Kaitlyn Machado, RDH, BS, MEd, FADHA
Since a very young age, Kaitlyn Machado, RDH, BS, MEd, FADHA, has always wanted to be a dental hygienist. She was the youngest student to graduate from her dental hygiene class in 2017. Since then, Kate has gone back for both her bachelor's and master's degrees.
She is a faculty member at her local dental hygiene school, a clinical dental hygienist, and has been a part of Today's RDH since its launch. She is extremely passionate about homecare and loves her prophy paste and fluoride varnish. In addition, Kate loves to work with a local non-profit organization that helps fight against hygiene insecurity of all ages in her community. Kate is very involved in the profession as much as she can, including local and state-level professional associations. She loves to attend professional conferences when she can. When she isn't working, she enjoys traveling, sports, watching movies, and spending time with her amazing, supportive family.
10 Tips for Improving Your Operatory to Make Your Life Easier
There are many needed materials and supplies involved in dental hygiene, and most of them lie within our operatories. You have oral hygiene/education instruction supplies, homecare products, sealant materials, set-ups, and other resources to name just a few. With having busy patient schedules all day, sometimes our drawers, countertops, and cabinets can become a disaster zone. Here are some...
You Missed a Spot: 11 OSHA and Infection Control Details Dental Professionals Don’t Want to Overlook
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we all know that OSHA and infection control are crucial pillars of what we do each and every day in dentistry. It is federally mandated (enforced by law) that employers provide OSHA training when an employee starts the job and at least yearly thereafter.1 In some states, continuing education courses in infection control are required for...
Dental Hygienists Are Oral Health Prevention Specialists: It’s Not “Just a Cleaning”
Besides late patients, colleagues know that one of my biggest pet peeves as a dental hygienist is when people use the term “cleaning.” “Just a cleaning today, right?” “I just want the normal cleaning.” We have all heard it. It is a tale as old as time. It is incorrect, but why haven’t we stopped it?
Some of you probably...
Huddle Up: Suggestions for Staff Meetings in Busy Dental Offices
As a seasoned hygienist of working in multiple practices, I have developed an appreciation for the unique differences between them. Some practices hold a morning huddle every day before they grab their first patients of the day. Others have a monthly meeting or may not have any huddles or meetings at all (maybe only when necessary).
A morning huddle is...
Hygienist Spotlight: Dr. Emily Boge’s Journey to Becoming a Dental Hygiene Leader
Dr. Emily Boge, EdD, RDH, CDA, FAADH, FADHA
She is an Iowa native who is a key opinion leader, speaker, innovator, and director of not only a dental hygiene program but a dental assisting program. Dr. Emily Boge, EdD, RDH, CDA, FAADH, FADHA, is extremely involved in our profession in many different avenues.
In this interview, you will learn about Emily's...
Teamwork: Open Communication with Dentist Leads to Happier Dental Patients
Many individuals comprise a dental team in an office, and the professional relationship between the dental hygienist and the dentist – frequently, the employer – should be nurtured. Both dental professionals are pieces of the entire puzzle of a patient's care. It is crucial to understand what each piece does and recommends to patients, so there will be consistency...
A Hygienist’s Guide to Succeeding at Dental Conferences
I absolutely love attending dental conferences, especially when it is an excuse to travel. At times, it can get overwhelming when there are tons of course options, networking opportunities, and social events happening in a very short timeframe.
Here are a few helpful tips and considerations that can help you get ready for your next dental conference.
Registration
I recommend registering early...
Hygienist Spotlight: Kristeen Perry, an Educator, Examiner, Doctorate… Oh My!
Meet Kristeen, I mean to say, Dr. Kristeen Perry! She is not only a dental hygienist of 31 years but also a full-time dental hygiene faculty member, CDCA examiner, and doctorate program graduate.
Dr. Perry has been in the dental profession since 1987. Before entering dental hygiene school, she began her dental career as a dental assistant in general practice...
A Look at Working Interviews (And Why You Should ALWAYS Be Paid!)
Working interviews: Are they good? Or bad? Not all types of career options have the opportunity to have a working interview. In the dental world, this type of interviewing does exist, and looking at working interviews from all sides is important to get the most out of them.
