Dental Hygiene

Video sponsored by Cetylite. Kara RDH discusses and demonstrates the features, benefits and technique to use non-injectable Cetacaine Liquid (benzocaine 14%, butamben 2%, tetracaine HCl 2%) in patients, for long lasting anesthesia to the mucous membrane for soft tissue periodontal treatments. A Cetacaine Liquid 30g bottle treats up to 300 quadrants for less than $2 per dose. Anesthesia takes effect...

Managing chronic pain can be a lifetime task. Unfortunately, how we manage the pain may have dire consequences. Regular exercise, walking, yoga, massage, and chiropractic care of some methods of pain control and prevention. All of these methods may help prevent and control pain symptoms, but what if we forget to ascertain the cause? Radiography is the Gold Standard...

Have you started using the miracle in a tube? Every day we treat patients with dentinal hypersensitivity that makes the appointment uncomfortable or fearful. Worse yet are dental patients who choose not to seek treatment because of perceived pain that may occur. We now have a treatment option that is fast, affordable, proven, and long-acting. Anywhere Anytime by Colgate is...

Samples, samples, samples! Sampling products from PPE to home-care supplies are a great opportunity for patients and clinicians to try something new and test it out. You may switch over to a new product almost immediately, quickly admiring the results of using it. Testing out products gives you hands-on experiences and observation, allowing you to formulate your own opinion...

Dear inquisitive hygienist minds as well as current and future patients, Throughout the years, I have been humorously entertained during many conversations about the dental hygiene profession. I have even been questioned personally about my credentials. I feel the need to help lay your curiosity to rest. Better yet, I hope to help you feel more confident in your dental...

A study and subsequent articles recently cited lower IQ measurements for children whose mothers ingested fluoride during pregnancy, creating a paranoid frenzy among parents. The article stated that the ingestion of fluoridated water by an expectant mother decreased the IQ of the child by 2.5 points on a 200-point IQ test scale.1 The study in question is deeply flawed. Please...

There are few breakthroughs in dental medicine that can compare to the effectiveness and poetically simple discovery of fluoride for the use of caries prevention. We know through education and experience that fluoride is an indispensable component of our fight against tooth decay. As dental professionals, it can be easy to take for granted this ally in dental health...

You have worked incredibly hard to get where you are as a dental hygienist, investing time and money into your degree, keeping current on professional development, and providing first-rate care within the four walls of a dental practice. How satisfied are you? If you don’t have complete fulfillment in your present role as a dental hygienist, what is leaving you unsatisfied?...

What do we really know about toothpaste abrasion? I always thought the relative dentin abrasivity (RDA) was a key factor when choosing toothpaste for our patients, hoping that the amount of recession as well as the overall wear on enamel would be reduced. Shock! I was so wrong! The RDA was simply a test designed in 1976 to determine abrasion...

After graduating from a dental hygiene program, new hygienists certainly are not thinking about stepping back into an educational institution. For most new graduates, a looming student debt needs to be tackled. As a result, practicing as a clinical dental hygienist is the most accepted and lucrative route when beginning a dental hygiene career. It is well known that you...