Dental hygienists have questions about why some jurisdictions have stronger protections for a return to work than will be in place here in B.C. Other provinces require N95 masks for all procedures, and the absence of such a requirement in B.C. is worrying to members of the BC Dental Hygienists Association. “The big concern here … Read more
Alberta dentists who want to offer a full range of procedures at the beginning of phase one of the province’s COVID-19 relaunch will have to do so without dental hygienists. The governing bodies representing dental hygienists and dentists are giving their members different instructions when it comes to what procedures they can perform as businesses … Read more
Today’s national employment numbers indicate that 2 million more Canadians are unemployed and seeking work as of April. The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is calling on employers to maintain workplace-sponsored health and dental benefits so that Canadians can continue receiving the services and treatments they need for good oral and overall health. “In Canada, … Read more
Did you know that acronyms are actually very modern inventions? They were found to be in existence around World War 1, but were still not used very much until World War 2. The word “acronym” did not even come into play until 1943 because they simply were not used in daily life like they are … Read more
Amid our present-day pandemic, the disease of oral and oropharyngeal cancer once again has a much larger adversary. April has come and gone with very little focus on it being Oral Cancer Awareness Month. All attention understandably has been on the COVID-19 pandemic. However, globally, the picture of oral and oropharyngeal cancer is very troubling. … Read more
It was in March of 2019 that my daughter was diagnosed with autism at a support level 3, just before her 3rd birthday. This means that she requires substantial support in order to get through her day. Since then, I have spent endless hours reading articles, books and anything that would allow me to better … Read more
Dentistry is a very socially interactive profession. COVID-19 has changed our abilities to interact completely. Never in our wildest dreams would any of us ever predicted to be in this circumstance today. It would be impossible to predict exactly how this will impact dentistry, but one thing we know for sure is that it will … Read more
Many of us only think of getting fit and healthy to look good for college reunions or to rebound after the failure of a relationship (the proverbial “revenge body”). It’s beyond just looking good; it’s about creating a body that can help you weather a financial storm, an emotional storm or even survive a pandemic. … Read more
Catherine Wilson was a British serial killer who was hanged for one murder, but was generally thought at the time to have committed six others. She worked as a nurse and poisoned her victims after encouraging them to leave her money in their wills. She was described privately by the sentencing judge as “the greatest … Read more
As dentist offices begin to reopen across Alberta, there are growing concerns about safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We gave a lot of our [personal protective equipment] away when we were told to support our front-line workers,” Melanie Johnston-Dore, a registered dental hygienist, told Global News on Saturday. A spokesperson with the Alberta government said … Read more
WE WILL BE PRESENTING OUR MAY ISSUE OF ORAL HYGIENE EXCLUSIVELY ON OUR WEBSITE! At a time of challenge, having the right information and inspiration is more vital than ever! As always, we are committed to bringing Canada’s dental hygienists the best editorial content, designed to help you hone clinical skills, introduce new products and … Read more
Urgent request for Volunteers to Assist with COVID-19 from Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer CDHA received a letter from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) asking to reach out to our members with this call for assistance. There is an urgent need for people to help augment capacity at provincial and territorial … Read more
When treating an individual with autism, having an in-depth talk with the client or client’s caregiver prior to the appointment is crucial to having a successful appointment. Autistic individuals often have sensory issues so knowing what they are is so important as to not overwhelm the client during the appointment. Questions such as: Is the … Read more
As I’m writing this editorial, it happens to be the 10th #BellLetsTalk day. The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is honouring Bell Canada for its visionary leadership on mental health and is urging everyone across Canada to join this game-changing and important annual conversation. Over the past decade, Bell Let’s Talk has made major … Read more
Crosscheck complete. Ready for departure from one of the most remarkable adventures I’ve had the privilege of embarking on. I’m faced with the incredibly challenging task of describing what seems to be an indescribable dream; a blur of circumstances sous vide in emotions that I had forgotten I was capable of feeling. Hold your hands … Read more
With the ball drop at midnight and the off-key vocals of “Auld Lang Syne” bidding farewell to 2019, we enter a time of both reflection on what the previous year brought, as well as turning our sights to the future bringing new growth, new challenges and new opportunities. As we enter the year 2020 and, … Read more
‘‘The # 1 secret to overcoming cost objections is to actively listen to your clients/patients and simply create value that exceeds their expectations.” — John DiLemme At the end of a great treatment presentation, you might think a patient is ready to say yes and instead, you hear a statement like this, “I know I … Read more
According to CDHA, the key responsibilities of dental hygienists are health promotion, education, clinical therapy, research, change agent, and administration. The following five hygienists are amazing dental hygiene professionals who have definitely demonstrated their commitment to continuous improvement. They have also elevated the roles of researcher and change agent to new heights, by offering ideas … Read more
Have you ever said to a client during their dental hygiene appointment, “oh there is just a little bit of bleeding”? Overall, giving the client the impression, this is expected, normal, or really not something to be overly concerned with. ⠀ Throughout my career I have seen communication strategies of active inflammation evolve, and now … Read more
Join forces with the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) to help us recognize, for the third year in a row, dental hygiene health care superheroes in communities across Canada. Championed by your oral health defender CDHA and sponsored by Sensodyne®, the Dental Hygiene Superhero competition celebrates dental hygienists who educate and empower their clients to … Read more