Keys to a WIN-WIN Dental Hygiene Experience for both your Patient and your Dental Hygienist!

GOAL Setting for a Happier and More Productive Day!

Why set goals? Well, it’s simple. It takes a plan to achieve anything of value in life. When you plan, you identify an end goal and then chart out neutral behaviors that can help you reach that goal. It’s critical to have a fundamental, mental plan. Where am I at? What situation am I in? How am I (are we) going to execute? We have more power over ourselves than anyone else does. Choose your next move wisely and with intention- it can be a simple as the choice of eating an apple vs. a bag of chips- small, healthy choices matter in all aspects of life. Each action we make has a history and life of its own. It’s important. It matters. You are responsible for it.

Steps to a Healthier Hygiene Day:

- Pick a mentor and set up a weekly touch-base conversation to discuss and resolve challenges and celebrate wins.

- Decide on areas you want to improve upon and then set up goals and an action plan to meet your goals.

Example:

I will improve my production per hour to $230.00 from $180.00 by October 31.

(always include a "by when" date!)

Actions that I will take to achieve this will include:

1- Contact 5-10 recall patients during each hour of open time.

2- Perform oral cancer screenings and offer adjunctive services to patients who clinically would benefit from them.

3- Periodontal charting for every patient that is due and assess periodontal needs- offer Arestin, root-planning and scaling (site specific), when clinically indicated.

4- Discuss aesthetic services with patients and offer bleaching services that they may desire and benefit from.

5- Use a HIPAA-based texting system to contact patients for follow-ups and communications so that my patients know that I care. This builds trust and relationships, which yields a better patient retention rate).

6- Take the appropriate radiographs- for example: a full-mouth series of x-rays may be indicated on most on older patients with multiple restorations (not a panorex and bite-wings) in order to properly and thoroughly diagnose.

7- Perform a daily assessment of myself: Did I: arrive on time, present with a healthy attitude and give 100% to my patients, my team and to myself?

Most importantly: Assess your progress daily/weekly and attend monthly hygiene meetings with your Doctor to gain feedback on your progress. Utilize your mentor as needed for support, suggestions, training or guidance.

#dentalhygienetips #goals