HOW MY PERSONAL JOURNEY AFFECTED MY PRACTICE

By Elizabeth Dooher-Anthony, RDH

In 1985, I was working at Pier 1 Imports. A year or so earlier, I had graduated from college with a BA in English and a minor in Theater Arts. I had dreams of being on a stage, of becoming a published writer, or something else noticeable. I have always craved attention.

At the same time, I was looking for fulfilling work. I was in search of employment stability so I could marry my boyfriend and support him in his endeavors. I did not realize this until many years later. The Universe has a way of directing me, sometimes resulting in a very winding path!

One day, an “older” gentleman (in my 22-year-old eyes) purchased a Charlie Chaplin print that I admired. I said that I loved it. He said it was going to go in his office.

“Oh, you have an office?” I blurted out. “Would you like to give me a job?”

“As a matter of fact, I am looking for a receptionist,” he replied. I launched into a hard sell of my great telephone skills. He gave me his card. It said Dr. Robert Rosen, a dentist.

I showed up at his office in the business suit I had received for graduation. I was hired and thus began my almost 40-year career in oral health care. I had no experience in the dental profession or office management of any kind. I am eternally grateful to the man who took a chance on a brash sales clerk.

I worked at the desk for about a year. The Hygienist enjoyed her job, and the patients loved her. I heard they made a decent wage. I had toyed with the idea of nursing school, as I come from a lengthy line of nurses.

I was accepted to Dental Hygiene School in 1986. It was much harder than I was expecting, but it showed me that I am much smarter than I think I am. I graduated in 1988 and went back to work for Dr. Rosen.

My first tasks were getting my boyfriend to marry me and cure periodontal disease. I now realize this is part of a lifetime pattern of looking outside myself for happiness.

My first few years of practice flew by as I tried everything to find “it.” I had a baby, and we moved to Colorado. I would find moments of peace that were short-lived, but I was continually frustrated and unhappy. I blamed my husband, my circumstances, and my patients for not cooperating in my happiness.

I was happy at work if every patient was on time, friendly, and had good oral hygiene. Naturally, I was unhappy a good deal of the time. I took complaints personally. Sure, I was “rougher than the other girl.” I was trying to help them! This forced me to develop an instrumentation philosophy of “less pressure, more strokes” that I used my entire career. My patients told me repeatedly that I was “gentle but thorough.” I got to teach one semester at the Hygiene School and drilled that into my students.

I sought counseling in 1994. One of the first things my therapist emphasized was “How are you taking care of yourself?” I would call her in a tizzy about something my husband was doing. Those were always her first words. I had no idea what she was talking about.

She had me learn about PTSD and trauma responses. She also had me read “Peace, Love and Healing” by Dr. Bernie Siegel. That book taught me about body/ mind communication. It also spoke strongly to me as a healthcare provider. Siegel described instances of how patients were made sicker because of how they were treated. I did not want to make my patients sicker.

At the same time, I noticed that I was personalizing every interaction with patients. My therapist said, “Everything you hear is a direct reflection of how you feel about yourself.”

It all came together one day when a woman came into the office. She was visibly upset with what I now know is hypervigilance. The hygienist next to me was trying her best to soothe her. As soon as she reclined her, the woman “freaked out.” She was crying and yelling. She had to leave the office. I suddenly realized that she had suffered a PTSD reaction from a previous experience! My patients were not reacting to me as much as they were to their prior experiences!

At once, I decided that any interaction with me would not be part of the problem for any patient. The next day, I was driving toward the mountains to work, and I said aloud, “I’m gonna spread love today, even if it kills me!” That stayed with me for the rest of my career.

I started working in an office that allowed me to create the atmosphere I wanted. I used aromatherapy, soothing music, and massage, and patients were thrilled with the experience. Unfortunately, personality conflicts in the office made that situation short-lived. Hindsight showed me that I should never have left the position I was in initially. Hindsight is always 20/20 in the rearview mirror.

Not long after I realized my drinking was a problem, I joined AA, and the Serenity prayer became part of my daily lexicon. That was what created “Serdentity,” my philosophy of practice. I desired a peaceful experience for my patients, which led to a serene experience for me. I began to desire to teach others. I published an article in the local newspaper. I presented a course for the local dental study club.

At the time I was working for periodontal practice. I longed to recreate the atmosphere I had before. I began to make changes in my treatment room, first bringing in my own music and closing the door while treating patients. This went over great with the patients. I did not realize I was creating a feeling of apartness from my boss and coworkers. They were good people, and they liked me. I was so focused on “doing right” that I missed cues from them that there was trouble. I had a feeling of superiority. Many years later, I understood that I was setting up a situation that was bound to come to conflict.

I was eventually terminated from that job. I was outraged. How could my boss do this to me? Didn’t he see I was helping?! Eventually, there was a hearing for unemployment benefits. My boss’s lawyer portrayed me as a bipolar know-it-all who forgot it was not my practice. I was denied benefits. The experience stung deeply. It was a long time before I could accept that the lawyer was entirely accurate.

I learned a basic lesson in communication. What I say and do is filtered through the lens of the person receiving it. My boss was decidedly non-spiritual and not open to the “woo-woo” concepts I believed in. I tried to force them on him and he naturally rebelled. I felt justified by my good intentions.

This led me to a fundamental precept of Serdentity: The patient’s perception of what we are doing drives them. Their emotional perception may be quite different from ours, and it is created by previous experiences.

Once I became interested in orofacial myofunctional therapy, I realized that previous bad experiences are strongly related to not being able to breathe in the dental chair.

This has led me to explore trauma more deeply. I have studied the neurobiology of trauma, and I realize I cannot expect a person to use their executive brain when they are stuck in the primitive brain. This applies to patients, coworkers, and bosses.

This led me to advocate for trauma-informed care. I must meet my patients where they are, not where I wish they were. I must meet my coworkers and bosses where they are. I can try to lead them, but I cannot force them. I must lead by example. When they see me succeeding with difficult patients, they want to know how.

I created a seminar, a book, and a podcast to spread my message. I have presented my seminar at several conferences. I hope to speak more. I love talking with fellow professionals on my podcast. I have learned a lot from my guests. Innumerable people have helped me along the way. I hope that I have been helpful to some as well.

Please reach out to me if you have questions. dentadiva@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/Serdentity Instagram: @dentadiva

About the author:

Elizabeth Dooher-Anthony, RDH became a dental hygienist unexpectedly. She was supposed to be a rock star. After working at a dental office front desk, she attended dental hygiene school. She developed a positive mindset that enhances patient experiences. Elizabeth’s philosophy is called Serdentity. She has presented it since 2006, published as a book in 2013. Her articles appear in RDH magazines, and she hosts the “Serdentity Podcast” on YouTube. Elizabeth resides in Rochester, NY with her husband, Michael.