Dental Hygiene

A new era in oral hygiene: Lumoral antibacterial light therapy

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Finnish scientists have introduced an innovative oral hygiene solution, Lumoral (Koite Health Ltd., Espoo, Finland), the first antibacterial photodynamic device designed for home use. Lumoral harnesses light energy to combat oral diseases and complements existing cleaning methods to enhance home oral care. By selectively eliminating harmful bacteria in dental plaque, Lumoral represents a revolutionary advancement … Read more

Local hygienist helps those without dental care

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A local dental hygienist is giving back to the community by offering her services free of charge to those who need them on June 28. Meg Kreutziger, a dental hygienist and owner of To The Root Dental Hygiene, has been offering an annual free service day for about the past six years since she opened … Read more

Build a career around what comes easy: Advice for ambitious hygienists from Melissa K. Turner

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Hygiene Spotlight features an exceptional dental hygienist every month. This month, we are showcasing Melissa K. Turner, BASDH, RDHEP, EFDA, member of Oral Hygiene’s Advisory Committee. During Melissa’s 20-year career in dental hygiene, she has evolved into an executive, consultant, dynamic speaker, and top content creator. You must be so busy as an executive, founder, hygienist and … Read more

Dentistry for everyone

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Treating children, not teeth When you obtain your professional dental/hygiene licence, it means that society gives you the right and obligation to practice your profession for the good of society. You are obligated to treat the general public, everyone that requires your services. The main exception is when their dental requirements are beyond your level … Read more

The unexpected path from dental hygiene to orthodontic education

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Hygiene Spotlight features an exceptional dental hygienist every month. This month, we are showcasing Liisa Moore, RDH, a practicing dental hygienist turned educator. Liisa is a core presenter and Quality Assurance coach with RDHU. She also considers herself a fitness enthusiast. When not at the office, she is a Certified Personal Trainer, Pilates instructor, and healthy eating … Read more

Myofunctional therapy can transform your dental hygiene career

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As a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), my professional goal has always been to grow and evolve as an oral health provider. Simply, learn all the things—like orthodontics, laser therapy, tooth whitening, adjuncts to periodontal therapy, and so on. I even took on a casual role with my local health unit providing services, education, and screening … Read more

Beyond the drill: How data-driven strategies can elevate your practice

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In the world of dentistry, clinical expertise is essential—but it’s not enough. Today’s most successful dental hygienists understand that business acumen, data-driven decision-making, and strategic growth are just as critical as the quality of care they provide. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) serve as the x-rays of your clinical practice and the dental practice, revealing what’s … Read more

Unlocking the mysteries of dental unit waterlines: A guide for dental hygienists

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Did you know 90% of bacteria live in biofilms?1 Understanding the complexities of biofilm and the function of Dental Unit Waterlines (DUWLs) is essential for dental hygienists dedicated to providing safe, high-quality care. This article aims to demystify the processes involved in maintaining DUWLs by highlighting the importance of routine testing, effective product use, and best … Read more

Everything you need to know about genetic oral testing in dental practice

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With the advancement of technology and AI, oral testing is now a popular tool for dental hygienists. But how can you differentiate between the many products on the marketplace? Do all oral tests look at human genetics? Should you prioritize in-office testing over send-away test kits? What’s the difference between salivary diagnostics, genomic sequencing, screening … Read more

How AI and SaaS are transforming dentistry

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Swipe right on smarter smiles The industry is evolving fast, and if you’re not paying attention, you’re already behind the curve. AI and SaaS aren’t just shiny new tools, they’re the foundation of smarter workflows, elevated patient care, and practices built to scale. But it’s not just about adopting technology for the sake of it; … Read more

Addressing the hottest topics in clinical dental hygiene

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What a great time to be a dental hygienist! I am thrilled to not only write this month’s editorial but to also have curated this edition’s content and theme specifically to help you, dear dental hygienist, stay current with the latest and greatest happening and to get excited about the future of our profession. This … Read more

Value-based care and the value of dental hygienists: A paradigm shift toward better outcomes

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What is value-based care? Value-based care (VBC) aims to improve health outcomes while lowering costs, compensating oral health teams for providing high-quality and cost-effective care. This includes coordinating care, involving a broader health care team, utilizing data to monitor clinical outcomes, and addressing social determinants of health. VBC models, which are slowly taking shape in … Read more

Ready, set, succeed: Helping your temp dental hygienists thrive!

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Picture this: A temp dental hygienist walks into an unfamiliar practice, feeling nervous yet determined to do their best. They are given minimal instructions, a quick overview, and shown to an operatory they have never worked in before. With barely 20 minutes to prepare, they catch their breath just as their first patient arrives. Is … Read more

Salivary diagnostics – From the hygiene perspective

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Disease prevalence in dentistry is an ever-increasing battle. As dental hygienists, being the true prevention specialists, it is difficult not to become frustrated or even deflated by the statistics surrounding periodontal disease and the high caries rates. Our assessment strategies have come a long way. However, perhaps it is time to implement new techniques and … Read more

Why functional safety is crucial for dental hygiene instruments

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Dental hygiene instrumentation is a skill initially developed in dental hygiene school but is continuously refined and perfected throughout a dental hygienist’s career. The strategic selection, precise adaptation, and safe, effective use of instruments and ultrasonic tips and inserts is a refined art, polished over years of practice. The importance of maintaining the functional safety … Read more

Driving positive change to enhance workplace environments

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Creating a healthy and respectful dental office environment is essential for team members and patients. By fostering mutual respect, effective communication, and recognizing each team member’s contributions, we can achieve better patient outcomes, higher job satisfaction, and a more harmonious workplace. With reports of a dental hygiene workforce shortage, it’s crucial to ask whether dental … Read more