Page 5 - Bulletin Vol 27 No 2 - May - Aug. 2022 FINAL

Message from Donald Hills, DDS

Help Wanted: The Yin and the Yang

Today I realized the universe does attain a balance, an equilibrium of karma and cosmic
energy. The Yin and Yang of fortune and despair surrounds us all.
I drove over to my daughter’s house last night for a quick ten-minute visit and to retrieve
a duffle bag she had borrowed. This morning my rear tire was flat. The culprit: a nail
from that short trip, lodged into the sidewall and shinning in the new day sun mocked
me with its tire killing precision. Pained by the tire, I climbed into the attic to return the
duffle to its corner spot.

I live adjacent to a large, wooded area and, from time to time, catch a field mouse up in
the attic. Caught may be a simplistic description, as often the mouse is severed in two
by the metal spring of my chosen trapping device. I spread a few traps around and al-
ways take great care when placing my hand down on the floor as I crouch about the storage area. Well, while back-
ing out of the corner this morning I let my guard down and my left pinky touched the floor. BANG, SNAP! a trap ex-
ploded, so close to my finger I could feel the smack of air as the metal spring slammed shut. I don’t know how, but it
missed my digit by a whisker. It all happened so fast that the shock and relief registered at the same instant. The kar-
ma gods, acknowledging the nail in the tire, graciously spared my finger a truly horrific moment.

And I realized, a similar balance of sort has been taking place with staffing in my dental office over the past few
months.

There is a severe shortage of qualified hygienists, dental assistants, and front desk personnel here in Nassau Coun-
ty and throughout the country. The unprecedent exodus of hygienists and dental assistants during Covid presents a
great challenge to dental practices. A problem I know first-hand, as unfortunately, I have experienced a revolving
door at my front desk this past year.
Then Alissa walked in. Professional, experienced, desiring the hours offered, she was perfect. Hired that night, Alissa
joined our team, and a weight was lifted from my shoulders. Two weeks later, my talented hygienist, who we all
love, informed me she was leaving. The cosmic yin and yang is relentless. One step forward and one step back as the
universe balances the equilibrium.

Those searching for a hygienist know the nightmare all too well. ADA statistics show a drop in registered hygienists
in the country. In Nassau County there are only a few dental hygiene programs, graduating a limited number of hy-
gienists a year. The attrition rate of experienced hygienists greatly exceeds the new to the workforce numbers.

All three levels of the ADA tripartite struggle to help member dentists find the professional help they need. In June,
the NSYDA House passed Resolution six – Expanding Opportunities for Joining the Dental Workforce to Increase Ac-
cess to Healthcare. The resolution calls for the expansion of additional hygiene and certified dental assisting pro-
grams at dental schools, hospitals and trade schools to alleviate the crippling shortage. I sit on the NYSDA Council on
Dental Practice which was tasked with implementing resolution six. I hope the council and NYSDA’s efforts make a
difference. We will all be better served by a greater supply of dental axillaries in the workforce.

My favorite B-52’s song is “Dirty Back Road.” Listen to it, play it loud, it will bring you to the dance clubs of the
1980’s, and that would be a good thing.

Don

Editor-in-Chief

Nassau County Dental Society ⬧ (516) 227-1112 | 5