The Dental Hygienists Role in Patient Motivation - Essay Example

Oral hygiene is a very important matter not only the dental hygienist should consider but must also be seen by the layperson positively. However, there are many factors affecting dental problems, the solution to which is where the dental hygienist’s role becomes magnified, giving the best assistance one could to those who seek professional help with their oral problems. Having read the article on the dental hygienist’s task has opened new avenues to understanding not only the responsibilities of a dental hygienist but also the ways of performing one’s duties efficiently.
Oral communication is very important in this job because oral hygiene is a personal matter and not all people are open to the idea of having their mouths examined by other people. It is best if hygienists can articulate messages that will encourage clients not only to listen to them but more importantly, yield to the idea of becoming a part of a team that would help them keep themselves healthy, especially with their dental conditions. It is not enough that a client knows that he is seeking the professional expertise of a dental hygienist but it is equally essential for him to know how to express the responsibilities of the client to himself. While it is true that clients approach the people they know would be able to help them, it is a crucial matter for the hygienist to be expressing his opinions in a tactless way because clients might think they are attacked in a personal manner when all the hygienist desired to tell him to take more care of his oral health.
Parts of communication that need to be considered are facial expressions and body language because not all clients have the same line of thought. The fact is there that some people already have formed their opinions of other people before even knowing them better (Meltze, 1999), not only in the dental office but in other places as well but it was awakening to have read about it in the article. If a client enters the room with such an attitude and the hygienist displays the same, the result could be catastrophic because there would be a barrier of ill feelings towards each other if the feelings were negative or there would be disappointment at some point especially on the side of the client when he expected so much of the other person. It is then important for the hygienist to articulate his feelings and observations to the client orally so that opinions will be clarified and not just formed in the minds of both parties. It is then important for the dental hygienist to avoid stereotyping.
Another amazing thing that I learned about being a dental hygienist is the extended responsibility of being a psychologist as well. As Meltze (1999) said, it is important to know, understand and apply Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to effectively communicate with clients. One can not simply ask questions like ‘What motivates you to do the things I would like you to perform?’, but has to observe these facts from the client through the things he opens in a friendly, conversational manner. To be able to perform such duty, the hygienist has to change to the mode of being like a psychologist who is quick to take hints from the very words of the client to know his personality type, and consequently knowing the means to use in motivating him as it has been pointed out, oral hygiene can not be forced on the person but has to be the effort of the person himself.

Communication has always been known as a two-way process and it is quite true. It is then very important for the dental hygienist not only to express himself to the patient effectively but also to listen to him in the same manner, understanding his needs and attending to them before getting the client to work with the plans for his dental needs. Interaction between the two parties is significant for a clear understanding of the situation and to be sure the listener understands things as the speaker expresses them, the hygienist should take the initiative to ask questions and rephrase ideas if needed. This will prevent prejudgment between them and builds a good relationship that could make the two work things well together for the benefit of the client.
Probably what makes communication most effective are knowledge, understanding, and mastery of what one is talking about. Patients will listen to their hygienists if they show a professional attitude in performing their responsibilities and speaking intelligently, making sense because they know what they are talking about. Read More