Dental Hygiene

You have probably heard the old adage, “you are what you eat.” Sure, this sounds like common sense advice, but diet and dental health have failed to focus on foods you should eat. We now realize that this saying is important for oral health. Each food that you put in your mouth affects your dental health. Teeth and eating always...

The years and tears spent on attending dental hygiene school are marked with a high level of stress that hygienists know all too well. You are so excited during the first two weeks. You have the perfect planner to organize all of your assignments and quizzes. You have a locker, a cubby, and a dressing room. The anticipation of...

Disclosure: This video is sponsored content from Heartland Dental as part of our sponsored partner program. Not all DSOs are the same. Watch Kara Vavrosky, RDHEP's chat with Jill Ulrici, RDH, a Regional Hygiene Mentor at Heartland Dental, to see how Heartland Dental is different. Jill discusses the onboarding process, the mentorship opportunities available, and types of training available for hygienists at...

An understanding of the mechanism, the purpose, and dosage will help determine when and why multiple blood pressure medications are used. Simple lifestyle changes (such as diet, exercise, and weight loss) can lower blood pressure. When blood pressure is very high, and lifestyle measures have failed, medications are commonly prescribed. Some blood pressure medications work in the heart. Others work...

Disclosure: This article is sponsored content from 3M Oral Care as part of our sponsored partner program. Several years ago, I had a patient who went from having no problems and uncomplicated dental appointments to suddenly having to carry water with her everywhere. She also required frequent squirts of water during her dental cleaning just to help keep her mouth comfortable....

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...

Do you find yourself waking up during the night because you snore, and it is affecting you and your partner? Have you ever had to watch your child sleep and fear that your child will stop breathing due to pauses in breathing during their sleep? Snoring and pauses in breathing during sleep can be one of the first signs...

Oil pulling, and the supposed health benefits of it, has been making the rounds for a few years now. You've probably even had a patient or two ask you about it. Spread through articles on social media and online blogs, oil pulling is touted as the latest and greatest way to improve oral health and purify your body. As a...

Do you remember the spring semester your freshman year of dental hygiene school? Filled with lingering instrumentation competencies, the anticipation of seeing your first REAL patient? As an educator, each spring when I teach polishing, students are just thrilled. They love it, and it is FUN for them! Polishing is FUN, but depending on when and where you received...

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...