Dental Hygiene

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and if you are like me, you scour the internet for presentation ideas as you prepare to reach out to the youth in your area. For years, I have been going to the local elementary school to give a presentation to at least one grade level. Over the years, I have accumulated...

For most of us, brushing our teeth is something we do daily, at least twice. It helps freshen our breath and to brighten our smile, but most importantly, we do it to keep our mouths healthy which unknowingly to most, affects our overall health. Society has been brushing their teeth for thousands of years now. The brush has evolved...

Our goal as hygienists in treating active periodontal disease is not only to remove calculus contributing to bacterial growth and chronic inflammation but also to kill the bacteria which causes periodontal disease progression. Many of us were taught in school to irrigate periodontal pockets with chlorhexidine gluconate following non-surgical periodontal therapy/SRP to ensure bacterial destruction, as chlorhexidine has been...

Currently, more people are flossing than ever! However, don’t get excited… They are flossing their bodies not their teeth (you know you have tried it!) If I could get my son to be as diligent with his math as he is with his floss dance, he would become the next Albert Einstein. Flossing, such a simple concept yet practiced...

To Whom It May Concern, Your recent article published on your website on November 19, 2018, titled “Sucking Baby’s Pacifier Clean May Prevent Allergies,” has me concerned for babies health. Let me begin by introducing myself; I’m a Registered Dental Hygienist. Dental hygienists are also considered preventive health care specialist; we are one of the professions in the health care...

Ultrasonic scaling has been around for decades and should be part of the dental hygienist’s daily patient routine. Sonic scalers are still around, but most have transitioned to ultrasonic scalers. Ultrasonic Scaling Technology There are two types of ultrasonic scalers: magnetostrictive and piezoelectric. Both ultrasonics are effective but operate differently. Piezoelectric devices use electrical energy to activate crystals within the...

Several years ago, a popular talk show informed the public that dental X-rays could be a contributing factor in thyroid cancer. This was shared via emails and social media and incited fear in many people. People began declining dental X-rays and made dental professionals jobs quite difficult. Since that time, I still encounter patients that decline X-rays due to...

New and exciting things were happening at this past EuroPerio9 held in Amsterdam from June 20th-23rd, 2018. The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) announced new periodontal classifications for the AAP Guidelines. The guidelines have not been updated since 1999, so this is a pretty big deal! This was a long time coming as both the American Academy of Periodontology...

For some, a dental appointment is a fearfully, dreaded appointment; while others don’t mind or even eagerly anticipate the appointment. However, no matter which side of the fence you are on it seems to be a mutual consensus that no one enjoys dental X-rays, and many are confused why they are even necessary. Often, dental professionals are questioned about...

In June, I had the opportunity to attend the EuroPerio9 workshop held in Amsterdam. While attending, I took courses from researchers and also sponsored courses on new products.  During my travels, I saw a lengthy discussion on Facebook regarding selective polishing.  Everyone had their own opinion, as they always do, and I couldn’t help but think, “Can we stop...