Your gift--to yourself and to your patient.

One of the more sensitive subjects on a personal or professional level is professional attire and grooming. We would all agree that we strive to look professional and appropriate at work. The truth is, we have all been raised with a different idea on what is "appropriate" or "not appropriate" for our work environment. Sometimes we work in offices that have very clear dress code expectations and that makes it easier to know if you are meeting the doctor's expectations. Many times the guidelines have not been clearly outlined and you are left on your own to determine what is appropriate. Either way our personal choices on grooming strongly affect how professional we look for our patients each day.

That professionalism is a gift to ourselves in terms of how others perceive us and treat us and that professionalism is a gift to our patients in terms of their ability to relax with the professional who is working with them.

In the health care industry we work hard to communicate competency. We wouldn't dream of having inferior clinical skills. We take advanced courses and receive additional pay and responsibilities for our efforts. Professional image and grooming skills are equally as important in giving the gift of confidence to our patients.

Patients want to know they are in the hands of a skilled professional who takes his or her job seriously. How can we communicate that? How can we feel good about our efforts? We can do that with a variety of grooming methods.

Each of these methods is a tool available to you to use for your benefit and for the patient's. When you are perceived as a competent professional you will be giving yourself and your patient that gift of personal respect and trust. Some aspects you will have personal control over and others will involve the cooperation and authority of your doctor.

On an individual basis you have numerous apparel and grooming options. These options are all tools that can be used to communicate to your patient and to your employer your high level of respect for your job and for your patient.

Uniforms

There is a wide variety of uniform possibilities. The most important thing to pay attention to is that ALL clinical team members be dressed the same. Everyone should have the same uniform and shoes no matter when they were hired. This attention to uniformity goes for both assistants and hygienists.

It is important to decide on the office policy for uniform maintenance. Professional uniform companies that clean and press your uniforms are often a viable option. Many times these laundry services have to be monitored for quality. We have learned that just using an outside service does not guarantee the needed pressed and polished look.

At your next staff meeting or morning huddle take a quick photo to see how everyone is dressed. Take this picture unannounced and see for yourselves the image you are projecting to your patients. I would encourage you to take both an individual as well as a team photo.

Name Tags

These should be ordered as soon as a new team member is hired. Worn just below the collarbone they are an essential part of the office uniform. The proper place to wear a name tag is on the right side. When you are introducing yourself to your patient with a handshake they can look at your name tag at the same time they are receiving your handshake. All office name tags should have your first name and title. Name tags should be identical in shape, color and size for all team members. The morning huddle is a good time to see that everyone is dressed and ready to go with their name tags in place.

Hair

This is one of the more important grooming areas in clinical dentistry. Since the goal of all clinical professionals is to look as clean and well-groomed as possible, hair plays a very important role in that image. Hair should be worn up and off the neck--away from your face as much as possible. Short hair that falls into your face while working on a patient is not as effective in communicating cleanliness as hair that is completely pulled back and up. Hair pulled back and up should also be tied back with the most minimal of hair clips with all loose hairs tucked in. Hair clasps, ties and clips that most closely match the color of your hair look the most professional.

Nails

Another sign of cleanliness to your patients is your fingernails. The suggested nail length is short, no longer than 1/4 inch--natural not acrylic nails and neutral nail color. Polish worn over the weekend should be adequately removed before your work week. There is an immediate communication of being unkempt with nails that look like the ones pictured above. These are an actual example from a dental assistant who was doing a "working" try-in. She was applying for a new position as an

RDA in a very well-thought-of and established office. She had communicated verbally that she very much wanted to be included in the team and wanted to be hired as the doctor's second chairside assistant. The doctor noticed the unkempt nails and wanted to be reassured that she would not come to work with hands so ungroomed.

Jewelry 

Minimal jewelry is the recommendation for clinical team members. Earrings that are small and conservative. No large hoops or dangly earrings. No earrings larger than a quarter of an inch. No more than one ring per hand. No necklaces or bracelets. Your personal jewelry worn outside the office can be a huge variety of styles. The appropriate jewelry to communicate a high level of professionalism in the office is very conservative and minimal.

Shoes

There are all styles of appropriate shoes that can be worn with a clinical uniform. If the office attire is white scrubs or white pants--white shoes work well. The big thing about white shoes is that they must look immaculately clean. The recommendation is that shoes worn at work, only be worn at work. Comfort is obviously important and it is worth investigating shoe companies and brands that carry sizes and styles that best fit your feet. The Internet is a wonderful resource in researching difficult-to-fit feet. Our feet vary extensively in terms of width, arch and heel size. It is worth your time and effort to understand and fulfill your comfort needs for your feet.

Makeup

This is a wonderful tool that we as women have available to us. It is a tool that allows us to even out our skin tones and bring out the shape and color of our eyes and mouth. Makeup can be used to project a polished look at work as well as communicate your commitment to your patients and your work. Conservative makeup is neutral eye shadows with mascara, minimal blush and lipstick and a face foundation that matches your present skin tone.

Makeup that is appropriate for the clinical team is more conservative than what might be worn on the administrative team or what is worn on a personal basis. The whole goal is to be able to use the tool of makeup to project cleanliness and professionalism without having any one area of your makeup draw attention from your warm eyes and smile.

Pressed & Polished

A critical component of our professional image is being pressed and polished. It is important to look at the uniforms worn to work in terms of cleanliness and being crisply ironed and free of wrinkles.

Within the first 30 seconds your patients, your coworkers and your employer will get a lasting impression of your professional capabilities and your personal focus. The tools available to you to communicate that you are serious about your profession and dedicated to your careers are worth your time and your attention. You wouldn't let your clinical skills be mediocre--you give them time and attention as an investment in your professional career and patient care. The external professional image you consistently project will further your career and affect your overall confidence. This is a gift worth giving--it is a gift that gives back.

Janice Hurley has been a successful practice management consultant for over 18 years and is known for her clear mission of empowering the entire dental team to create an environment of success. A noted author and international speaker, she is an upcoming speaker for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists and a guest speaker for The Masters of Dentistry Extravaganza in Sydney, Australia 2004. Janice continues to get enthusiastic reviews for her high-energy programs. Her recent articles have appeared in Dental Economics, Dentistry Today and Dental Reports.