Dental Hygiene

An amazing thing about being a dental hygienist is the flexibility of our work schedule. Hygienists can choose the days and times to work. We can even choose where. Temporarily employed dental hygienists can do just that − work on our own terms. Before deciding to temp, though, here are a few tips to follow that can ensure you have...

Many dental hygienists attempted to define “ambition” within the dental hygiene profession as part of a Today’s RDH survey, even while many admittedly struggled with career satisfaction. Overall, 82 American dental hygienists participated in the Today’s RDH survey. Fifty-nine percent of the respondents have been practicing dental hygiene for less than 20 years. Most hygienists (87 percent) say they feel encouraged...

Since periodontal disease is a chronic complex disease affecting 47% of the adult population in the United States,1 we know that treatment of the periodontium with an eye on oral-systemic links is an important focus. Proper nutrition should not be neglected as it plays an intricate role in the control of periodontal disease. The good news is that a huge...

I am always surprised and intrigued to discover new information through my patients. Recently, a patient (male, late 40s) proudly showed me his smartphone app and explained how it tracked his blood sugar, insulin, carbs, weight, and blood glucose levels. He wears a patch on his arm, which he changes every two weeks. Blood sugar levels and other information...

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently added more details about occupational burnout to the International Classification of Diseases. Consequently, the topic of hygiene burnout is more relevant than ever.1 A staggering percentage of hygienists (17%) fantasize about a career change at least once per month, according to a 2015 survey, and graduates after 2010 reported the least amount of...

One of the most challenging tasks dental hygienists face is taking the patient’s clinical diagnosis and trying to make it fit into an insurance code to successfully gain payment. Too often, the front office states that a code won’t prompt payment or that the insurance won’t cover a procedure. One philosophy that we can follow is to treat patients based...

Thankfully, I am a deep sleeper. I often joke that I die every night and resurrect every morning. I have been blessed with good sleep genes and require no assistance from the Sandman. In addition, noises such as snoring (from my bed partner) have never disturbed me. The same cannot be said for my sister. She sleeps very lightly, and...

The quipcare platform offers set, transparent pricing for dental care and allows consumers to book and pay for professional services directly from a curated network of providers all in one app — ensuring Americans with or without insurance can access the care they need for less. NEW YORK, NY — July 9, 2019 - quip today announced the launch of...

The recent emphasis on the importance of a healthy diet and good nutrition has not been ignored by the dental profession. Vitamins and nutrients can have significant effects on the oral cavity. The patient’s medical history, clinical evaluation, and radiographs can reveal the negative effects of vitamin deficiencies and resulting oral manifestations. The most common vitamins that are introduced and...

An elderly female patient recently presented with hypothyroidism. Her health history documented that she was taking Synthroid. While verbally reviewing and updating her health history, she stated that she also took an OTC thyroid vitamin but did not know its name. She also disclosed that she is seeing an herbalist who is having her rub two essential oils (lemongrass...