Kara Vavrosky, RDHEP
Kara Vavrosky, RDHEP, is a co-founder and the chief content officer of Today’s RDH, an independent educational publishing company for dental hygienists, encompassing articles, a podcast, virtual continuing education events, and self-study continuing education. Today’s RDH was launched in 2018 after Kara built her social media presence with her largest following on her Facebook page, Dental Hygiene with Kara RDH, which was created in 2013.
An Oregon Institute of Technology graduate, Kara has a deep passion for spreading knowledge about the importance of oral health and its association with systemic health. Kara’s passion extends to helping other hygienists understand current protocols and evidence-based research – all with the goal of lifting dental hygienists and the dental hygiene profession.
Kara was recognized in 2020 as one of the Top 100 Women in Media for her entrepreneurship as a co-founder of Today’s RDH. In 2022, she was recognized by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association for their Standout Seven Award in the Entrepreneur category.
Kara lives in Vancouver, Washington, just outside Portland, Oregon, with her husband, Ben, and their four Chihuahuas. When she’s not working, Kara loves riding the Oregon Dunes on her quad, spoiling her Chihuahuas, and spending time with her close-knit family.
Reducing Tooth Sensitivity and Bacteria with CHX-containing Varnish, Cervitec Plus
Disclosure: This article is sponsored by Ivoclar Vivadent as part of our sponsored partner program.
When hygienists hear the word chlorhexidine, many may automatically think of chlorhexidine gluconate rinse; with that comes the thought of stain, calculus build-up, inhibition of fibroblasts (which can impair healing), and taste alterations. While these are downfalls for chlorhexidine gluconate rinses, the same does not hold...
5 Mouth Myths Debunked
There are many misconceptions regarding oral hygiene and the mouth that some of our patients believe to be true. With a large amount of false information found online, it’s no wonder our patients can be easily led in the wrong direction when it comes to oral health.
It’s always important to remember that just because you read something online, doesn’t...
How Clean Are the Waterlines in Your Operatory?
Patients come to your dental office because they are looking to improve or maintain their health. Unfortunately, news stories too often emphasize the opposite effect. A patient becomes sick or even hospitalized, apparently because they visited a dental office. One recent report that made national headlines highlighted the tragic story of a seven-year-old girl, who had to have four...
Ask Kara RDH: What would you do if you’re being questioned on probing depths?
My Director of Operations had her friend come in for a cleaning last week. She had not been to the dentist for ten years but has excellent hygiene. My Director of Operations got mad at me because she didn’t need a deep cleaning. Probing depths were healthy with no bone loss or inflammation present. She is now having the...
Ask Kara RDH: Good Job Offer, but 45 Minute Appointments
I was recently offered a job with more pay and good benefits. However, the appointments are only 45 minutes, except for SRP. Also, the equipment, such as the ultrasonic, are old. The office is pretty laid back, and the people and doctor are very nice, unlike my current, very well-equipped office. I did the working interview, and I felt...
Ask Kara RDH: Is Burnout in Clinical Hygiene Normal?
I have been doing clinical hygiene 3-4 days per week for over a year now and I’m already feeling burnt out. I work at a great office and love what I do but have noticed that patient’s attitudes make me dislike the job. It’s annoying when a patient tries to dictate care (no cold water, no ultrasonic, negative reactions...
What Hygienists Need to Know About Saliva, Xylitol, and Xerostomia
Article sponsored by OraCoat.
Unless a person suffers from xerostomia (dry mouth), most people don’t give a second thought to saliva. That is until they are seated in the dental chair and find themselves drowning in it or are suddenly unable to swallow. All joking aside, saliva plays a crucial role in oral health. It aides in teeth remineralization, clears...
Ask Kara RDH: Patient Refusal Forms
The new office I work for has refusal forms for everything: X-rays, perio chart, SRP, etc. To me, this is supervised neglect for over two years of X-rays and one year for periodontal charting. I’m not sure about non-surgical periodontal therapy/SRP. I had one patient who had not had a perio chart in several years due to refusal. I...
