I dedicated this past year to evolving. Although I love my career, I felt ready for a new challenge. This year has been like a tornado in my personal and professional life. It’s been a year in which I’ve remembered what I’m really made of, and I’ve relied on friends to ground me in my new roots. This challenge came when the dental office I worked for restructured my compensation. This resulted in a decrease in my hourly rate by $25 an hour. Yes, you read that right.
Despite the invisible smoke that was coming from my ears, I was able to put on my business hat and review my production numbers with the office leadership. I demonstrated how many patients we’d lost from the revolving door of dentists in the office and suggested a team approach to correcting the low hygiene production. The truth is, no matter how good you are, you can’t be a high producer if you’re schedule isn’t full.
This discussion was not received at the level of openness I would have expected. It became clear that the office, which was getting ready to move into a smaller location, felt that I was no longer a good fit. Frankly, I was crushed. I kept thinking, how could I leave my patients? Who was going to test their saliva and provide subgingival detoxification like me? Who was going to care about them as much as I do? Even though my hourly rate was reduced by $25 an hour, I debated staying for my patients.
Choosing growth over comfort
This’s when it really hit me; I was willing to compromise my own happiness and career fulfillment because I loved my patients. I think many of us experience this. We settle for offices that are “good enough” because we like the patients, the office is close to home, or the position was once in full alignment but now simply is not.
I was forced during this time to remember who I am as a clinician, and that is the owner of Thrive in the OP. A dental hygienist should not settle on environments that force them to shrink into something they’re not. I decided to leave the practice and let go of the guilt I felt leaving the patients that I had become so friendly with during the last four years.
The story we tell
I carried resentment for a few weeks after that conversation in the office. How could I be treated like this? I thought of the late nights I stayed in the office, the weekend hours, the hours I added after we opened post pandemic. Then I realized I was telling a story, one that was more painful than the facts of the situation. The truth was the office was once a great fit and no longer was an office that I was aligned with. None of us should have to compromise our standards to feel like we can “survive” in an office. Heck, we’ve worked way too hard to be on a team that doesn’t feel like a team. So, instead of spending months spinning out in resentment, I let it go.
Choosing growth over comfort
I spent four months looking for my next dental home. I had a few offers, but none of them could offer what I really wanted—to be part of an office that was progressive, collaborative, respectful, genuine, and valued my input. I’m happy to report I found it because I didn’t settle for a “good-enough-for-now” office. I walk into the new office with an extra bounce in my step knowing that I’m supported by the team. My success is there, and vice versa.
Learning to pivot
Another big career change has happened involving my relationship with you as the editorial director of RDH Graduate. The Endeavor team has decided to take the newsletter management internally to their fantastic team of editors. I’m leaving you in great hands. I’ve enjoyed leading the content since January 2018 and I’m forever grateful for the opportunities that my relationship with Endeavor has brought me. I will still be writing for Endeavor and serving as an RDH magazine columnist. I look forward to hearing from you!
