In this edition:

• 😡 Protecting staff from angry patients

• 🧑‍⚕️ Hygienists role in skin cancer diagnosis

• ⚖️ Invisalign sues dentist

• And more!

How to deal with angry patients

Having a set protocol for what behaviors will not be tolerated and how your office intends to de-escalate those situations could help team members keep their cool when tensions get high. 

It’s a good idea for an office to set clear guidelines on what behaviors will not be tolerated in their practice. Where one clinician could be offended by swear words, that’s obviously different than a patient who is threatening physical violence

According to the 2024 DentalPost salary survey, 29% of respondents said they were considering a job change to find a better working environment

Skin cancer screening: A dental hygienist's life-saving responsibility

Author and cancer survivor Susan Cotten knows firsthand the impact of detecting cancer early. Hygienists are in a unique position to screen for skin cancer; it just takes one small observation to save a patient’s life.

Dental hygienists, are optimally positioned to evaluate for skin abnormalities of the head and neck, face, ears, scalp, hairline, nose, and eyes, when performing our visual and tactile, intraoral and extraoral evaluation.

While not equipped to diagnose skin cancer, we can and should use our assessment and evaluation skills to identify any abnormalities and talk with patients about seeing a dermatologist for further investigation. Early referral leads to early diagnosis.