Life at Work

Emotional intelligence is more than just a buzzword of the 21st century; it actually is something very important in the workforce when dealing with dental co-workers. Just as IQ refers to your intellectual intelligence, EQ refers to your emotional intelligence or how smart you are when it comes to emotions. Emotional intelligence is a valuable skill that may help...

A shortage of dental hygienists has led to some discord between dental hygienists and dentists, mainly focusing on wages. Both sides have important observations to make, but an easy and reasonable solution will leave hygienists satisfied with pay rates and dentists comfortable with the wages paid to dental hygienists. The first step for dental hygienists is to know their worth. Know...

The month of May is a great time for talking about workplace wellness. Mental Health Awareness Month occurs each year during May, and it's a full 31 days dedicated to sharing information and knowledge on the subject of mental health. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 21% of adults in the U.S. have a mental illness. When this...

Think about your dental office, colleagues, and the patients. Does everyone understand each other? Would you agree that communication between others is easy in your office? If you cannot answer yes to these questions, you may need some tips on how to better connect, communicate, and present with others in your office. DISC is a four-quadrant behavioral model that William...

We all have those no-show patients, canceled or broken appointments, or a hole in our schedule. One issue seen in the clinical setting is the dilemma of clocking in and out if patients cancel. In my opinion, you are at work, and it is not your fault you do not have a patient. But this is not a perfect world,...

Job opportunities are on every corner for dental hygienists. If you are on LinkedIn or have a resume on Indeed or other niche sites, you are likely getting recruiter calls and emails daily. With new dental offices opening and other offices increasing their compensation or benefits offerings, how do you decide what is best for you? Do you stay...

Dental hygienists know the importance of preventing disease, but many experience burnout, either physically or emotionally. Accordingly, it is important for hygienists to practice mindfulness. What is mindfulness? Mindfulness can be practiced by anyone, anytime, or anywhere, even as a dental hygienist. Mindfulness is described as “a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging...

Managing our time effectively in patient care is stressful, tiresome, and can often be out of our control. In 2018, Nayaka describes time management as planning available time in conjunction with personal goals while keeping individual likes, dislikes, and preferences in mind.1 She also states that good time management results in less stress, greater productivity, and improved efficiency. In hygiene...

While mentoring has always been a valued concept, mentoring within the dental field in recent years has become the key differentiating factor for clinical success, teamwork, and employment longevity. Mentoring is defined as "a relationship between two people with the goal of professional and personal growth."1 An article in the Clinical Teacher states, "The importance of mentorship within health care...

In an ideal world, the relationship between the dental hygienist and the dentist is one that is in sync and well-calibrated. If the dental hygienist and dentist can truly rely on one another, it allows for seamless and successful diagnosis and treatment planning, and patients will better understand treatment recommendations. The dental hygienist and dentist can help to influence successful...