Experiences of Dental Hygienists Providing Restorative Care

Abstract

Purpose The intent of this inquiry was to explore the lived experiences of dental hygienists who provide restorative patient care.

Methods Phenomenology was the qualitative approach used. Purposive sampling ensured participants had relevant experiences. An Interview Guide was emailed one week prior to the interview to help participants prepare responses. Informed consent included selecting a pseudonym, which was used throughout the interview and on the written transcript to protect the participants’ identities. One-hour semi-structured interviews were conducted and recorded on Zoom. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously. Verbatim transcription accuracy was verified. Data were initially coded and then focused coding created themes. Demographic data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results After eight interviews data saturation was achieved. Seven females and one male participated. All participants experienced a restorative curriculum in their entry-level program and most felt well-prepared. The motivation for becoming a restorative dental hygienist included having positive restorative experiences during the entry-level program, wanting to keep restorative skills current after graduation, and having an opportunity to provide restorative care. Challenges experienced included the dentists’ negative attitudes, dental hygienists’ not valuing restorative abilities and not having a qualified dental assistant. Personal benefits were related to career fulfillment. Benefits to patients involved improving access, efficiency, and convenience. The benefit to the office was increased production. Differences between restorative and preventive care involved demands of care and patient care flow.

Conclusion The findings provide insight into the unique experiences of dental hygienists who provided restorative patient care and a foundation for future research.