Many surmise that there will be opportunities for more and varied settings, in addition to the roles with which we are familiar. However, those settings will, no doubt, come with new responsibilities. The economy and technology will, to some degree, dictate some of the changes. We already see changes in clinical dental hygiene, with fewer offices employing dental hygienists and more dentists practicing dental hygiene! The traditional, solo dental practice will need to make some changes to stay viable and sustain a competitive edge in the health care market. We already see more group practices, with practitioners pooling resources to stay afloat. Dental tourism has taken a toll on U.S. dental practices, as well as dental laboratory services being sent abroad to countries where labor is less expensive. Customer (patient) satisfaction is critical, as we are now dealing with more astute consumers of dental hygiene and dental care, thanks to the Internet! Technology developments have changed every facet of our life, from businesses, to healthcare delivery, to how we keep our calendars. Advances in technology, and new products and materials, will require us to have advanced business acumen, and more education and training. Doing things “the way we always do them” is no longer an acceptable business model. Honing “hard and soft skills” will be vital as we navigate the murky waters of our future.
If something is not working, change it! Change is the only constant in life. For some dental hygienists, the future holds great promise and exciting prospects. For others, changes are confusing and uncomfortable. “Never be a prisoner of your past. Be the architect of your future.”
Sincerely,
Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, MS
To read previous RDH eVillage FOCUS introductions by Maria Perno Goldie, go to introductions.
To read more about hygiene in the future, click here.
