As you are all very aware, dental hygienists are educated health professionals who specialize in the promotion of oral health and the prevention of oral diseases. But in the grand scheme of things, you are so much more than that.
You are a trusted resource provider. You’re an educator. You’re a professional. You’re more than just a clinician – you’re an advisor. This special Hygienist Handbook, included with the November issue of Oral Hygiene, is intended to be your go-to source for all things related to your dental hygiene career.
Though the content published in the issue is non-clinical, the articles are based around very important aspects of your career. The content is intended to help guide and assist you, whether you are just starting out as a new hygienist, or simply just looking for information to enhance your career.
In the Hygienist Handbook, we start from the beginning. We’ve recruited some of the industry’s top experts to help shed some light on what it takes to excel. From outlining the rules of your job search, to strategies to help land your dream job, to explaining everything you need to know about contracts and financial ‘tips, tricks and traps’, we’ve got you covered.
It has always been Oral Hygiene’s mission to serve dental hygienists with content that is known for the same level of editorial excellence that Oral Health is known for. It is also our mission to ensure that the editorial environment speaks to you, the dental hygienists throughout Canada, as professionals. With our clinical content, we intend to help you build and develop new clinical skills, master new products and technologies, and to also increase your productivity and effectiveness as key members of the dental team. With the Hygienist Handbook, we hope this informative special issue will help you grow, develop and maintain your dream job.
As a dental hygienist, most of your time will be working with patients. Your role is solely based on providing a service to others. That being said, it’s essential to remember that your people skills are just as important as your clinical skills. You have the opportunity to educate your patients about the importance of their oral health but you also have the opportunity to build trusting relationships with each patient that sits in your chair.
I hope that this special issue helps you be fully prepared for your future as a dental hygienist. I also hope that it helps you to reflect on what you’ve learned so far throughout your career so that you are able to continue to evolve into, and better understand, the most authentic versions of yourselves.
One last thing: be sure to read all of the articles in the handbook thoroughly and take the quiz on our website to win an exciting mystery prize. I wish you the best of luck (on the quiz) and throughout your careers!
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