Dental Hygiene

The question comes up a lot: How do I expand my career outside of the clinical setting? It is quite difficult to answer this question. Not because there are no opportunities, there’s actually many. It’s because there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to answer this question. It really depends on you, as an individual; including your particular goals, expectations, skillset, and what...

Not many people like going to a dental office, whether it’s because of the amount of time that is spent or because of dental anxiety. Therefore, as dental hygienists, we try our very best to ensure that each patient has a smooth time in the office and our patients feel comfortable. However, there are a few things that patients...

There are many misconceptions regarding oral hygiene and the mouth that some of our patients believe to be true. With a large amount of false information found online, it’s no wonder our patients can be easily led in the wrong direction when it comes to oral health. It’s always important to remember that just because you read something online, doesn’t...

In December 2016, the world of dentistry lost a remarkable and groundbreaking woman, just three days after her 100th birthday. Esther Wilkins, the "matriarch of dental hygiene" was first licensed as a hygienist in 1939, and presided over decades of revolutionary changes in oral health and dental practice. Her long career in the field spanned sweeping changes such as: The evolving...

There are only a few things in this world that people enjoy more than sweets, whether it be chocolate or even adding sugar to a daily cup of coffee. We humans just cannot seem to get enough. However, tooth decay is considered an epidemic in children in the USA. Further, sugar, and the inflammation caused by it, feeds many...

I am here to tell you a story, a story with a moral to it. I will tell you that moral from the outset, just to alleviate your anticipation a bit and hopefully spark a hint of interest in you. The moral of this story is: You are enough and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, not even yourself. I...

Naval dental medicine was founded in 1912 and originally established to recruit Sailors and Marines that would have otherwise been rejected from service due to dental needs2. The Naval Dental School was established in 1923, and it began the revolution in preventive care for the military.1 At the time, the school’s research leader, Capt. William Ferguson, was particularly active...

We all know that a healthy immune system is essential for overall health. With a strong immune system, your body can fight off sickness and illnesses before symptoms arise, keeping you healthy and strong. While it’s important to have a healthy immune system, have you ever thought about what it would mean to have a healthy periodontal immune system?...

A grown-up brush. Designed for kids. Kids find pride in using products that look and feel like those the adults in their life use, so quip made a grown-up toothbrush designed for kids, to help them enjoy brushing their teeth, better and more often. quip for kids has all of the same guiding features of the original quip (but none...

In the early days of the dental hygiene profession, a large effort was expended on hygienists who worked in elementary schools. Hygienists distributed information on dental disease prevention throughout the public.2 Over time, the dental hygiene career has evolved and grown. With stricter laws and regulations concerning supervision, dental hygienist are now typically employed in general and specialized dental...