Dental Hygiene

When a patient confided a few years ago about a recent diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), I had never heard of the illness before, nor was I aware of the severity of the symptoms. After her extraoral and intraoral examination, I learned that her condition had negatively affected her overall health. The patient’s hair had significantly fallen out, she...

The term self-care has become a popular buzz word, usually as encouragement to engage in activities that fill our souls and provide a resting place after a busy day. The term is increasingly appearing on social media, in self-help books, and even advertisements. As dental professionals, we often hear about physical self-care due to the daily microtraumas caused by the...

This year, something special is happening on Sunday, June 20th: The first day of summer coincides with Father’s Day. The official start of high temperatures and unspeakable humidity (if you live in Florida as I do) combines the promise of summer fun with honoring the fathers (and father figures) in our lives. If you are like me, finding the right...

Disclosure: This video is sponsored content from LISTERINE® as part of our sponsored partner program. The LISTERINE® Brand Team understands and respects the influence dental professionals play in recommending products to patients. A professional’s recommendation is the number one reason patients change their habits. Because of this, LISTERINE® Brand Team wants to keep dental professionals updated on an ad campaign they are...

Oral lichenoid lesions (OLL) refer to a group of lesions that appear as white ─ or a combination of red and white ─ and can be found on multiple surfaces in the oral cavity. They often look similar (and even identical) to oral lichen planus (OLP). One article stated, “Typically, the clinical presentation in both conditions can be reticular...

Dental providers have been talking about oral-systemic health for many years. Some may feel it falls on deaf ears, but they fight the good fight. Organizations such as the American Academy of Oral Systemic Health feature a bountiful array of continuing education classes speaking about the relationship between oral health and whole-body health. You can dial up courses on the...

Decades ago, I watched a documentary on Yemen that showed how in Yemeni culture, people habitually chewed some sort of leaves, especially during social gatherings. Since I did not know many cultures had the habit of chewing leaves, this memory stayed with me. Fast forward to dental hygiene school, and during my third semester, I treated a patient who was...

Check out this video where Kara Vavrosky, RDHEP, interviews Linda Hirce, RDH, from Arm & Hammer Oral Care Pro, and they discuss the new and improved Spinbrush™ power toothbrushes. A special thank you to Arm & Hammer Oral Care Pro for sponsoring this video and recognizing the influence dental professionals have in recommending products to patients! Learn more about the new and improved Spinbrush™...

Disclosure: This video is sponsored content from Septodont as part of our sponsored partner program. Watch this quick Septodont Septo-Tip from Diane Dornisch, RDH, MBA, where she discusses DycloPro Topical Anesthetic, a topical rinse indicated for use for non-surgical periodontal therapy/SRP, scaling in the presence of inflammation, to suppress a patient's gag reflex, and for anesthetizing before injection of local anesthetics. Learn...

The dreaded D-word: diagnosis. Why is it that such an integral part of every hygiene appointment is tiptoed around by hygienists? Dental hygienists are smart, focused, and, most importantly, trusted by our patients. Think for a minute about the time patients spend with their hygienist versus the doctor – utilize it! There are three key responsibilities of the dental hygienist...