Assisted hygiene - could it actually be one of the best solutions to today's hygiene shortage?

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, I sit down with hygienist and practice consultant Courtney Wager, RDH, to break down one of dentistry's most controversial topics.

After practicing assisted hygiene for over 20 years, Courtney shares why she believes the model has been misunderstood—and how, when done correctly, it can improve patient care, reduce scheduling bottlenecks, increase practice efficiency, and even create greater career flexibility for hygienists.

We also tackle the biggest criticisms surrounding assisted hygiene, including burnout, ethics, production-based pay, patient experience, and whether quality of care truly suffers.

In this episode we discuss:

• What assisted hygiene actually is (and what it isn't)
• The difference between assisted hygiene and accelerated hygiene
• How to delegate appropriately without sacrificing patient care
• Compensation models: hourly vs. production vs. bonuses
• Why assisted hygiene doesn't have to lead to burnout
• Common implementation mistakes practices make
• How patients actually respond to assisted hygiene

Topics Discussed: assisted hygiene, accelerated hygiene, dental hygiene shortage, dental practice management, production pay, hygiene efficiency, dental assistants, hygiene workflow, dental practice systems

About Courtney

Connect with Courtney:

https://www.wagerpracticesystems.com/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-wager-8992ba381

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wagerpracticesystems/

To watch on YouTube, click here

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Polished Posture. The information shared in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making significant lifestyle changes.

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