A working interview is an opportunity for an applicant to prove their...
13 Dental Hygiene Interviewing Tips on What to Consider and Ask During an Interview
Five years ago, I was still getting the hang of being a new working dental hygienist. At the same time, one of my first articles with Today’s RDH, 3D’s: Do’s, Don’ts of Dental Hygiene Interviewing, was about interviewing for a job because that was what I was experiencing during that time.
A lot has changed, not only for myself but...
8 Tips for Conquering the National Dental Hygiene Board Exam
For some dental hygiene students, their last semester is fast approaching which means preparing for board exams and applying for your dental hygienist state licensure. One of the many board exams a dental hygiene student must take is the national dental hygiene board exam (NBDHE). The NBDHE definitely can be very intimidating. It's one of the many steps and requirements...
Hygienist Spotlight: The Multifaceted Hygienist Behind Teacher Tina RDH
When dental hygienists hear the words ‒ hygienist, educator, local anesthesia, basic life support and CPR-certified instructor ‒ who do they think of? Tina Clarke, RDH, MEd, truly fits all of these roles well.
You may be familiar with her as Teacher Tina RDH, going live every Tuesday on social media. She speaks on all things clinical hygiene, including local...
Different Stages of Career: Midstream Hygienists Agree on “Understanding Your Worth”
As I mentioned in part one of this series, Different Stages of Career, part two will focus on a dental hygienist from Massachusetts, who wishes to remain anonymous. She did attend the same dental hygiene school with Mary Reis, RDH (who was featured in part one). The goal of having two hygienists with the same career experience is to...
50 States of Dentistry: Hygienists’ Different Responsibilities Across the Country
Editor's note: Original publish date: January 18, 2023. Your state's dental practice act, which can be found on your state's Board of Dentistry/Board of Dental Examiners website, includes your allowable duties, CE requirements, supervision levels, and the rules pertaining to your state. It is highly encouraged that all dental health care professionals check their state's dental practice act often,...
Hygienist Spotlight: Claire Roesler – Maine’s First Dental Therapist Delivers Advanced Care
Many states advocate for the expansion of dental hygienists' scope of practice, including creating room for the dental therapist. The only four dental therapist programs/schools in the United States are three in Minnesota and one in Alaska.1
In addition, only thirteen states currently have legislation on dental therapy.1 One state that just recently gained its first dental therapist is Maine....
5 Everyday Tasks that Affect Patients’ Oral Health
Everyone has a daily routine. Some people brush their teeth and then grab a cup of coffee on the way to work. Certain routines affect oral health. Here are some simple things that many people, including dental hygienists, may forget are not the best for them to do.
1) Sipping all day!
Sipping on sugary and acidic coffees, teas, energy drinks,...
Dental Hygienists’ Mental Health: Working Through the Difficult Times in Dentistry
Mental health has become recognized as an essential piece of one's entire whole-body health. When we think of mental health in the dental profession, we think of dental patients. But what about the dental provider on the other side of the chair?
There are some challenging parts of our job, which can take a toll both physically and mentally. Here...
Boosting Morale in the Workplace: Dental Teamwork Makes the Dream Work, Right?
It doesn't matter if you are a part-time or full-time hygienist. You are at your office or other dental health setting for majority of the day or week. Sometimes you are at work more than you are at home. Am I right? Employees working together collaboratively and giving 100% every day will guarantee success.
Doesn't this sound great for everyone?...
Questions Dental Hygienists Should Ask Prospective Employers During an Interview
Health care workers are currently in extreme demand, and dental hygienists are no exception. A huge need for dental hygienists exists, with many job openings available. Not all job positions are the same, though, or what you might necessarily be looking for. This article will aid in sorting through all the job listings, and what to ask employers to...
Hygienist Spotlight: Interview with Sarah Crow, RDH, Explains Guided Biofilm Therapy
The work environments of dental hygienists are not all the same; some are private practices, while some are group practices (DSO) or public clinics. Dental hygienists also treat patients in different ways, depending on allowable duties and/or equipment available in the office ‒ all according to the individual patient's needs.
Many dental providers understand the "traditional" way of dental hygiene...