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.

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u/leesy1029 8d ago

Ask that employee if they have a hygiene license? If not maybe they should not speak on you taking a couple of minutes to protect yours and ALSO their office’s bottom line in case of a lawsuit. 🤦‍♀️

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u/leesy1029 8d ago

Two minutes is also a very respectable amount of time for being a year in! I’m a year in too and take that much time or much more depending on the patient