Oral-Systemic Health (and How Desiccation Technology Can Help)
FEATURED STORY
It's not hard to convince clinicians and dental hygienists that poor oral hygiene has a detrimental effect on oral health and a patient's overall health. After all, dental professionals see evidence of this link in health at each dental appointment.
Bacteria in the mouth develop a protection system in the form of biofilm to grow and thrive in a number of situations. Biofilm plays a significant role in not only the development of health complications but also in the exacerbation of many oral and bodily diseases.
The Top 3 Most Confusing Perio Codes
What are your top three most confusing perio codes? What’s the code for lasers and air-polishing? Is D0180 for perio charting? Are we required to use D4346? If a patient has localized SRP on the right, what is the code for the left? What…
Fluoride Varnish: A Post-Care Guide to Eating and Drinking
You’ve probably heard this question after a fluoride varnish application: How long do I have to wait before I can eat and drink? Well, that depends. If patients want to make the most of their varnish treatment, the type of…
Is It Perio or Preventive? Clearing up the Codes
When it comes to codes, the lines between perio and preventive have been fuzzy. With the addition of the D4346 code, the fuzzy didn’t clear up much. But clear boundaries do exist. Codes can help with clarity, and at the same time can…
10 Qualities of a Great Hygienist
The personalities and characteristics of dental hygienists can vary greatly, but successful practitioners share some common traits. Here are 10 qualities that help make a great dental hygienist: 1. EmpathyGreat hygienists have empathy…
5 Things I Wish I Knew Earlier in My Hygiene Career
You never know what you don’t know … until you do. Twenty years ago, I started my young and fresh-faced career thinking that everything was about the patient, no. matter. what. But I’ve since learned that you also have to do what’s…
How to Build Your Brand (And Share It with the World)
Have you put serious thought into becoming a speaker, key opinion leader, writer or public health advocate in the dental hygiene community? Or are you looking to market your business? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it's…
Conversation Starters for Patients Who Won't Open Up
We’ve all been there. A patient slumps down in your chair, head down in their phone. One-word answers to your questions. Eye contact? Forget it. When you mention they’re due for radiographs, they let out a large sigh. You just know…
Ergonomically Outfitting Your Op
As a left-handed hygienist, finding an ergonomic operatory setup is about as easy as finding a unicorn.While dental ergonomics are improving for both righties and lefties, anywhere from 60-92% of dental workers have at some point been…
Avoiding the Burnout Blues
Dental hygienists are natural go-getters. We tend to the needs of our patients, our employers and our families, and we often place ourselves last. The life of a dental hygienist is in constant motion and sometimes the “going” gets…