How Much of a Hygiene Appointment Is Spent On Instrumentation?

One of the criticisms I received when I first shared this poll on LinkedIn was that many hygienists interpreted it as saying they should spend less time with their patients. That wasn't my point at all.

Comprehensive patient care obviously extends far beyond instrumentation. Medical history review, radiographs, periodontal charting, patient education, documentation, and building relationships with patients all matter.

Hygienists reported previously that the largest block of time during their appointments naturally went to instrumentation. So I wanted to know, much of a typical hygiene appointment is actually spent on instrumentation?

Nearly nine out of ten hygienists reported spending 15-30 minutes on instrumentation.

That finding doesn't suggest hygienists should be rushed. It highlights an opportunity to examine how the rest of the appointment is structured. If significant portions of the visit are consumed by tasks that could be completed differently—or by waiting on others—there may be opportunities to improve workflow without compromising patient care.

Before we ask hygienists to do more or practices to hire another provider, it's worth asking whether we're making the best use of the time we already have.