Close to 1,800 hygienists responded to our Modern Hygienist 2008 Salary Survey and shared their thoughts on a variety of topics. One such topic—future goals and areas of growth—provided plenty of passionate responses.

We asked three prominent hygienists, Beth Thompson, Patti DiGangi and Shirley Gutkowski, to discuss the subject and provide some advice for our readers who look to improve both professionally and personally in 2009 and beyond.

DiGangi, RDH, BS, CEO Professional and the Director of CareerFusion (careerfusion.net), stresses education when asked what hygienists need to become more involved in their practices. “The need to be informed to take on different roles and develop skills for the future, not the past,” she said. “A very efficiently run hygiene department based on theory and philosophies of the 1970’s or 1980’s makes little sense. Selection of CE courses and learning experiences is not randomly taking whatever is offered. Rather course selection is based on what they want to bring to the practice.”

She adds that it can be helpful to invite others on the dental team to join them. “The hygienists need to decide they are the masters of their own fate and have a sense of urgency. Not false urgency which is flurry of activity with no purpose, but deciding, planning, and getting others on board and then executing the plan. Giving themselves and others time to learn, accept and change behavior.”

One way to reach some of these goals, says Gutkowski, is to work closely with the doctor(s) in the practice and make sure there’s strong communication in the practice. “Dentistry is fascinating,” said Gutkowski, a director at CareerFusion. “For the hygienist without a dental assisting background the recommendation would be to sit in on procedures, shadow the dentist for half a day or express a desire to observe clinical and diagnostic appointments. Doing this does two things, it gives the dental hygienist an understanding of what goes on in the dentist’s operatory, and it let’s the dentist know there’s a higher than normal level of interest.”

Next, there’s the close relationship and communication amongst the staff. “A formal or informal conversation with the dentist about his or her focus in the practice will help guide you,” she said. “If the response is to retire, start looking for another job. More often the response will be on a process, procedure, or philosophy. Grab onto it and become the dental hygiene expert in that. Don’t just be the hygiene expert in sleep apnea in the practice, find ways to let the community know the practice where you work is the best at it.”

Thompson, RDH, BS, FACE, has similar thoughts in these regards. “Assume the role of the leader in the hygiene department day one. Accept and seek every opportunity to learn, attend topical and future-focused CE, read as many dental journals as possible, and participate in the online forums, including AMYRDH (Amy’s list, Amyrdh.com), and ACE (Academy of Comprehensive ACEsthetics). Remain open to change. Share your awareness and expertise with your team, your patients and your colleagues, if you keep the information to yourself, they won’t know the wealth of valuable knowledge you possess.”

Thompson adds that making the extra effort also can set you above the competition. “Provide services to your office without being asked.” she suggests. “Expect to know your productivity on a daily, weekly, monthly, annual basis. With reluctance I have to say that too many hygienist do not do enough to differentiate themselves from the team, and end up as one of the girls. It is in the best interest of everyone we touch to speak to our education, and have of clear vision of our patient care values. Cultivate a network of empowered mentors, and in turn, become a mentor to new grads or hygienists struggling to find their identity. Sharing the wealth breeds a stronger profession.”

Other opportunities

Whenever Modern Hygienist’s reasearch team conducts a salary survey they ask about our readers’ future goals. Common responses include: making more money, advancing your education and how to use your skills in areas outside the practice.  

“Why do those respondents want to add a second job?” DiGangi asks. “Is it for economic reasons, personal fulfillment, sense of purpose, or to live out their passion? Until that is determined, management of the details using skills outside the practice is a side issue. When building a speaking, writing, or other career, people will often do both until the second is economically feasible. Is there a cost? Sure, but cost can be well worth it when the individual can let go of the first job. Dental hygiene is a career well-suited for this type of endeavor.”

