5 Dental Consultant Strategies for Dentist-Hygienist Collaboration

Tensions between dentists and hygienists can disrupt efficiency and morale. A dental consultant can guide practices to foster collaboration, reduce friction, and boost success. Here are five strategies, drawn from dentist insights and optimized by dental consultants.

1. Collaboratively Establish Clear Periodontal Protocols

Inconsistent periodontal protocols lead to supervised neglect or inadequate treatments. A dental consultant can facilitate hygienist involvement in creating standardized protocols, like scaling and root planing (SRP) for patients with bleeding and 5 mm pockets, with periodontist referrals if no improvement. One dentist noted, "With a dental consultant’s guidance, team-written perio policies foster ownership, reducing conflict." This aligns expectations and ensures evidence-based care.

2. Transition to Out-of-Network (OON) Models

PPO dependency and low reimbursements make hygiene a loss leader, fueling wage disputes. A dental consultant can strategize an OON shift, enabling higher fees. One practice owner shared, "Our dental consultant helped us go OON with 90-minute new-patient prophies and 60-minute regulars, improving diagnosis and education." This reduces stress, enhances care, and supports competitive hygienist wages, minimizing turnover.

3. Foster a Positive Office Culture

Poor office culture amplifies tensions, especially post-COVID. A dental consultant can strengthen leadership via regular team meetings to align values. A practitioner advised, "Top performers reject mediocrity. A dental consultant ensures shared standards." Promoting mutual respect and open communication addresses issues like hygiene check delays, easing frustrations.

4. Optimize Compensation Models

High hygienist wages ($65-$75/hour for temps) and shortages pressure owners. A dental consultant may suggest hourly pay over commission to reduce no-show stress. One dentist said, "Our dental consultant’s advice on hourly pay stabilized hygienists." Alternatively, performance-based raises, guided by a dental consultant, incentivize quality care while balancing profitability.

5. Reduce Hygiene Dependency

With dental consultant input, some practices focus marketing on high-value restorative or emergency patients. One suggested, "Our dental consultant advised targeting patients with broken teeth, not just cleanings." Small practices may have dentists do hygiene: "No hygienists since 1999—less stress, less revenue." In areas like Arizona, a dental consultant can guide training assistants for basic prophies, maintaining perio standards.

Reflect on a Collaborative Future

"Working smarter aligns teams for success," a Dentaltown contributor remarked. A dental consultant can address shortages, wage pressures, and protocol misalignments. Tailor these strategies with a dental consultant’s expertise for clinical excellence, financial stability, and a harmonious practice.