Embracing complexity: applying complexity theory in dental hygiene practice

Contemporary dental hygiene practice has evolved into a complex intersection of clinical care, behavioural science, and systemic health management, yet traditional linear frameworks struggle to capture this multifaceted reality. This narrative examination explores how complexity theory, particularly complex adaptive systems, offers dental hygienists a more authentic lens for understanding and navigating the unpredictable, interconnected nature of modern healthcare.Drawing from systems thinking and real-world scenarios, we examine complexity theory's applications across clinical decision-making, professional identity development, interprofessional collaboration, and education. Through cases ranging from managing periodontal disease with comorbidities to designing adaptive community programmes, this exploration reveals how embracing uncertainty and interdependence enhances effective practice.Complexity-informed dental hygienists develop enhanced capabilities for adaptive reasoning, collaborative leadership, and context-sensitive care. Educational implications include curricula fostering epistemic flexibility and systems thinking, while organisational considerations emphasise policy frameworks supporting distributed leadership and iterative innovation.Instead of viewing complexity as a challenge to overcome, this examination positions it as healthcare's fundamental characteristic requiring skilled navigation. For dental hygienists, embracing complexity theory represents an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to healthcare transformation and a responsibility to develop adaptive expertise for 21^st century practice.