Good Oral Hygiene Essay Discussion Paper
Question
This patient has been seen by the same dentist for years. The practice is building, and now, with four hygienists employed, patients are often scheduled with the first available hygienist and then returns to the hygienist who normally sees her each recall. After the medical history review, the hygienist proceeds to do a full mouth probing and discovers that today’s readings are significantly lower than the last visit and continues by complimenting the patient on her great improvements. The patient then reveals that the last hygienist told her that her pockets were so bad that if she did not brush and floss better, she would lose all her teeth. She was also told that her cleaning needed to be done every 4 months to help control the “mess she was in”. The patient said she was taking this information in, even though it was delivered in a demeaning manner by this other hygienist while she was being: tortured by the scaling procedure.” She was in pain not only during the visit but for 3 days afterward. The patient also said her 16-year-old daughter had a cleaning by the same person and was in tears from the pain when she came home. When the daughter’s chart was pulled, it said “good oral hygiene and light plaque.” This is not the first time you have heard this kind of information about this dental hygienist.
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1- How would you handle this situation?
2- Would you recommend to the patient that she call the dental board?
3- Would you tell the patient that you have heard these kinds of comments before?
4- Would you say something to the dentist?
5- Would you talk with the other dental hygienist? Good Oral Hygiene Essay Discussion Paper
Expert Answer
Step-by-step
- The first step is to apologize to the patient for the previous hygienist’s behavior and reassure her that this kind of behavior is not acceptable in the practice. The hygienist should then provide a thorough explanation of the patient’s current oral health status, discuss any areas of concern, and recommend appropriate treatment options. The hygienist should also offer support and guidance on how to improve oral hygiene practices.
- It is up to the patient whether or not they want to report the hygienist to the dental board. The hygienist can provide the patient with the necessary contact information and support them in making a decision.
- It may be appropriate to acknowledge that the hygienist’s behavior has been brought to the practice’s attention and that the issue is being addressed. However, it is important to respect patient confidentiality and not disclose any specific details about the other patient’s experiences.
- It is important to bring this behavior to the attention of the dentist, as they are responsible for managing the practice and ensuring that all staff members are providing high-quality care in a professional manner. The hygienist should discuss the situation with the dentist privately and provide any relevant details.
- The hygienist may consider discussing the situation with the other hygienist, providing feedback on their behavior, and offering support and guidance on how to improve their interactions with patients. However, it is important to approach this conversation in a constructive and non-judgmental manner.