In private dental practices, the RDH often spends more time with the client than the dentist, and sees roughly seven-eight clients per day. With recall intervals ranging from three months to one year, depending on health status, the RDH is often the most frequently visited HCP. The value dental hygienists add to a practice can be calculated through the cost of the chair and adding services provided, from maintaining professional standards, and client-centred care which keeps the client coming back.

The variety of factors that contribute to the revenue I produce and value I add in a private practice have increased my appreciation for my professional role. The CDHA’s Job Market and Employment Survey outlines reported highlights such as wage and working conditions,  challenges, and what to expect in the future.(1) Findings from the CDHA survey reveal RDHs face barriers, possibly due to the exclusion of an employment contract.

Employment contracts protect RDHs from loss of pay, but also serve as an opportunity to negotiate work-related benefits. As a newly graduated dental hygienist, an employment contract is important to advocate for my professional standards, gain professional development benefits, and have frequent feedback on my performance. Each of these benefits contribute to client safety, professional practice, and maintenance of DH competencies. For myself, my professional goals upon entering private practice are to manage learning, seek mentorship, and practice according to professional standards.

For myself, I think it is important for RDHs to know the value we add to dental practices and maintain current with life-long learning. Employment contracts are a tool RDHs can use as a profession to receive benefits that support our contribution to dental practices.

References:

1. CDHA. 2017 job market and employment survey [Internet]. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Canadian Dental Hygienists Association. 2017 [Cited 2019 Apr 5]. Available from. https://www.cdha.ca/cdha/Career_folder/Job_Market___Employment_Survey/CDHA/Career/Survey/Job_Market_Survey.aspx?hkey=e3d1dbda-c64c-4b5a-9f0e-59ac6e0cd39f
2. Kanji Z, Laronde D. Career outcomes of dental hygiene baccalaureate education: a study of graduates’ professional opportunities, further education, and job satisfaction. J Dent Educ. 2018 Aug;82(8):809-18.

Throughout the DHDP, my view of the DH profession has expanded from a clinical role to a primary health care role. In the first year of the DHDP, I was assigned to write a self-reflection paper about why I chose the dental hygiene profession. In summary, the main points of pursuing an education in DH were to work collaboratively within a dental-team, remove deposits, and build rapport, derived from my past as a dental assistant. In the last four years I have grown beyond my previously held beliefs about the DH profession and developed the mindset of a health care professional.

At this point of my DH education, I have provided over 700 hours of clinical DH services and over 400 hours of community care, collaborated inter-professionally, and completed assignments that showcase the opportunities I have to advance the DH profession. Throughout three years of providing clinical care to the general public, children, and underserved populations. The experiences I have had providing client-centred care has given me the opportunity to explore practice standards, policies, code of ethics, and use scientific investigation to provide the gold standard of care.

As I progressed through each year of academia, I had moments of transformative learning which allowed myself to grow professionally. Awareness of scope of practice and core skills gave myself the opportunity to know my professional limitations, but also an advantage in inter-professional settings. Upon participation in a variety of inter-professional events hosted through UBC, I advocated for my profession by sharing my role and responsibilities among other HCP. Inter-professional learning increases access to care with a range of health professionals and facilitates increased health outcomes.(1,2)

Looking back to my self-reflection essay, I recognize moments of growth and transformative learning which attribute to the value I have of dental hygiene today. Having a vast array of clientele, I learned how to provide client-centered and community care within the parameters of my licensing body and how to support clientele when their needs were beyond the scope of a dental practice.

Kanji Z, Laronde D. Career outcomes of dental hygiene baccalaureate education: a study of graduates’ professional opportunities, further education, and job satisfaction. J Dent Educ. 2018 Aug;82(8):809-18.

References

1. Wakabayashi H. Medical-dental collaboration in general and family medicine. J Gen Fam Med. 2019 Mar;20(2):47.
2. Kanji Z, Laronde D. Career outcomes of dental hygiene baccalaureate education: a study of graduates’ professional opportunities, further education, and job satisfaction. J Dent Educ. 2018 Aug;82(8):809-18.
3. Canadian competencies for baccalaureate dental hygiene programs. Ottawa, ON, Canada: Canadian Dental Hygienists Association; 2015. 41p.