Ask Kara RDH: What should I do about doctor cutting my pay?
I’ve been a hygienist at my current office for two years now. When the doctor hired me, he told me he would pay me $30 per hour ON ONE CONDITION: he said I must have at least five patients per day. If I have less than five, he cuts my pay down to $16 an hour. I agreed only...
UPDATE: Washington State HB 1935 Dies in Committee!
Great news came out of Olympia, Washington, on February 22, 2019. The House Bill that was proposed on Wednesday, February 6, 2019, that would allow dental assistants to perform dental hygiene procedures, with nothing more than a one-time training failed to make it out of committee. You can read more about this bill and the effort made to stop...
Ask Kara RDH: Office Doesn’t Feel Like a Good Fit
I recently moved and started working at an office last week. After taking the position, I realized that it is very unorganized and patient care is not their main focus. There is negativity in the office and I actually sometimes feel very uncomfortable with the situations I have been put in. I am too nice of a person and...
Ask Kara RDH: Asking for a Raise
I work for one doctor at 2 of his offices. They are each in 2 completely different areas and therefore have two different average salary rates for the areas. I get paid $43 at one office which is okay for the area, but then I get paid the same amount for the other office when the average salary is...
Dentinal Hypersensitivity Relief: A Review of Tokuyama’s Shield Force Plus
Disclosure: We value transparency at Today’s RDH. This review is sponsored content from Tokuyama Dental America, Inc. as part of our sponsored partner program.
Your patient presents with a chief complaint of tooth sensitivity. After radiographs and a clinical examination, you’ve guessed it, gingival recession, exposed dentin, sensitivity, oh my! Unfortunately, dentinal hypersensitivity is a common issue for many of our patients....
Hygienists Under Attack! Oppose Washington State HB 1935 & SB 5833
On Wednesday, February 6th, 2019 the Washington State Legislature proposed bills in both the House and Senate that will allow dental assistants to perform dental hygiene procedures with nothing more than a "one-time training."
Specifically, if these bills pass, dental assistants will be able to do the following:
Perform dental prophylaxis with supragingival scaling;
Perform periodontal probing; and
Perform gross...
4 Things to Consider When Recommending a Toothbrush
As dental hygienists, we all know we should be individualizing our home care recommendations. Whether it be a toothbrush, interdental cleaner, or other home care product, just because we personally love a certain product for our own use, doesn’t mean all patients should be instructed to use said product.
When considering which toothbrush to recommend we need to understand our...
5 More Infection Control Mistakes You Might Not Realize You’re Making
Infection control has always been a top priority for dental hygienists. After all, it is vital to create a safe treatment environment for patients and hygienists alike. However, some dental hygienists mistakenly endanger themselves and their patients by failing to update their protocols and best practices. After writing my previous article on infection control mistakes, I received a plethora...
Ask Kara RDH: PSA Block Injection Complication
I recently administered a right PSA block on a patient. Seconds after, my patient expressed that it hurt more than when I had numbed the left side a week prior. She kept expressing that her cheek felt puffy and hard. I attempted to massage the anesthetic into the nerve, but the patient continued to tell me that it felt...
6 Things Hygienists Wish Their Doctor/Boss Knew
As dental hygienists, we respect the doctor we work for. After all, it is their practice, their business, and we work either under direct or indirect supervision of them. They are the boss. Because of this respect, some topics that are hard or just plain uncomfortable to bring up with them. We might also hold back because we don’t...
Ask Kara RDH: New Hygienist Doing Inferior Work
I have 33 years experience and have worked in my current office for 13 years. I take pride in my care of my patients. We deal with a lot of perio, have successful results with SRP, and refer when needed. The doctors hired a new hygienist. I have brought to their attention a few situations where at the four-month...
Ask Kara RDH: Patients Complain I Talk too Much
When I am uncomfortable, running late, stressed out, fill-in the blank—–, I talk too loud and tend to talk too much. This “she talks too much” has inspired two patients complaining this last year in our reviews. I really try not to, but sometimes I misread the patient and pow! Any advice?
This can be a tough one because you...