The Extra Hygiene Op Trend in B.C.
What Dental Offices Are Doing to Manage the Year-End Rush
Every year, dental practices across British Columbia feel the familiar November and December crunch. Phones ring more, hygiene books fill quickly, and patients suddenly rediscover the concept of “use your benefits before January.” This year, though, we’ve noticed a trend. A noticeable number of clinics are opening an extra hygiene op to get through the final stretch.
This shift is not theoretical. We are seeing it happen in real time.
“Across B.C., one of the most common year-end strategies has become adding a single extra hygiene slot.”
Why So Many Practices Are Turning to More Hygiene Time
Canadian data explains part of the pattern. About two thirds of employed Canadians receive extended health or dental benefits. In B.C., that translates to a very large insured population trying to book preventive care before their plan resets on January 1.
This creates a concentrated wave of demand. Many patients postponed care earlier in the year and then all try to book within the same six-week window. Offices that add extra hygiene time report fewer bottlenecks and a smoother patient flow.
“The year-end surge is no longer just busy. It is predictable.”
The CDCP Rollout Is Adding Another Layer of Demand
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is influencing scheduling across the province. More than five million Canadians now qualify for CDCP, and more than 750,000 approved applicants are in B.C. alone. Only a portion of those individuals have received care so far, which means many are entering the system at the same time as the traditional year-end rush.
CDCP insurance mix changes are shifting patient behaviour. Late-year booking is becoming more common as patients try to understand their coverage and schedule accordingly.
Offices that opened an extra hygiene op say it helped them stay ahead of this increased interest, especially from newly eligible patients.
How Practices Are Using the Extra Op
The trend we are seeing is simple. Offices add a single hygiene column or operatory during November and December. That extra space absorbs:
Routine recare patients
Privately insured patients racing benefit deadlines
CDCP-covered patients entering the system
Patients postponing preventive care until year-end
With one more hygiene slot available, practices report steadier restorative schedules, fewer scheduling conflicts, and better recall completion.
“It is a small adjustment that has made a noticeable difference for many clinics.”
What This Means for B.C. Dentistry Right Now
At a time when Canadian insurance patterns, patient habits, and CDCP enrollment are shifting, the extra hygiene op has become a practical solution rather than a theoretical one. It is emerging as something many practices are independently adopting to stay ahead of demand instead of reacting to it.
Workforce Dental Staffing has been facilitating this trend by opening new hygiene availability and coordinating hygienists from across B.C. to support clinics that choose this approach.
We will continue monitoring how practices adapt during the remainder of the year. For now, the pattern is clear. Opening an extra hygiene op has become one of the most common year-end strategies among B.C. offices preparing for the final rush.