Gutkowski adds that there often are opportunities to expand the practice, a process that can be good for everyone involved. “A second job is often an attempt at one of two things, making money or taking a break from practice,” she said. “Assuming that the practice is a good one, developing a specialty dental hygiene practice within the practice could be a very exciting and fulfilling way to go. Perhaps a special talent of the hygienist can be exploited to benefit  patients. Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday are dental hygiene days and Thursday-Friday are massage days or periodontal therapy days, or caries management days.

“There are hygienists who have a sideline income by doing of permanent makeup tattoos, manicures, or laser hair removal. Rent the operatory from the dentist. Share the receptionist or make some arrangement to benefit everyone. During the business formulation stage ask: What’s in it for the dentist, and you’re sure to come up with a plan that can benefit everyone including patients or clients. It may sound simple to do, but a major stumbling block is the lack of research and preparation before coming to the dentist with the plan. There are a number of free business plans available on the Internet to take the idea from ‘pie in the sky’ to reality. SCORE is also a great avenue to use. It’s a government-based initiative to help small businesses get off the ground. Retired business people donate time to small businesses showing them the ropes and the hoops with the end point of getting a small business loan which SCORE co-signs for.”

In today’s world, that second job may very well be a necessity. “Due to the expenses to employers related to full-time positions, combining part-time jobs has become a sad, yet necessary way of life for numerous clinicians,” Thompson said. “Often dentist employers are thrilled to share employees with a corporate entity, it is a positive reflection on the patient care and communication skills of the employee. If there is a lack of support from the dentist employer, it will not improve over time, so be prepared to prioritize your options.”

She adds, “There are increasing opportunities for hygienists to work for dental companies as clinical educators, sales representatives, marketing consultants, and a variation on all of these descriptions. During the annual CareerFusion retreat we match several clinicians with companies seeking part-time non-clinical income opportunities. Throughout the year CareerFusion is contacted by companies with openings best filled with experienced hygienists. We refer our qualified alumni first, then may reach out to others. Usually it is not difficult to merge these part-time jobs with part-time clinical responsibilities due to the respect for the importance of clinical feedback. Many times these industry jobs can become full-time offering greater benefits than clinical in some cases.”

Use that degree

What should hygienists do to make sure they get the most out of dental hygiene degree?

“This question is a good one, because there are many processes and procedures that hygienists are legally allowed to do and educated to do and are not doing,” Gutkowski replies. “Looking at the state’s practice acts for dental hygienists and preventive insurance codes will illuminate many many missed opportunities for increased levels of patient care. An Associate’s, Baccalaureate, or Master’s degree doesn’t change the quality of care delivered—much. However, the advanced degrees will reveal doors of opportunity that were never visible before. Teaching in a dental hygiene program may be part of the package, or teaching a room of dental healthcare providers across the nation as a speaker may be a better fit. Corporate opportunities are becoming more available as companies realize that they can afford a knowledgeable dental hygienist or dental assistant to explain their products or represent them in a professional manner. A Baccalaureate degree is often a requirement for a corporate job; this is where dentistry is like Hollywood, it’s who you know as much as what you know.”

DiGangi says, “Hygienists need to test the limits of the degree and not be satisfied to just do what others might expect. Often those expectations are based on a limited understanding of the scope of dental hygiene. With our healthcare system in crisis, our President-Elect has already called for major change including emphasis on prevention. Our educational background poises our profession extremely well for this future.”

Getting involved in related organizations is also key, according to Thompson. “Practice to the maximum of your state’s practice act. Be involved in your professional organizations, your community, and one or more of the online groups. Surround yourself with others that expect the best, distance yourself from those without passion and who lack a positive vision for the profession.”

You can never have enough education. “Don’t be afraid of more education,” Gutkowski said. “Just don’t expect the world to open up with your new degree. It’s still worthwhile. CareerFusion can shortcut the results by involving different parties and networking with media and corporate.”

There are many opportutinies out there — both clinical and non-clinical. Stay focused, be open to learning and taking on new challenges, and you may come across exciting rewarding opportunities that you never knew existed.

Stan Goff is Senior Editor for Modern Hygienist.

To download the

Salary Survey 2008, click here.