What does it mean for a dental hygienist to be deemed incompetent in their practice?

Being deemed incompetent as a dental hygienist primarily relates to the frequency of mistakes made while performing professional duties. This implies that a dental hygienist is unable to provide safe and effective care, which is a crucial aspect of their role in maintaining oral health. Regularly making errors could indicate a lack of understanding of procedures, failure to adhere to best practices, or insufficient skills necessary to perform their responsibilities effectively.

While education, experience, and adherence to regulations are significant factors in the competency of a dental hygienist, they do not directly capture the ongoing performance aspect implied by the term "incompetent." Competence is an ongoing evaluation of a professional's capability to execute their duties without errors that could harm patients or undermine the practice's standards. Thus, frequent mistakes can signal a deeper issue with competency, leading to the conclusion that this is the most accurate depiction of what it means to be deemed incompetent in practice.