Megan Randolph, RDH

Why I love being, “Just A Clinical Dental Hygienist” By Megan Randolph, BS, RDH Have you ever just sat there scrolling through your social media of choice watching these amazing dental professionals and thought I wish I could do that. How about at then end of a stressful day getting in your car and thinking why do I try so hard, “I’m just a clinical hygienist” nobody listens. With an estimated 219,070 dental hygienist in the United States (2024 Bureau of Labor) and increasing burnout or musculoskeletal problems, it is easy to question why did I become a dental hygienist? It gets harder and harder to change that mind set with the increasing demands in appointments, time, and access to care. I see why, I see why dental hygienist of all years are asking about getting out of the operatory. Being a dental hygienist for more than twenty-one years I can say I have seen some changes I like and some changes I have not. However if I am being honest I STILL LOVE DENTAL HYGIENE, I still love helping people as only a dental hygienist does. Dental hygienist spend more time with patients than the DDS, M.D. or nurse even. We know about their lives, families and thoughts on all sorts of topics. This is what we need to remember on those days we think I am just a clinical hygienist. It was a normal preventative appointment with a patient I have seen for 10+ years. I use to see their mother before her passing a few years ago. We have a new dentist that joined our practice, so he is getting to know our patients of record. He asked how long my patient has been with the office, so we told him. Then I mentioned that their mom use to come here and how I do miss her she was always a fun appointment. My patient got up after the exam and gave me hug and said they always appreciate when people talk about and remember their mom. The next day I had a patient who was telling me about their 9 month old baby, the patient was a little over due which can happen with life. She was explaining to me how they just got a diagnosis of Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome. WSS is a rare genetic disorder that I did not know much about. My patient had questions and after her telling me what is involved with this syndrome I told her defiantly talk to her doctors about myofunctional therapy. She emailed to let me know that the doctors thought that was a wonderful idea. I am now looking into this syndrome and learning some new things. Lastly a few days later I had a new patient in my schedule. They are a teenage girl who had not been to the dentist in a while, she was scared and embarrassed. She started crying when I went to take X-rays, because she was embossed and worried I was going to judge her oral health. So I stopped explained to what we were doing and why, then I told her no matter what we find we can fix it together and get her smiling big. I was honest and upfront what to expect in the appointment, we ended the appointment with a smile and no tears. These reminders showed up and reminded me, why I love dental hygiene. So why did I decide to write this? I wrote this because it is a choice everyday that you have to make about our career. It will not be easy, you have to remind yourself daily I am helping people make their life healthier a step at a time. Remember what Eleanor Roosevelt said,“You can often change your circumstance by changing your attitude”. I love being a dental hygienist and believe we change lives. I am a proud practicing clinical dental hygienist.