Career satisfaction survey:

Besides relationships with

patients, whats important to
dental hygienists?
April 4, 2017
By Mark Hartley
Most dental hygienists find that the person in the operatory with them is the most satisfying
aspect of their careers, but theres a mixed reaction to whats the least satisfying factor in a
dental hygiene career, according to a survey conducted by RDH eVillage.
Their relationships with patients was deemed the most satisfying part of their career by
59% of the 2,117 dental hygienists who participated in the February 2017 survey.
I like my time with patients and I like dentistry in general, said a Pennsylvania dental
hygienist. I give 100% and would like to be appreciated financially in some way. It would
make coming to work much more fun.
---------------------------------------
Previously published articles from the Career Satisfaction survey

What role does burnout play in dental hygiene?

Staying positive, most dental hygienists remain bullish about their
profession

---------------------------------------
As implied, this particular hygienist cited the lack of financial rewards as being the least
satisfying part of a dental hygiene career. The list of least satisfying aspects was not
dominated by any one answer, but the lack of employee benefits led the pack with 30%.
An Arizona hygienist commented, The doctor dropped a bomb on the staff. My vacation
(nine days) and holidays (seven days) were taken away. We now have a new paid time off
(PTO) policy in place. One PTO hour for 30 hours worked. I have always been so proud to
work in an office that provides benefits. They claim the hygiene department is not producing.
The numbers tell a different story. I'm not a tree! I can move on!
A little over 20% of the hygienists reported that the flexible work schedules common to the
profession and the impact of care on the local community were the most satisfying aspects of
their careers.
Interestingly, the strong value placed on relationships with patients increases as dental
hygienists get older.
The difficulty I see in today's climate is the fact that we have so many corporate-style dental
clinics moving into the area, which doesn't sit well with me, said a Florida dental hygienist
in the 46- to 55-year-old age bracket. They may pay well, but the moral and ethical compass
is missing. Patients are just a number and very often, unwarranted procedures are completed.
Everyday, I love going to work! There is no such thing as a dreaded Monday in my book.
Older hygienists, though, are more likely to be bothered by the lack of autonomy for the
professionat least to the point where it is the least satisfying part of a dental hygiene
career. A veteran Michigan hygienist said, I feel our profession is held back by the doctors,
and we are not respected as the professionals we are.
On the other hand, hygienists with perhaps a greater degree of child-rearing responsibilities
placed the greatest value on the flexible work schedules offered to dental hygienists. But not
necessarily. A New Jersey dental hygienist under age 35 said, I love hygiene but if I had the
chance to change fields I might just do it in order to have new experiences in life, not
because of dissatisfaction. A younger Pennsylvania hygienist enjoys the flexible hours due
to her other job: The only reason I keep from burning out is because I have a second job
that's more creative.
The survey also examined the most and least favored parts of dental hygiene based on work
settings. Dental hygienists who worked in small solo practices tended to differ with their
peers in public health dentistry in these areas:

Hygienists in small solo practices tend to be disheartened by three times as much

about the lack of employee benefits (35% to 9%).

A hygienist in a small practice in Missouri said that, due to occupational injuries, retirement
would come earlier for her than anticipated. She added, I will have to retire before being
able to access retirement money without penalty. No benefits, outside of being able to self-
fund a SIMPLE IRA. I made a poor career choice.

Public health dental hygienists were three times more likely to be unsatisfied by the
lack of autonomy than hygienists in solo practices (30% to 11%).
A public health dental hygienist in Georgia wrote, My home state has just passed general
supervision for dental hygienists! Did not think it could happen in my lifetime.

Dental hygienists in small or group practices were much more likely to say patient
relationships are the most satisfying thing about their careers (more than 60% in both
work settings) than public health hygienists (26%).

A dental hygienist in a Kentucky solo practice wrote, I still love my work and time with the
patients. It is the job around me that has changed. Dentistry has become profit driven, and it
is not based on what is best for the patient.

Public health hygienists place far greater value on the impact of care on a
community (53%) than hygienists in solo practices (6%).

A public health hygienist in Ohio observed, I feel the lack of standardized measures for oral
health improvement leads to hygienists performance being solely judged on monetary
production. Since no one is tracking improvement in perio probe depths, reduction in caries
or restoration rates, reduction in tooth years lost, etc., it is often difficult for hygienists to
measure their successes and quantify the impact of their hard work or clinical excellency.
With no benchmark treatment outcome goals to strive for, only production goals, where is
the motivation to provide the most clinically excellent service? The medical profession tracks
BPs, HBa1cs, and other health indicators to see if they are doing a good job. How do we
know if dental care providers are doing a good job?