inept in my abilities as a dental clinician. Although it had nothing to do with teeth, per se, it made me question my role in the office.
I was finishing up with a hygiene patient and looked over at the schedule, when suddenly, the next appointment disappeared, indicating a last-minute cancellation.
I immediately ran through the “cancellation duties” checklist in my brain. Do I restock supplies? Check in on sterilization? Sharpen my dull instruments? As I ran through the mental log, I saw one of the doctors’ assistants whisk by my room, looking more flustered than ever. I waved her down, and she informed me that the assistants were unexpectedly short-staffed for the day.
Ready to pitch in
I immediately jumped into action, my cancellation checklist disappearing into a cloud of dust. I donned some gloves, grabbed the CaviCide wipes, and got to work breaking down one of the doctor ops while the assistant flipped the adjacent room. I knew the doctor was running behind schedule, so I told my coworker I’d set up the room for her.
But I was unprepared
But I couldn’t. Embarrassingly, I didn’t know how to set up for the next patient’s crown prep—specifically, which instruments were required and where to place them for the doctor’s convenience. I finished sterilizing and setting up barriers in the op, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I should be able to do more for my teammate.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time I had an experience like this. Furthermore, I’ve lost count of the times the dental assistants at the practice where I work have helped keep me on schedule by setting up my hygiene operatory, reviewing my patients’ medical histories, or taking x-rays. My teammates are not always available when I run behind, but when they are, I know they’ve got my back. But can I honestly say I’ve got theirs?
The importance of cross-training
Later on, this event led to a discussion with coworkers and made me question whether our team should set aside time in the future for office cross-training. With occasional staff shortages, how could we blend roles and duties to improve workflow?
I discussed my concerns with the practice owner, who pointed out that some of my fellow RDH coworkers had worked as dental assistants before becoming hygienists. They can set up the doctors’ operatories with ease, and during hygiene appointments, they are prepared for the doctor exams with the necessary instruments.
For example, during some exams, our doctors will provide additional services (such as tightening a loose partial denture or smoothing a chipped tooth) to prevent the patient from having to schedule a separate appointment. In these instances, I often turn to the assistants and rely on them to provide the correct instruments. Conversely, the RDHs with assisting backgrounds can collect the appropriate instruments themselves.
Our conversation concluded in agreement that our team would benefit from additional training in areas where we feel we lack experience or knowledge. Though I am always eager to learn more, I told the owner that I didn’t want my coworkers to feel like I was “stepping on their toes.” In other words, I want to be more helpful, but I also want to make sure that I stay in my lane. It is important to remember that while some duties can overlap for hygienists and assistants, we must keep in mind the scope of practice for both roles and recognize that boundaries are not always clear.
Bottom line: I’m always up for challenging myself and expanding my knowledge, especially if it means improving the workflow and ultimately benefiting our patients.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in RDH eVillage newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe.
