A client you’ve been treating for several years arrives for their appointment stressed and upset. They reveal they’re in the middle of a divorce. You’re divorced, so you sympathize with the client. While scaling, you share what caused your relationship to end and offer advice about how the client should deal with their own situation. You don’t know it, but the client feels uncomfortable with the unsolicited advice but doesn’t say anything.

Did the RDH cross any boundaries?

Boundary crossings occur when an RDH fails to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with clients, including sharing sensitive personal information that is unrelated to dental hygiene treatment. In the scenario above, the RDH initiated a conversation that could be considered intrusive and inappropriate.

RDHs often choose their career to help people. They try to establish a clinical relationship of trust, professionalism and respect. During most dental hygiene appointments, RDHs have a largely silent and captive audience, which can provide an opportunity for them to engage in self-disclosure. It is only human for an RDH to try to build a rapport with their clients by being open, without realizing that this may not always be appropriate. Boundary crossings can creep up on the RDH even through good-hearted actions. It is the RDH’s responsibility to consider whether the topics of conversation are appropriate and relevant to the professional relationship. RDHs should be mindful when engaging in conversations with clients, consider the impact those conversations may have, and not assume the role of an expert in matters outside of their scope.

For more information, please refer to the Guideline: Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Maintenance of Professional Boundaries.