Making Hygiene Profitable. Getting The Most Out of Your Hygiene Team in Today's Dental World: A Conversation with Rachel Wall of Inspired Hygiene

In this episode featuring Rachel Wall, CEO and founder of Inspired Hygiene, the discussion revolves around enhancing dental hygiene services to promote healthier patients and more profitable practices. The conversation highlights common pain points in dental hygiene, including inconsistent care and economic challenges driven by rising hygienist wages amidst decreasing reimbursements. Rachel emphasizes the importance of developing standardized care protocols through collaboration between dentists and hygienists and the vital role of effective patient communication, especially concerning periodontal disease. The episode also addresses the current hiring difficulties due to a shortage of hygienists and the implications of recent ADA resolutions on the practice. Strategies for improving hygiene profitability involve reevaluating insurance plan participation, expanding services, and diligently documenting patient care. The discussion concludes with actionable items aimed at fostering team support and implementing best practices for a thriving hygiene practice.

🎙️ Introduction of Rachel Wall (00:00 - 01:20)

• Rachel Wall is the CEO and founder of Inspired Hygiene.

• The firm focuses on elevating hygiene services, systems, and profits.

• Their goal is to achieve healthier patients, empowered hygienists, and profitable practices.

🔍 Common Pain Points in Dental Hygiene (01:20 - 03:10) 

• Dentists often reach out to Rachel for help with hygiene department challenges.

• Common issues include inconsistent care among hygienists and profitability concerns.

• Hygienist wages have increased while reimbursements have decreased.

📝 Need for Standardized Care (03:10 - 06:12) (03:10 - 06:12)

• Lack of written clinical standards leads to inconsistent care.

• Practices need to develop their own standard of care based on accepted guidelines.

• Collaboration between dentists and hygienists is essential for creating these standards.

💬 Communicating with Patients (06:12 - 10:10) 

• Different approaches are needed for long-term patients versus new patients.

• Hygienists should document patient history and previous treatments to guide conversations.

• Effective communication is key to addressing periodontal disease.

📉 Challenges in Hiring Hygienists (10:10 - 14:00) 

• There is a shortage of dental hygienists, leading to difficulties in hiring.

• Many practices are relying on temporary staffing solutions.

• The landscape for dental hygiene training is changing.

⚖️ Impact of Recent ADA Resolutions (14:00 - 18:42)

• Recent ADA resolutions allow internationally trained dentists to be licensed as hygienists.

• Concerns about the quality of care and the impact on the profession.

• The need for dental hygiene schools to expand and adapt to current demands.

💡 Strategies for Hygiene Profitability (18:42 - 29:34) 

• Practices should evaluate their network participation and consider dropping low-paying plans.

• Expanding services beyond basic cleanings is essential for profitability.

• Documentation must support claims for periodontal therapy.

📈 Creating a Thriving Hygiene Practice (29:34 - 38:52) 

• Hygienists should build relationships with patients and conduct thorough evaluations.

• Implementing a written standard of care is crucial for consistent practice.

• Practicing at the top of their license enhances patient care and practice profitability.