To Be Or Not To Be...

Everyone has their wake up moment about what they do and do not do in their career; I too had mine at the clinic today. When I was too busy scaling and polishing my patient’s teeth the faculty asked if I had given OHI to the patient. I found myself saying “No” and defending my rationale. It was not that I was too busy to complete the treatment nor I forgot about it. I knew this patient has been coming here over thirteen years and I assumed he probably heard it over million times by now that it was unnecessary for me to repeat it to him. OHI was not my main focus of patient care. I noticed my voice was getting smaller as I realized it was not what the faculty wanted to hear from me. The faculty soon advised me that I should not assume anything when a patient is under my care. The other DH students who treated the patient previously could easily have assumed as same as I did and the patient had never been given a proper OHI every time he came. The faculty also told me that I have a choice to become an “assembly line” hygienist who does nothing but cleaning teeth after teeth with no rewarding feeling every day or I can choose to become a “true” dental hygienist who believes the most important role is showing patients OHI and advice on proper home care. When I heard a word “assembly” it was like unexpectedly being hit upside the head with a 2x4. I realized I was gearing toward a path which I did not want. I felt ashamed and embarrassed, but I am relived and glad to know it now than later.
While all this was happening, my patient remained still and silent. He was very receptive when I showed him how to angle the toothbrush when brushing on the lingual surface of sextant V with his chin down. Then he quietly told me that no one had showed him the technique before and he will definitely try it at home. He might have said it to make me feel better, but I had a great sense of accomplishment.