"I had worked in general practice for many years and had built relationships with many of the patients. We had hired a new employee, and soon after, patients would come to me and complain about this employee being too rough during routine cleanings. Several said that this person made their mouth bleed or caused discomfort for a day or so after their visit. I shared this with my supervisor at the time, but offered to address it with the new employee first. I let my coworker know that the patients had mentioned some soreness and bleeding after their visit and reminded them that many of our patients are older adults and may have more sensitivity. I offered to have them practice a cleaning on me so that I could provide feedback in real-time, without judgment. The employee was receptive to the feedback and was open to what I shared with them after my experience. They genuinely wanted to improve and didn't seem to realize the mistakes they were making. Sometimes, we make mistakes and don't realize it, so I think it's important to first address directly with the person so they can have an opportunity to fix their mistake before it escalates to disciplinary action."