A good hygenist will make you as the dentist everything you pay them plus some profit, and that doesn't even count the business that they generate for you between the screening of the 8 to 12 patients that they'll see on average per day. I'm not just talking about apparent areas of decay either, but a good hygenist will "subtly" remind them about that crown that you as the dentist had mentioned at their last recall visit, they'll sell the bleaching to the patient which will often lead to future cosmetic procedures, and lately in my office will sell laser based periodontal therapy. Basically the 3 hygenists in my office will each produce around $1000 per day for a full day. From that $1000 my partner and I will often be able to generate another $2000 to $10,000 in future production from those they the hygenists saw that day
That doesn't even count the $2000 to $5000 that my partner and I each produce per day.
Basically while paying a hygenist $30 to $35 dollars an hour leading to salaries between $50,000 to $75,000 a year may seem like alot, in what your return on that will be, it's well worth it. My partner and I didn't even mind writing the check last week to fully fund the retirement accounts of our hygenists to the tune of over $40,000
simply because we know that they make us all that back and then a handsome sum. Hygenists are a vital part of every office, and patients like seeing the same faces from visit to visit, so you take care of your hygenists to the tune of a good salary, medical, retirement plans, continuing education stipends, etc, etc, etc. Plus, you should do ANY dental cosmetic procedure they want, because they will talk about it and how great you are to alot of their patients while they're working on them. All of the sudden at the end of their cleaning, you walk into the operatory and that patient doesn't think, but KNOWS that you're the greatest dentist that there is
, and they'll do any treatment that you say
Hygenists are worth every cent you pay them!
