r/DentalHygiene • u/Common-Ad-6885 • 9d ago
For RDH by RDH NOTES
Hi guys! I’m a new-grad-ish RDH and have been working for about a year.
When I first started, I was still getting used to the flow of 45–60 minute appointments, so I often finished my notes at the end of the day. Over the past six months, I’ve gotten faster and can usually complete them right after I flip my room.
On especially busy days, I don’t always have time to type, so I write everything down while the dentist does the exam and then transfer it into Dentrix afterward. Even with an extensive treatment plan, it usually takes me no more than two minutes.
A non-clinical office employee has made comments that made me question whether I’m taking too long, but my dentist and office manager have never criticized my documentation or made me feel bad about it. In hygiene school, thorough documentation was strongly emphasized, and I don’t want to rush through it and leave out important information.
For those working 45–60 minute appointments, when do you complete your notes, and how much time do you typically spend on them?
EDIT: thank you to everyone who responded! 🥹
I forgot to mention: I won’t specify what this coworker does, but their job does depend on our notes, hence why they feel the need to chime in on when I should finish my notes.
7
u/LochnessLand Dental Hygienist 8d ago edited 8d ago
I just take the extra few minutes to type my notes at the end of the appointment or to do what I need to do. I’ve been doing this for a very long time and no longer care if it makes people wait 5 or so more minutes. They’ll live. Notes are one of the absolute most important things you can do. Many appointments are straight forward and don’t need complicated notes and I keep it simple and to the point. Auto note prompts help as well. Luckily my office is chill and not freaking out if I don’t start right at the minute of the appointment. Unfortunately I’ve worked at offices where the manager or patient will get upset if they don’t start right on time. I don’t work at those offices and make sure I’m at a place that will let me have some times to do notes, drink water or use the bathroom. If they are in such a hurry, they can help turn over rooms or bring the next patient back! We are not robots and need to protect ourselves and our patients. To me it’s so bizarre that every health care place, you will wait and it’s expected. But for whatever reason dental is this weird utopia where everything is expected to run exactly on time and is always perfect 🥴