It’s difficult to be in this position. I actually found my new job (of 7 months) on Craigslist. I emailed the doctor my resume and references, along with a cover letter. I emailed back and forth a couple of times with the office manager, and after a few weeks, the doctor mad arrangements for me to come for an interview before either of us started patients for the day. By that time, he had already talked to my references, and offered me the job. Also, Network, Network, Network! Good luck in your job search!

In my 28 years as a hygienist, I have worked with doctors who are ultra conservative, to ultra preventative. Some may jump right in and treat the 5mm pocket with Arestin and/or scaling and root planing, others feel it’s best to monitor the area unless it changes for the worse. Overall, I think many hygienists try to inform their patients of their periodontal conditions, however, may patients refuse treatment, and so we do the best we can. I just take really thorough notes and document verbatim when the patient refuses treatment.

It can be very stressful waiting for an exam, and then having it take so long. In my office, we have an extra operatory for the patient to wait, and I leave post it notes of anything I would like the doctor to check specifically. Otherwise, maybe you could schedule longer appointment times. In any case, I would talk with your doctor, and see how he feels. He may not even realize he’s putting you so far behind. Sometimes, they’re great doctors, but can be like the absent minded professor about other things. Good Luck!

I have worn loupes for the past 7 years, and I CANNOT work without them. I also purchased a light a few years ago, and it is wonderful! Your head never gets in the way. It was very easy to get used to wearing the loupes. It also helps with ergonomics, because in order to focus, you must be 14 inches away from your target (the mouth) and it forces you to sit upright and not slouch.