Dental & Oral Care
Preventing Dentist Sexual Harassment & Misconduct
The dental and oral care industry is unique, as more than 200,000 dentists serve about 68% of the population at least once per year, according to the American Dental Association.
Like other medical specialities, allegations of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment occur in dentist offices and dental schools, putting patients and staff at risk.
Situational Factors
The nature of dental and oral care services carry situational factors that need to be addressed:
- The patient is in a physically vulnerable state: lying back in a chair, potentially affected by sedatives, and facing sharp tools near their mouth and face. This creates a physical power imbalance between the service provider and the service recipient.
- Services take place in a closed room where the dentist and patient may be the only ones in the room together.
- Physical touch is a key aspect of the service.
Preventing Sexual Misconduct & Harassment in the Dental Industry
Claims of an unsafe or hostile workplace can lead to lawsuits, executive firings, employee protests, or walkouts. Aggrieved customers, through social media, can target companies that don’t respond appropriately, threatening scandal or even the company’s viability.
Imagine your patients saying:
- I love receiving care here
- I feel safe here
- I can trust that I am in good hands
Imagine your staff saying:
- I have the confidence to handle crisis situations
- I have a well-documented, behavior-based report to inform my decision-making
- My team trusts me to be fair and impartial
- I am working with a partner in this process I can trust
Redirect Can Help
- Code of Conduct Development
- Employee and Manager Training
- Audits and Reporting
- Investigations
“I can honestly say that I have learned valuable skills from Redirect. Everything from how to best approach employees to implementing better practices for training, and I feel more confident in my approach having Redirect as a part of our safety mission. Thank you for everything this company brings to the table.”
“I appreciate what your team is doing for us. You guys are doing work that is so important and so critical for us to run a business of high integrity, and you help us figure out when that’s not happening. Thank you.”
FAQs
How can Redirect help my dental office reduce incidents of sexual harassment and misconduct?
- Helping employers develop clear codes of conduct and training programs
- Investigating any allegation of service provider misconduct in a scientific, trauma-informed, and objective manner
- Analyzing data and providing insights on employee behavior and suggested management changes
- Interrupting problematic behavior before it escalates
What are the benefits of Redirect to my dental practice?
- A safer work environment for service providers and service recipients
- Fewer and less severe incidents of sexual or employee misconduct
- More trust from your customers, which leads to stronger footing for your business
- Better documentation for legal or insurance purposes
- Handling each allegation in a fair and impartial manner
Preventing sexual misconduct in the workplace requires a scientific, trauma-informed, and objective approach combined with the right plan.
What’s Your Plan?
Contact Us
If your organization is serious about addressing and preventing sexual misconduct, Redirect can help.