Workplace Wellness Corner
Oh Canada! Workplace Wellness
Workplace wellness encompasses being healthy both physically and psychologically. When we experience wellness
in the
workplace, we feel happier, more engaged, and less stressed at the office and at home. A healthy and
respectful
workplace is one that supports and promotes the physical and psychological well-being of each member of the
team.
To support dental hygienists in their efforts to achieve a healthy work environment, CDHA publishes a
Workplace Wellness
column in our member magazine, Oh Canada! Each article
shares insight into the different approaches dental hygienists
can take to maintain their physical and psychological well-being to enjoy long, healthy careers. Read the
articles by
selecting the year below:
Select a Year:
Oprah Winfrey is known the world over. There is something about her survival to thrival story,
charisma, and unparalleled
self-made success that has given her a relatability factor that few people ever reach. So, when
Oprah says she’s learned
something from the more than 50,000 people she has interviewed in her career, we lean in and
learn.
We’ve all heard the saying, “Sitting is the new smoking,”
and for oral health professionals, it couldn’t be more
relevant. Our work demands long hours of sitting,
hunching, and leaning over patients, often leading to
musculoskeletal pain, especially in the neck, back,
and shoulders. It’s no surprise that many oral health
professionals experience acute and chronic pain
throughout their careers.
Some of the stress you experience as a dental hygienist
is obvious: a client being late or rude, feeling like your
appointment time isn’t long enough to provide proper
dental hygiene care, frustration with a problem in the office
or with a person at work or home. But then there is some
stress that isn’t as obvious. It is “hidden.”
Workplace wellness encompasses being healthy both physically and psychologically. Learn about the
resources CDHA has
available to support dental hygienists in maintaining good overall health.
Whether at work or at home, it is a given that at some time
or another a disagreement will happen. Like it or not, we
are confronted with conflicting ideas from time to time.
In the dental hygiene profession, we talk a lot about self-care due to the physical and
emotional demands of our day-to-day work. Learn about 3 challenges we face.
I definitely missed the class in dental hygiene school where
they told us proper ergonomics and body position would
help…to a certain point. That is, until you get the client
who can’t lie back and barely opens their mouth, or the one
who says no to the Cavitron, or the squirmy kid—all in one
lovely 10-hour day!
Life has been really challenging these past two or so
years. And now, it’s possible that you may be experiencing
negative emotions more frequently than you used to, and
maybe for longer periods of time before you are even
aware of feeling that way. This might be because, over the
course of the COVID-19 pandemic, you have unknowingly
adjusted your emotional thermostat. Here’s what I mean.
As Chief Recognition Officer at Greatness Magnified and
having conducted or led a team that has engaged in over
100 health care team consultations, I can tell you that I
can count on one hand the number of people who set out
to deliberately and systematically tear down other people,
their team, and the organization.
I am dangling upside down from my wall ropes after a day
of clinical practice, tuning into the subtle popping of my
body as it opens by the passive pull of gravity. I visualize
the release of connective and muscle tissue fibres that
have been held all day in support of my oral hygiene work.
Interestingly, the opening reminds me of the releasing
feeling one has when a ledge of calculus cracks off during
instrumentation. I think all dental hygienists can relate to
that moment of “ahhhh” or “yes!” when the tension breaks
and the foundation of the tooth structure is felt. Feeling the
support of the ropes holding and caring for me in the most
unusual way, I am reminded of how oral caregivers support
clients, each one unique in their own way, and how we find
ways to create space and openings in our interactions to
bring wellness and health into the conversation.
The year 2020 presented dental hygienists with many
unpredictable challenges: developing and adhering to new
COVID-19 protocols; managing the disjunction between the
different regulatory bodies; mitigating our own vulnerability
to the virus while providing care to our clients; learning
to master our craft while wearing an N95 mask, a shield,
and disposable gown (not an easy task while experiencing
a hot flash!); managing our clients’ anxiety; acquiring new
verbiage to explain to our clients why we are not using
ultrasonics or polishing their teeth; and worrying about
transmitting the virus to our families. Just to mention a few.
During this time, we all saw some of our colleagues decide
not to return to work due to the stress of dealing with these
and many other issues.
As a dental hygienist, mother, and
lifelong learner, I have benefitted
greatly from the practice of
mindfulness. I completed a certificate
on the foundations of mindfulness
and mindfulness meditation at the
University of Toronto and learned
how to practise daily and teach others.
Despite my hectic schedule, I have
learned to pause, pay attention, and
prioritize self-care. I’ve written a
children’s book on mindfulness, and
I provide experiential education for
those who are interested in learning
about the application of mindfulness.
Based on my positive experience, my
intention is to share how mindfulness
can help my colleagues.
Feeling stressed and too busy at work? Managing stress
during “normal” times was one thing, but now with
COVID-19, everything at the office (and at home) seems
more overpowering. Stressors are everywhere you turn,
from following proper infection control guidelines to dealing
with overwhelmed and maybe even confrontational
clients and co-workers. It may feel that the world is falling
down around you, yet you must put on an, “everything is
fine” face for your clients. Your stress level is rising. Let’s look
at how to decrease it.
I am a dental hygienist and movement educator focused
on yoga and strength training. The following article is
intended to raise awareness of supportive seated posture.
It should not replace the advice of a medical professional
(physician, chiropractor, physiotherapist, etc.). If you are in
pain, please seek individualized medical advice from your
health care provider.
Many of us take our sleep for granted. We get so busy with
our work commitments and our family responsibilities
that sometimes our sleep becomes neglected and an
afterthought. But what if I told you we are damaging our
well-being and health by not better prioritizing our bedtime?
The most significant aspect of your daily routines is
likely with whom you spend time. In even the briefest of
interactions, people have a way of bringing out the best in
you and refueling your spirits or sucking joy from your day,
draining you of motivation and happiness. Although most
seem blindly unaware of the negative impact they can have
on those around them, people’s attitudes and energy are as
contagious as any physical pathogen.
Since the 1900s, the dental hygiene profession has been
dominated by Caucasian women. Today, more than
97% of Canada’s dental hygienists identify as female.
One result of this has been the institutionalization of a
patriarchal power structure in which dental hygienists are
seen as subservient to dentists. Another is frequent reports
of discrimination based on sex and gender identity.