COVID-19

The Today's RDH pandemic survey results are based on 2,602 responses to a Today's RDH, non-scientific questionnaire posted on Facebook. The survey was posted on the Dental Hygiene with Kara RDH Facebook page, and responses were gathered from January 20 through February 11. Less than 1% of the survey respondents indicated that they were not a resident of the United...

Hygiene schools teach the importance of preprocedural rinses (PPMR), viewing it as a method for lowering the bacterial load and preventing the spread of disease/microorganisms. When the pandemic descended upon us, the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) once again pushed the narrative that preprocedural rinses, specifically hydrogen peroxide, were necessary and beneficial to...

After 10 long months of experiencing some of the darkest hours in world history, the calvary finally arrived – in the form of a vaccine. The pandemic brought grief to many who lost loved ones and others who suffered economic challenges. These emotions may still be a top concern to some reading this article, and my heart is with...

A year ago, I had a patient who experienced a panic attack, and everything I learned in hygiene school went out the window. My mind went completely blank, and I ran out to get help. I gave her bottled water and stayed by her side while the dentist asked her to take deep breaths and think of her happy...

As a society and a profession, we are facing an extremely stressful time. The COVID-19 shelter-in-place restrictions are not only a public health emergency, but it has quickly become an emotional and mental health crisis. Stress-related depression and anxiety are rising while families are trapped at home with no or little income, homeschooling children, and under a constant barrage...

With the onset of COVID-19 and a political environment where governments weigh imposing restrictions regarding where consumers can gather outside of their homes, a rise in mental health issues has inadvertently also occurred. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states on its website that "fear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be...

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 original article publication (December 24, 2020), but with the rapid changes occurring, some information may have changed since publication. Please visit coronavirus.gov for the latest news and information on COVID-19. The current pandemic...

Stress brings out the best and worst in people, and it needs to be addressed in a careful but meaningful way. We need to be there for one another and come together like we never have. Times are definitely tough, and everyone seems to be handling it at their own pace and in their own way. Let's discuss the nuances...

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, people have been limited in living their normal lives, including visits with healthcare providers. In some areas, dental visits have been down or put on the back burner due to governmental mandates about dental treatment, patients' fears of catching the virus, and the lack of dental professionals returning to practice. Dental patients are seeking...

The pandemic has placed more challenges on the deaf and hard-of-hearing community by making masks standard in most public places. A trip to the dental office can be scary for most people. For the deaf and hard-of-hearing community that relies on visual cues and lipreading for communication, it can be even more difficult. Even mask-wearing in the dental operatory during...