Modern Hygienist - September 2008 - (Page 32)

career | TECHNOLOGY Digital persuasion Making the case for high-tech dental hygiene in your practice. by Dr. Mark Peck and Peggy Shannon, RDH What makes a dental hygienist want to stay with a practice? Job satisfaction comes from the freedom to explore new opportunities and challenges, while increasing work knowledge and experience base. Similarly, employee retention is about keeping the workforce challenged; in the dental practice, this may take the form of implementing new technologies. Hygienists who are encouraged to use technology benefit from increased job satisfaction while the practices in which they work experience greater employee retention. This article highlights some of the reasons dental hygienists can thrive, practices can profit, patients can learn and everyone can benefit in a tech-savvy practice. You may not be milling zirconia in your spare time, but being up-to-date on CAD/CAM technology helps you be a better resource to your patients. You can read more about Sirona’s CEREC system at sirona.com. HIRING AND ASPIRING While hygienists may choose to work virtually anywhere, leading technologies and the freedom to learn and explore those technologies is an employee benefit few can resist. For this reason, practices that encourage staff members to pursue knowledge and experience with new technologies are at an advantage. Exploring and implementing new modes of technology creates a feeling of achieving something worthwhile and promotes a sense of empowerment. Within the practice, hygienists benefit from increased involvement with practice operations and technological expertise. Additionally, diversified knowledge of technology increases dental hygienists’ skills and adds to their professional repertoire. Practices that stay up-to-date on technological innovations and trends are often more successful as a result, and the staff enjoys working at a practice with advanced technologies. When a practice invests in advanced technologies, it shows hygienists their time is respected and responsibilities are taken seriously, and that the practice sees value in hygienists’ growth and development. Additionally, hygienists involved in making technology-related decisions for the practice can be confident that their thoughts and opinions are valued and their professional development is important. PRACTICE BOOSTER One of the greatest benefits of incorporating technologies, such as patient education software and CEREC, is they help practices market themselves to patients. Highlighting the use of technology in discussions with patients can help them understand that technology is not a part of every practice. The time-savings gained as a result of using technology can be appreciated by practices and patients alike. With technology, practices function in a more organized and efficient manner. For instance, rather than digging through paper files at the front desk, patients watch as staff work with computerized patient charts and treatment plans, which reflects positively on the practice itself. Instead of the traditional x-ray process, our practice chooses to spend time more efficiently by using digital radiography. Patients can see their x-rays immediately, allowing for more hands-on learning. Patients appreciate knowing their docPatterson EagleSoft Version 15.00 is now available with a host of new features based on user feedback. For more information, visit eaglesoft.net. 32 modernhygienist.com | September 2008 PHOTO: THOMAS BARWICK/GETTY IMAGES http://www.sirona.com http://www.eaglesoft.net http://www.modernhygienist.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Modern Hygienist - September 2008

Modern Hygienist - September 2008 Contents Editor's Letter Letters Modern Solutions Access Denied Kids First: Creating Comfort Worn Out? Voice of a VIP Hands-on Hygiene: Magnification In Focus Digital Persuasion That "Other" Female Cancer Ad Index Classifieds Moonlighting

Modern Hygienist - September 2008

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