Let’s face it, we have all had that thought of possibly leaving your dental office for one reason or another.

 

A decision to leave your dental office is a decision that may be met with a lot of hesitation. That is for good reason because there are a lot of things to consider and reasons to consider.

 

 Here are some things to consider and think about if you are consistently thinking about leaving your dental practice.

 

 This is probably one of the most obvious reasons that people think about when they start looking for other positions at other offices. The easiest thing to compare is the amount of money that is being offered for the position. Of course, money is a large factor to consider when deciding whether or not to leave a dental practice because it affects so many parts of our lives outside of work.

 

It is important to know what the average is for your specific area. No matter whether you are a dental hygienist or a dental assistant we have the information you need to make an educated decision.

 

 You can find a list of salaries for dental assistants and dental hygienists by going to our blog and searching for your state.

 

 It should also be taken into account whether or not the dental office is providing benefits. This is a factor that is not guaranteed or a constant amongst dental offices. Before you consider going to another dental office, take into account the monetary value and translation of the benefits you are currently receiving. 

 

 Most people go into becoming a dental hygienist because they find the position itself, and assisting patients fulfilling. However, sometimes that fulfillment isn’t greater than the drawbacks of a dental office where you feel under-appreciated.

 

There are a lot of ways that appreciation can be shown towards a dental team, and you may have worked for offices that showed you the best ways to be appreciated at work, and other offices that did the exact opposite.

 

Feeling underappreciated is one of the most common reasons why a registered dental hygienist leaves their practice for another. A lot of the under-appreciation comes from within the office itself, and unfortunately, this can stem from the dentist. It is seemingly common nowadays that dentists do not appreciate or treat their hygienists with the amount of respect that they should be getting. 

 

 

Some surveys have shown that most dental hygienists feel as though they are underpaid for their position, and even more, believe that they do not receive enough benefits from their dental office.

 

We are a big advocator of always jumping to assist your team whenever possible. It comes for the betterment of the patients as well as for the dental office as a whole. But there may be times where it becomes excessive and it becomes what is known as “scope creeping”.

 

 What exactly is scope creeping?

 

The easiest way to put it is when you are obligated to perform duties that are not your responsibility or part of your position.

 

 Like we previously said, there is a difference between scope creeping and jumping in to help out your team when you are already free.  Scope creeping might be if you are a dental hygienist and you are told that you have to stay late and order to assist with patient file organization consistently because the front desk ended up becoming behind.

 

 Ultimately this is something that is not even in the realm of your position, and not something you should have to sacrifice your personal time to accommodate. However, the dental office will appreciate it if you do stay later to assist when possible, but it is not technically part of your position and is therefore coming closer to scope creeping.

 

 Scope creeping also leads to an increased likelihood of burnout and exhaustion. Nothing feels more overwhelming than I'm having to take on even more responsibility when you are already very busy as a dental hygienist. Unfortunately, it is also relatively commented that in instances of scope creeping the individual is not recognized or verbally appreciated for taking on these additional responsibilities.  This may be due to the fact that the hygienist or individual that is being required to take on additional responsibilities isn't really given much choice in the matter while working at the office.

 

 Emotions can run high when you are at a dental practice and you have feelings of aggravation or frustration.  This can lead to wanting to quit right there on the spot out of emotion, or start seeing everything negatively at the dental office and no longer recognizing any of the positives.

 

One thing that we always recommend is going to a family member or a friend that doesn't have any negative or positive feelings towards the dental office and asking their opinion after letting them know your issues with the dental office.

 

 Just like in the dental industry second opinions are relatively welcome if you are confident in your reasoning and diagnosis. Getting a second opinion on your reasons to leave or make a life decision based on these issues may provide some valuable insight.

 

Whether you decide to stay at a dental office, or leave it for another office, be sure to end your time there on good terms.

 

This is typically done by giving the dental office as much notice as possible. Anywhere from two to eight weeks depending on what you are able to provide. Although, we may not typically need references in the dental industry, having a few positive connections in the dental world will be beneficial. Word travels quickly in the small dental community, and you always want as many opportunities as possible