Kim Kiser, RDH
Kim Kiser, RDH, whose career spans over 30 years, looks forward to sharing tips and topics that other fellow hygienist may find helpful, funny, and educational in their pursuit of ultimate care of their patients. A 1992 graduate of Trident College, Kim has a passion for educating patients with the best and most up to date products and techniques available, so patients fully understand how to properly be the best advocate in the care of their own oral health. Kim is a mother of 2, with one granddaughter, and resides in the beautiful North Georgia mountains with her husband, Mark. Outside of her love for dentistry, Kim also enjoys baking, gardening, painting, and enjoying all the beauty North Georgia has to offer.
Got the Quarantined Blues? Boredom Busters for Homebound Hygienists
The world as we know it is very different right now than just two weeks ago. Handwashing hopefully has become a highly popular activity, and we are learning new terms such as “social distancing.”
Sporting events are canceled; schools are closed; grocery stores have limited supplies of goods; bars, restaurants, and tourist hot spots are closed; and hotels and airlines...
Revisiting Standard Precautions to be Prepared for COVID-19 Advisories
Editor's Note: Information about COVID-19 is changing on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. We have made every attempt to ensure this article is up-to-date at the time of publication, but with the rapid changes occurring, some information may have changed since publication. Please visit https://www.coronavirus.gov/ for the latest news and information on COVID-19.
If you have watched TV, listened to the radio,...
An Ethical Question: Should Hygienists be Facebook Friends with Patients?
It is no surprise to anyone in the modern world that in 2020 we live in a very high tech, social network type of world. We can be connected to gaming sites, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat, and so many more with just the tap of a finger or a single voice command.
While I strongly believe that there are...
Coronavirus: What Dental Professionals Need to Know about COVID-19
Editor's Note: Information about COVID-19 is changing on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. We have made every attempt to ensure this article is up-to-date at the time of publication, but with the rapid changes occurring, some information may have changed since publication. Please visit https://www.coronavirus.gov/ for the latest news and information on COVID-19.
On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced...
Simple Tips for Improving the Dental Patient Experience
Let’s face it, a dental visit for some patients can be rather stress-inducing. For the fearful and anxious patients, a dental appointment is not their idea of a great way to spend an afternoon. Even the seasoned dental patient who doesn’t have any anxiety or fear issues may not be totally thrilled about spending time in the dental operatory.
In...
1099 or W-2: Which Tax forms Should Temp Dental Hygienists Receive?
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it’s that wonderful time of the year again. Beginning in January, the whole 1099 or W2 debate is in full swing for dental hygienists who do temporary or fill-in work. Temp work is certainly a great way to make some extra income, network with other professionals in your area, and possibly learn new techniques from...
Hygiene Hacks: 25 Tips to Simplify a Day of Dental Hygiene
With the start of a new year, many of us reflect on how we can improve ourselves. For some, it’s the need to get more sleep, read more, eat healthy, or get in shape. That’s one reason the gyms are full in January, and exercise equipment goes on sale. We all want to be and do better!
All of us...
5 Reasons Why I Love Being a Dental Hygienist
So many career options are available to people. Do you ever find yourself wondering how someone ended up doing what they do for a living? Some people know from a young age what career they want and gear their playtime, education, and training toward that for most of their lives and end up ecstatic with their choice! Not all...
Baby Teeth Matter: Embrace the Opportunity to Introduce Kids to Dentistry
Do you remember your first dental visit? I do not; I was apparently too young to have any memory of that momentous occasion. However, thanks to my chosen profession, I am a part of many kiddos’ first dental visit!
The American Dental Association recommends the first dental visit by age 12 months or six months after the appearance of the...
Reflections in My Dental Mirror: Tips for Younger Hygienists
My dental career began in Goose Creek, South Carolina, in 1987 at the ripe old age of 20. I was a certified dental assistant and immediately became hooked. I’m not sure what made me love it so; it could have been the smell of eugenol in the air, the fashionable scrubs I was able to wear, or the bright,...