Respect. Humans have a strong desire to matter to other people. One of the ways we try to earn respect is by the profession we choose to work in. You may be wondering if the profession of a dental hygienist will gain you the respect of the person that asks you, “What do you do for work?” What do you think? Are dental hygienists respected?
As a whole, dental hygienists are a respected profession in society because of the level of skill needed to carry out their work and the amount of time needed to earn their degree as a medical professional.
Dental hygienists fall into the category of medical professionals and, as a whole, these professions are well respected throughout the world. But there is more to respect than a work title. Let’s dive a little deeper.
Respect in the Eyes of the Public
What is respect really? What are people going after when they say they want respect? Respect has been defined as a feeling of deep admiration and the giving of particular attention to someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.
Dental hygienists require 4 years of study in the US: 2 years of basic college courses and the 2 year dental hygiene program. And that dental hygiene program is hard! There is a lot of information to learn and skills to develop in a short time. You then take national board exams on the written and practical aspects of dental hygiene. So when you finally get that license in your hand it is such a great achievement!
According to one research study, professions that contribute to society are some of the most well respected. These include professions that care for other people. By comparison, some of the least respected professions are politicians and social media influencers. The dental hygiene profession fits right in with caring for other people.
So, how do people react when I mention that I’m a dental hygienist? Generally, they react well. They recognize that we earn good money in our profession and that we work in healthcare helping people get and stay healthy.
But to be 100% honest, many people that I meet are not all that familiar with this profession! (Is it simply because of the area where I live?) This is actually great because I can imprint them with a positive view of dental hygienists so I basically have a chance to create respect for myself!
I usually say something like, “I work to help prevent tooth and gum disease by disinfecting teeth and gums and disrupting bacterial communities in the mouth. I help my patients stay up to date with the latest technology for dental care at home. And I also check for oral cancer when they come in for their teeth cleaning.”
(Yes, I still sneak that c-word in there because that’s what people are most familiar with)
In general, I feel like the public has a respectable view of my profession as a dental hygienist.
“It is so important to get respect for what you do and at the same time give it.”
-ESTELLE PARSONS, AMERICAN ACTRESS
Respect in the Dental Office
Dental hygienists are well-respected in the public eye but, what about right among their colleagues?
Sad to say but many a dental hygienist has found his or herself in an underappreciating office. I myself have worked with dentists that looked down on my profession. It is not a pleasant feeling.
Some of the reasons why some dental hygienists may lack respect among their colleagues is, frankly, because they’re Divas. I’ve known of some hygienists that don’t regard taking x-rays or coronal polishing as part of their work description and leave it to the assistants that have their own loads to carry.
Basically, diva hygienists aren’t respected because they are not team players and they themselves do not show respect to others.
But what if you are a team player? You set up/break down your own room, do your own sterilization, do your own appointment scheduling and you still feel like your co-workers just order you around, or worse, bully you (now that’s a whole other topic).
Respect you receive on the outside will often be a reflection of the respect you feel for yourself inside. Do you have low self-esteem? Do you have a healthy amount of self-respect? For example, do you know how to say no? How do you speak about your profession? Do you identify with being ‘just a teeth cleaner’? Or do you work to change your mindset to reflect that of a respectable prevention specialist?
If you feel you are not a respected dental hygienist and want to change that, take some time for a self-examination and apply some of the following suggestions.
How to Gain More Respect as a Dental Hygienist
Acquire the right mindset
Your speech, dress, and body language should all reflect a sense of self-respect. If you struggle with self-esteem and self-respect, read books or take courses on how to acquire healthy levels of those two qualities. You could also talk to someone that is trained to guide you in establishing proper levels of self-esteem and respect.
Treat others the way you want to be treated
If you react calmly and graciously to disrespectful comments the person will see that you are secure and nothing they say can shake your self-esteem. You will gain their respect when you continue to respect them despite their poor behavior.
Use the intra oral camera
I personally love to use this tool because it really highlights what I do as a prevention specialist. Take photos before you begin the cleaning (try a disclosing solution to highlight the bacteria living in their mouths!) and then take one afterwards and show the patient the difference. Instant respect and admiration for your work!
Also, if you take photos of any dental work they might need and point it out to the dentist, this will raise you to the level of co-therapist in the eyes of the dentist. There is someone on their team that has an eye for restoration work like they do!
Grow your skill set
Get involved in high-quality continuing education courses or product training. Expanding and/or refining your skill set will make you a more valuable member to your dental team and thus earn the respect you are worthy of.
Change your environment
As a last resort you may need to leave a toxic work environment and look for a dental team that has a culture of respect already established among their members. Rest assured that you can will a dental office that will treat you with respect.
No matter what profession you choose to work in respect in and out of the workplace will increase the quality of your life. Don’t shrink away from working on yourself. The results are worth the effort. May you have success on your journey to contribute the best you have to offer.
