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According to the Research By: Trisha E. O’Hehir, RDH, BS
Editorial Director, Hygienetown Magazine

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You are the Expert

Trisha E. O'Hehir,
RDH, BS
Editorial Director,
Hygienetown Magazine 		Lots of things along the way shape our careers–opportunities, mistakes, mentors and role models–to name just a few. Don't forget the "believers." You meet them along the way, not always noticing them at first. Sometimes it's easier to recognize those who are not your believers.

My first employer was definitely not one of my believers. He did things back in the ‘60s that would get him arrested today, like taking me in the dark room to yell at me. Well, maybe not arrested, but in trouble, nonetheless. He actually fired me when I gave him three months notice I was leaving to take a position in Switzerland. I had hired and trained two new grads to take my place, so he decided he didn't need me anymore. Not what you call a believer.

My parents were definitely believers. They believed I could go to Switzerland, do the job just fine, and have a wonderful experience. They never doubted it. Or if they did, they never told me.

The day to remember came two years into my job in the Swiss perio office. It was 1970. Little did I realize what happened that day would profoundly shape my career. It was years later before I realized how important it really was. That day was just like all the rest until the last patient left and the boss came into my operatory.

He came in with models, radiographs and a complete periodontal record. He put the radiographs on the light box, set the models out and handed me the periodontal chart. Then he asked me, "What do you think we should do with this case?" I nearly looked behind me to see if there was someone back there he was talking to instead of me! It took a moment to realize he was actually asking my opinion on this case! He wanted my expertise. Funny thing was, I didn't think I had any expertise. After all, I was fired from my first job and didn't really get the best grades in hygiene school. Why would he think I was an expert? This was one of those moments never to be forgotten.

We discussed the case as colleagues. He explained the problems he saw, asked what hygiene problems I saw and how I thought the surgery he planned to do would help or hinder those problems. Were there pockets I thought I could help and thus avoid surgery? How much tissue shrinkage did I think we would get? What should the patient use to keep the spaces clean afterwards? We worked out a plan of action, together. We planned the treatment, maintenance and home care. He actually believed in me and trusted my dental hygiene expertise. For that day, for that moment, I was an expert.
"An expert keeps listening, learning and asking lots of questions of other experts. It's an ongoing process that makes life and work worthwhile." It didn't just last a day. This treatment planning exchange continued with other cases over the next two years. He thought I was an expert. Still thinking he might find out I wasn't, I started paying attention, reading, going to continuing education courses and asking lots of questions. If he wanted to treat me like an expert, by golly, I was going to be one. In my mind an expert keeps listening, learning and asking lots of questions of other experts. It's an ongoing process that makes life and work worthwhile.

Because Dr. Gressley believed in me, I began to believe in myself. Sometimes that's all it takes to change the course of a career.

Sometimes people believe in us and we don't even notice. I've talked with dentists who tell me they believe in their hygienist and can't understand why she/he doesn't just take the ball and run with it, meaning why don't they just create a perio program and run the hygiene department like their own practice? The hygienists who work for these dentists have no idea this believer is behind, ready to give them a gentle push. Seems each one is waiting for the other one to make the first move. The dentist is waiting for the hygienist to take on the role of expert while the hygienist is waiting for the dentist to give them permission and direction to take on the role of expert.

Best thing to do in this case is act as though. Act as though you've already gotten permission, if that's what you're waiting for, to jump in and make it your own and make a difference. That's what happened with every position I took after the job in Switzerland. I was an expert and acted as though my newest dentist employer knew that too. Convincing me I was an expert was hard won and I wasn't about to give it up.

My job as the hygiene expert in the office was to make everyone else look good! I made sure they all knew the latest and greatest from research to products. I brought it all in and talked with them about it. Brought new things for them to try out. I wanted them to know. I wanted them to be able to answer questions when patients asked about a new product or newspaper article. If the office staff had questions, they came to me and I found answers for them.

Who are your believers? I hope you work for one right now. Most dentists I've worked with or talked to about this want the hygienist working with them to be the expert. Despite this truth, many hygienists don't even realize their biggest believer is their dentist employer.

If you need a believer today, Hygienetown is here to be your believer. If you're reading this article, you read other articles, attend CE courses, read research, try out new products, and most importantly, ask lots of questions. That makes you a hygiene expert. You're not satisfied to simply have a job that is dictated by an employer who isn't an expert in your field.

Technical skills are just a small part of what makes you an expert. Add to that your knowledge, ongoing learning, keeping up with research, people skills that rival any psychiatrist's, concern for people's health, and more than anything, your belief in and dedication to prevention. This makes you an expert.

Hygienetown is here to help you via the magazine and the online site, www.hygienetown.com. There are already a couple thousand hygiene "Townies" online ready to share their expertise with you. And these Townies are anxious to learn from your expertise. It's your hygiene community to connect with any time, day or night. Ask questions, offer answers to others, and tell us about your interesting, challenging, amazing and entertaining hygiene experiences. We can all learn from each other. Hygienetown is all about you and we believe in you. You are the hygiene expert.
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