Dental Hygiene

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...

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) became an epidemic in the United States in the early 1980s causing great concern for many healthcare workers. Today, after almost forty years of research, infection control guidelines and universal standard precautions are set in place due to the epidemic to ensure clinicians and patients are protected with proper PPE, no matter their health status....

I worked as a temporary hygienist at an office the other day and was approached with the strangest of concepts. I was asked if I was comfortable with assisted hygiene. My response, “Absolutely. Who is the assistant I will be working with?” Their response shocked me. I was advised I wouldn’t have an assistant working with me, but it...

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...

The sugar alcohol family, known as polyols, have become popular in chewing gums, lozenges, and dental hygiene products due to their unique ability to add sweetness and improve oral health. Introduced in 1970, xylitol has recently been at the forefront of the discussion with benefits backed by extensive research. It has been incorporated into many dental hygiene products across...

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...

Disclosure: We value transparency at Today’s RDH. This article is sponsored content from 3M Oral Care as part of our sponsored partner program. As a dental hygienist, you are constantly assessing caries risk. What’s often missing is comprehensive and personalized patient engagement. Building trust with patients, empowering them to take control of their oral health, and educating them about their current situation...

Dental hygiene is a highly rewarding profession that allows us to serve our communities. We help patients maintain an important part of their overall health, sometimes contributing to transformations that allow people to smile again. We grow with our patients and their families over time, and those we work with on a daily basis become like family. However, as...

Essential oils have been around for a very long time, but recently over the last few years using essential oils have been becoming more popular to help naturally treat the body. There are many types of oils you can buy and from many different companies. One of the most important things about buying essential oils is making sure that...

Handheld portable imaging devices have increased in popularity over the recent years. Offices are converting to handheld units for a number of reasons. This includes portability, space-savings and the big one, cost-effectiveness. Handheld units are battery operated and can be recharged in a timely manner. As dental hygienists, we are the ones exposing the majority of images throughout the...