Jenna Arcaro, RDH
Jenna Arcaro, RDH, has practiced in both pediatric and general private practices since graduating from Northampton Community College in 2013. Dubbed the office Perio Queen, she embraces teaching, from peer tutoring in college to fostering high school intern programs, all the way to developing continuing education courses. A competitive runner and wildly unsuccessful fitness influencer, she enjoys hiking with her chubby Labrador Retriever and settling in with a Freida McFadden novel. The author of three mystery novels herself, much of her time has been spent writing, achieving publication in many directions, from dentistry to psychology.
25 Moments Only a Dental Hygienist Can Really Understand
Having been a dental hygienist for some time, I have navigated a lot of personalities and quirks. Any profession that involves regular contact with large portions of the general public and close quarters with coworkers is bound to offer its fair share of hardships and, occasionally, some humor.
After the year we have had, it is time to have a...
Does Fluoride Varnish Waste Dental Hygienists’ Time?
Dental offices vary widely with the use of fluoride varnish. Some offices assume adults don’t want it, taking into consideration that it is rarely covered by most insurance for adults, and it would be an out-of-pocket expense for the patient. Some offices never even ask the patient whether or not they would like to spend those $40 on their...
Functional Medicine: Antimicrobials Should Treat Causes of Perio, Not Just Symptoms
Functional medicine is not a new concept, but it is gaining in popularity.1 A progressive hybrid of holistic and Western medicine, functional medicine aims not only to control the symptoms of disease but focus instead on the causes of disease. Dental hygienists spend much of their time combating the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, prompting the question: Are we treating...
What Does Your Myers-Briggs Say About You as a Clinician?
The following assessment is a loose interpretation of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment, often used in hiring practices and for psychological evaluations. The true test is a lengthy questionnaire. This version, though, will be drastically simplified to help you understand your type, your strengths and weaknesses, and how you can more effectively communicate with types opposite you in...
6 Reasons Why Sealants Fail
We have all experienced the child patient who sits down in your chair after having sealants placed six months ago … and they’re gone. Just like the mystery behind the establishment of Stonehenge, it’s the curious case of the missing sealants!
Looking back, you were the one who placed them, and the progress notes indicated no issues. You did not...
Hygiene Burnout: You May Actually be an Introvert, Not Burnt Out
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently added more details about occupational burnout to the International Classification of Diseases. Consequently, the topic of hygiene burnout is more relevant than ever.1 A staggering percentage of hygienists (17%) fantasize about a career change at least once per month, according to a 2015 survey, and graduates after 2010 reported the least amount of...
Dental Investing: Understand What Patients Need & Invest in Those Products
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only, and you should not construe any such information as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. The information, opinions, and views contained in this article are current only as of the date the article was written. All investment strategies and investments involve risk of loss. Any reference to an investment’s...
Dental Hygienists Can Be Productive and Still Be Ethical
Ah, the word “production.” About half of the hygienists reading this are already annoyed, simply at the mention of the word. The other half are intimately familiar, often paid based on their numbers, knowing down to the dollar how much they typically produce per hour.
Production is possibly the most misinterpreted word in the entire field of dentistry. For some,...
An Open Letter from your Dental Hygienist on Fluoride and IQ
A study and subsequent articles last year cited lower IQ measurements for children whose mothers ingested fluoride during pregnancy, creating a paranoid frenzy among parents. The article stated that the ingestion of fluoridated water by an expectant mother decreased the IQ of the child by 2.5 points on a 200-point IQ test scale.1
The study in question is deeply flawed....
Glyphosate: Cancer, Collusion, and Consequences (What Dental Professionals Need to Know)
The reveal of sealed documents from agricultural corporation Monsanto in March 2017 left the medical world silent. After a ruling from San Francisco Judge Vince Chhabria in a civil suit regarding the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the contents of the previously sealed documents shocked the nation.1
Later to be published in an article titled “The Monsanto Papers: Poisoning the Scientific...
How Hygienists Can Counter Unsupervised Ortho & Clip-On Veneers
Unfortunately, this has become an era of marketing schemes, and we can all agree that dental hygienists are not their demographic targets. New cosmetic and teeth-straightening products have emerged with the consumer market in mind. The products are becoming so accessible that it may even be the next drug-store impulse buy. Patients may be picking up some clear aligners...