Dental Hygiene

A dentist wouldn’t place an implant using a composite kit. Why do so many hygienists settle for an augmented prophy setup when performing an SRP or periodontal maintenance? Adding a few choice instruments into your perio-fighting arsenal will give you greater access to pockets, remove more calculus, cause less tissue trauma, and likely improve your periodontal outcomes.1 Start with the...

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,...

Have you ever wondered if feelings, emotions, and actions are learned behavior or instinct? As trained health professionals, dental hygienists have zeroed in on how to become highly efficient, effective, and productive. We know what needs to be done for our day to run smoothly, and we are able to adjust to any twists or turns throughout the day. How...

The processes of change in dental patient education are associated with the stages of change model. The stages of change, also known as the Transtheoretical Model, offer guidance on the readiness of individuals or groups to change behavior. The 10 processes of change are divided into two categories ─ experiential and behavioral. An individual can go through each of these...

Disclosure: This article is sponsored content from Designs for Vision as part of our sponsored partner program. For dental professionals, patient health and safety remain a top priority now more than ever. The expectations are to provide a high standard of care while creating the best possible experience for patients. Hundreds of precautionary measures are taken throughout the day to ensure...

According to Bankrate.com, nearly half of American employees participate in the gig economy and can potentially earn a monthly income of over $1,000. A side gig (also known as the independent workforce or freelancing) is any type of employment undertaken in addition to one’s full-time job. Dental hygienists are the definition of multitasking. We review medical histories, provide oral services,...

Have you ever thought about the amount of waste a dental practice produces? It can be hard to ignore when a large part of our day is dedicated to cleaning and changing over rooms for the next patient. For the sake of time efficiency and maximizing cleanliness, disposable barriers, single-use products, and chemical-laden cleaning agents have become essential. However,...

I am a veteran dental hygienist. I am also a mother and a grandmother, and I like the title of “Memaw” much better. I know exactly how parents feel when a child is experiencing pain or discomfort. Parents want solutions and answers on how to alleviate or prevent the pain, especially when infants and small children are unable to...

Sleep apnea has become a growing health concern because of its link to other potentially fatal health conditions. Sleep apnea occurs when there are pauses in the breathing of people sleeping, and may result in the sufferer waking and gasping for air. As dental clinicians, we have the ability to evaluate our patients for potential sleep disorders, based on...

Laser dentistry is a non-evasive approach to dentistry. “Laser” is derived from the acronym “Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation.1” Lasers have been used in dentistry for over twenty years for the treatment of both hard and soft tissue. In 1994, lasers were first introduced in dentistry for soft tissue treatment, after receiving approval from the Food and...