JoAnn Gurenlian returns to explore two essential parts of the dental hygiene process of care: evaluation and documentation. What may feel like routine clinical responsibilities can have a lasting impact on patient safety, continuity of care, professional accountability, and risk management.
Jessica, Dave, and JoAnn discuss how thoughtful evaluation and accurate documentation can strengthen clinical decision-making, support treatment modifications, and help dental hygienists deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.
What We Talked About
The role of evaluation within the dental hygiene process of care
Why documentation is far more than a legal requirement
Common documentation mistakes and how to avoid them
How documentation supports continuity of care and patient outcomes
The relationship between evaluation, critical thinking, and treatment modification
Risk management and provider protection through accurate records
Documentation best practices for today's dental hygienist
How educators can better prepare students for real-world documentation expectations
Call to Action
Take a fresh look at your documentation and evaluation process. Ask yourself whether your records clearly communicate what you assessed, what you found, how the patient responded, and why clinical decisions were made. Strong documentation is more than recordkeeping—it is part of quality patient care.
Resources and Links
JoAnn Gurenlian on LinkedIn
Contact the Hosts
Jessica Atkinson: jatkinson@endeavorb2b.com
Dave Torres: dtorres@endeavorb2b.com
