Dental Hygiene

The key to solving most chronic diseases is prevention, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cognitive decline are no different. Hundreds of billions of dollars have gone into research with no consensus on treatment or cure, but there is significant evidence that the answer is in what is called “modifiable risk factors.”1,2 Dr. Rudy Tanzi is one of the leading...

When I went for a consultation about my wisdom teeth extraction in high school, my oral surgeon asked me if I wanted to schedule my surgery with the signs of the moon. I thought he was joking. What does the moon have to do with getting my wisdom teeth removed? I don't read my horoscope or put stock in...

We’ve met some amazing dental hygienists, all at different points in their careers: Fran Tourdot, age 82. Barb Orth, age 75. Renee Ahlf, age 67 and Kelli Dash, age 56. The next chapter in our Decades of Dental Hygiene introduces us to Kym Dallstream, RDH, BS, age 42. Kim is a nonstop volunteer and has used the networking connections...

The reveal of sealed documents from agricultural corporation Monsanto in March 2017 left the medical world silent. After a ruling from San Francisco Judge Vince Chhabria in a civil suit regarding the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the contents of the previously sealed documents shocked the nation.1 Later to be published in an article titled “The Monsanto Papers: Poisoning the Scientific...

Have you thought about applying for a position on the Colgate Oral Health Advisory Board (COHAB) for 2020? I sincerely hope everyone knows about this opportunity Colgate provides for hygienists. The board is made up of a small number of diverse dental professionals. The number of years practicing, location, area of interest, and practice type are all taken into...

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I love the online dental hygiene community. I enjoy being a part of several forums and continuously find myself learning new information. In a field where many of us are the sole hygienist in an office, forums help to bring unity and ensure us that we are not alone in our struggles and triumphs. There are times, however, when a...

I’m not quite sure how to introduce a topic that some may categorize as a dead horse, beaten over and over again. In my opinion, though, instrument sharpening clearly needs to be readdressed in light of recent events. I suppose I’ll just start with a couple of stories to help shed some light on this recurring issue. One gloomy morning,...

When working clinically, a common question I receive is: “Will my wisdom teeth make my teeth crowded?” Many discussions in dental hygiene forums end with little consensus. Many studies have investigated the possible link. But is it really that simple? Can one single entity be the cause of mandibular anterior crowding? I have found that mandibular anterior crowding is one of...

As I get older, I notice myself commonly making references to the past by using the phrase, “Back in the day…” Music and television award shows also pay homage to their past and the changes that have taken place over the years. Then, too, education teaches lessons on past world history as it does on current world affairs. History...