Author: Rachel Wall, RDH, BS The shortage of dental hygienists has posed a significant challenge for dental practices across the US. This shortage not only affects the efficiency of the practice but also compromises patient care. Proactive dental teams are recognizing the critical need to innovate and evolve in order to serve their patients and protect the future of their practice. At Inspired Hygiene, we have the opportunity to interact with dentists every day in private forums, at study club events and in our interaction with our coaching clients.  What we’ve observed this year is ..read more

Are you wondering where the profession of dental hygiene is going in the next 5-10 years? You’re not alone. While I don’t have a crystal ball and I’m sure our industry will change more in the next few years than it has in decades, I do have a few predictions. I shared these with Gary Bird recently on his Dental Marketing Theory podcast. Here’s a bit of what I share in this episode: Where the hygiene world is at right now in my view Where I see it going How temp hygiene has evolved Why Practice Protocols > Provider Protocols How the clinical leader can make or break a hygiene team ..read more

Lately I’ve been reviewing a lot of hygiene job postings for our clients. There are a few that are stellar and I have to say, I’m surprised how many job postings are really bad. Would you send out a patient mailer that has plain text and looks like every other piece of boring mail they get? Of course not. You’d use a beautiful, multi-color marketing piece that is a reflection of your beautiful practice. You might include a patient testimonial or a great photo of your team. Do the same with your marketing for TEAM MEMBERS. This week, I’d love to share with you our new resource guide,  ..read more

Is hygiene compensation a hot topic right now? Absolutely! Has it been a hot topic for years? Absolutely! For the last 20 years at IH, we’ve contributed to the development of healthy hygiene compensation plans for hundreds of practices. One of my dental CPA friends recently reminded me of this piece I did a few years ago and these principles still hold true. Check out this article and video interview I did with Patient Prism founder, Amol Nirgudkar. I think you’ll find some pearls to help you craft a win-win-win comp model for your hygiene team. Are you interested in lear ..read more

What does it take to create a thriving hygiene department, team collaboration, and communication? I was recently interviewed by Jacquelyn Hurley, Director for Dental Zing, on the Growing Your Dental Business podcast. We talked about what it takes to create benchmark opportunities for a thriving hygiene department. Click the image below for the episode. If you’re interested in learning what Inspired Hygiene can do for your hygiene department, I’d love to chat with you! Schedule a Hygiene Opportunity Assessment ..read more

This week, I’m sharing a recent podcast I did with Ross Brannon on the Financial Flossing Podcast. In this episode I share some valuable tips on empowering hygienists to elevate care and their role in the practice. Here are a few takeaways and a link to the podcast. I hope you enjoy it. TAKEAWAYS: ✅ Inspired Hygiene emphasizes elevating the hygienist’s role in dental practices to improve patient care and overall practice profitability. ✅ How the IH Team works with dental practices to set achievable goals for growth and help them achieve those goals through coaching and consulting ..read more

As April comes to a close, please don’t let Oral Cancer Awareness end. As dental professionals, we are on the front lines and we must be diligent and consistent in our screening efforts. As a dentist or hygienist, you’re not expected to ‘diagnose’ oral cancer. However, your work is critical to early detection. Please screen and identify possible pathology Please refer to the appropriate provider for definitive diagnosis Please document in detail what your screening reveals and your referrals Please check in with patients after referrals to be sure they follow through Here’s ..read more

If you’ve read our emails this month you know our focus this month is on oral cancer screenings for YOU and YOUR TEAM.   In this video, I share my own personal experience with head and neck pathologies and how we can’t rely on patients to tell us there’s something abnormal. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more on Oral Cancer Awareness and #IHTeamScreen.  Eva Grayzel, oral cancer survivor has created a simple, effective method for screening and patient communication resources. Check out digital images and appointment cards to show your patients you’re co ..read more

You know what April is…Oral Cancer Awareness Month.  Oral cancer statistics are staggering:  One person dies of oral cancer every hour of every day Early detection can result in 80-90% survival rate Only 43% survive when the disease is detected at a later stage YOU are on the front lines of early detection and you never know…it might be a team members’ life you save.  Join us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for the #IHTeamScreen Challenge. Show your colleagues, co-workers and community you’re serious about early detection.  Eva Grayzel, oral cancer survivor has cre ..read more

You’ve likely seen in the last few weeks that we’re launching a brand new version of our Perio Protocol Online Bootcamp on January 26. It will be available for purchase until February 2 so if you’re interested, watch this quick video to see what the program looks like from the inside and then go over to periobootcamp.com and we’ll let you know when it’s ready for purchase. This self-paced program is perfect for getting your team on the same page with a clear, written periodontal protocol and it offers CE credit for every participant in your practice. Learn more ..read more