Alternate Careers for a Dental Hygienist

But, really?  It wasn’t that long before I was wondering where the excitement and passion went.  I’d worked heavy perio, I’d done rounds at the VA and at an Alzheimer unit, I had worked with transplant patients and I had given 70+ injections a day in a low-income clinic where they were drilling, filling and pulling. Snore.  I was quickly bored with dental hygiene.  Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED my patients.  I loved hearing about their lives, and their children, vacations and life successes.  I loved them.  I hated scaling their teeth.  Period.  The act.  I hated the act of scaling.  I loved helping them understand how oral health could make the body healthier.  I loved educating them.

It took me almost 16 years to plan my pivot.  I had received my education about myofunctional therapy years ago but could never put it to use.  Remember that paycheck I was after?  Yep, that’s why.  I never worked for a dentist who gave two shakes about their patients, and I was focused on keeping the lights on.  So, I stuffed it down deeper, and deeper.  Bored stiff and hating every minute about the disservice that my employers were doing but I couldn’t say anything if I wanted to pay Xcel energy.  Sad day.  Eventually, after my time in graduate school to earn my MBA, I developed a bit of a spine, and more of a savings account.  I was able to sit back and listen and learn from my mentors and I decided it was time.  Jenny Blake, author of “Pivot” was my voice of reasoning.  Jenny left a secure job and used her “runway” savings to plan her pivot.  Much like what Jenny taught me, and just like a pivot in basketball, I planted one foot and slowly pivoted around…..looking how to make a change while utilizing strengths that I already had. I already had years of experience in dental hygiene.  I did have an MBA, but it seemed such an insult to work twice as many hours for half the pay.  What was I going to do?

When I took inventory about what I loved about dental hygiene, I discovered it was helping and educating my patients.  Bingo.  I found my strength and I could build upon it.  I took some more training in myofunctional therapy and before my course was over, I was already seeing clients.  I had found my new path of passion and I was astonished at how good I was and how natural it felt. Less than two years later, my myofunctional therapy business replaced my full-time hygiene income plus about $46,000.  More rewarding than the paycheck, was the freedom to be my own boss and to help people in an area that affected their whole body.  I had found my pivot.

Is this you?  Are you disenchanted with dental hygiene but have no idea what you could possibly do?  Alternate careers for a dental hygienist may be hard to find, but there are some great options out there. Myofunctional therapy is one of them, but it isn’t a field for just anyone.  When I do coaching calls with dental hygienists looking to take my Myo Mastery Program, I tell them that they must be a self-starter, be able to think on their own and be able to deploy some common sense.  There isn’t a perfect recipe for myofunctional therapy because everyone is different, so if you can only follow the “recipe” you might struggle.  But the great thing is…you can have me by your side coaching you, empowering you and educating you.  It’s possible.  You can be an excellent myofunctional therapist.  It takes some time, and some want, and some grit, but you can do it!

Who Learns How to Be a Myofunctional Therapist

1.  The dentist wants the student to practice myofunctional therapy in the dental office.

2.  The student wants to learn more about myofunctional therapy to be a better practitioner, in the office.

3.  The student wants to practice in the dental office, but also build a practice outside the office.

4.  The student has an injury and needs another path.

5.  The dentist wants to know the basics of myofunctional therapy for the practice.

6.  The student is burnt out and wants to use existing expertise.

As you can see, there are many different reasons that students end up in my course.  Some are “pivoting”, and some are simply getting better for the patients.  Your situation may be one of those listed above, or a combination of more than one.

How Do I Become a Myofunctional Therapist?

I encourage students to consider how they learn.

If you like to have things broken down into manageable parts, then you will probably enjoy the Myo Mastery Program.  I have organized the program in small, well organized modules for easier learning.

If you like to put things you’ve learned into action right away, then the Myo Mastery Program is definitely for you.  I give “actionable items” each module that you can put into practice the very next day.

If you like to have someone with you to educate, empower and engage.  Bingo.  With private Facebooks groups, you receive education and support above and beyond your weekly lecture education.

How Do I Learn More About the Myo Mastery Program