Laurie Magallan, RDH, BSDH

Disclosure: This article has been sponsored by Heartland Dental, but Heartland Dental had no input in the editorial process or writing of this article. Congratulations! You’ve completed your schooling, earned your degree in dental hygiene, and have been licensed. Dentistry is a fulfilling and in-demand field that can provide many opportunities for personal and professional growth. You may be feeling intimidated...

Left-handed dental hygienists have an added struggle to an already demanding career because many operatories have inadequate space on the left-hand side of the patient chair. Beyond inadequate space, I have seen a job posting stating a preference for right-handed hygienists, and early in my career, an interview ended abruptly when I mentioned being left-handed. This led me to wonder...

A mantra is a word, phrase, or sound that can be repeated to focus our thoughts. Often used in yoga and meditation, mantras can be used in any aspect of life and can be said aloud or thought silently. A positive affirmation can be a mantra, although some affirmations are lengthy and not usually repeated over and over. Mantras...

Lawsuits against dental hygienists are uncommon, but they do happen. According to the National Practitioner Data Bank, there were 259 adverse action reports made against dental hygienists or dental assistants in 2022.1 Of those, there were five malpractice lawsuits that ended in court-ordered payment. It is unknown how many of the adverse action reports ended in a monetary settlement...

Dental hygienists have spent years to be able to meet and maintain the educational standards and skills required to practice dentistry. We have been trained in infection control, oral and systemic disease processes, and proper instrumentation, among other things. However, an industry known as "street dentistry" exists outside our world of rigorous safety protocols. For some, it means, quite literally,...

In dental hygiene school, I was taught not to apologize to patients for things that weren’t my fault. This has been a struggle for me since I’m an over-apologizer. For example, if someone were to bump into me, I would apologize to them, and this got me wondering why I was apologizing for just existing. Over-apologizing is a bad habit,...

It's no secret that dentistry in the United States can be expensive. Many patients struggle to afford all their treatment needs, which has led some patients to seek dental care outside of the United States in countries where it is much cheaper. Dental tourism is when a patient travels abroad specifically to receive dental care. Dental professionals should be knowledgeable...

Selecting a place of employment is a huge decision. Dental hygienists spend a significant portion of their lives at work, so it's important to find an office that is a good fit. There is an inherent risk in accepting a new position because we often leave our current office behind when we start, and we are counting on the...

Ever since I became a dental hygienist, friends and family have asked me the same question: "When are you going to go all the way and become a dentist?" It's nothing malicious. To them, it just seems like the next logical step. But for me, becoming a dentist was never something I considered. I know a few dental hygienists who...

Dental offices create massive amounts of waste. I often feel guilty when I throw away the plastic barriers from my room ‒ not to mention the hundreds of gloves, sterilization pouches, prophy angles, and so on. The waste is multiplied by every single dental appointment. Is there a way to cut down on waste while still upholding the highest standards...