Dentistry is a “people business” that serves a broad spectrum of age demographics that span multiple generations – from the millennials to the Gen X to the boomers, silent generation and so on. It’s well-known that there are significant generational differences that are common to each segment, depending on when they were born and what … Read more
I think we can all agree that we have acquired newfound knowledge since graduating Dental Hygiene School. For myself, a 2007 graduate I can attest to the wealth of knowledge I have ascertained moving from working environment to working environment. New opportunities with every resignation and new knowledge with every new team. My journey has led … Read more
Every day, we know doctors save lives. But you may not know that each day in the United States, a doctor dies by suicide. The common thread in nearly every one of those cases: a struggle with mental illness. While this heartbreaking epidemic may be largely preventable, the toxic stigma attached to mental health care … Read more
Modern dental health is a disaster zone. We are in the midst of an orthodontia epidemic. Four million U.S. kids need braces and 10 million need wisdom teeth extractions. Gum disease affects half of all U.S. adults, tooth decay is the most chronic disease in children today, and oral health concerns are both warnings and … Read more
There are multiple factors involved in the development of favorable or unfavorable outcomes from our repetitive routines. Anyone involved in dentistry is aware of the potential for stress to become a negative factor. There is a growing body of scientific evidence that directly links long term stress to physical problems often with a strong inflammatory … Read more
The efficacy of fluoride varnish in the prevention of dental caries, remineralization of tooth surfaces and treatment of dentin hypersensitivity is well supported by literature. Varnishes allow for the delivery of high concentrations of fluoride in small amounts. Furthermore, the effectiveness, the relative safety, the uptake of this form of delivery combined with its ease … Read more
According to the CDC, “47.2% of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease increases with age, 70.1% of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease.”1 The numbers of adults with untreated periodontal disease are high. The dental hygienist is front line defense in the office for periodontal … Read more
The dental office is a great place to work. It is very satisfying to be able to help patients improve their health while creating long term relationships and earning a good living. Unfortunately, 83% of dentists and their staff perceive their profession as very stressful. Coping with difficult, anxious patients, scheduling stresses, causing pain and … Read more
Canadian Dental Hygienist, Patricia Blundon, is the developer of a dental mirror that clips on to a saliva ejector to aid dental hygienists, assistants, and clinicians in treating patients. In response to growing demand for the Dental Hygiene Clip Mirror, she has introduced the device to the U.S. market and plans to expand her business … Read more
February is National Pet Dental Health Month and the staff at New Hope Animal Hospital wants to draw attention to essential pet dental needs. Pet dental exams, teeth cleaning, and check-ups are available to pets in and around Durham and Chapel Hill. Dental issues can go beyond pain and significantly impact other aspects of pet … Read more
Abstract Today’s preventive practice provides the ability to intervene in the demineralization process and return the client to health often without the use of restorative techniques. Evidence-based research promotes the use of sodium fluoride varnish compared to other methods of delivery of professional topical fluorides. The overall goal of this article is to provide the … Read more
I am a retired dentist who has a passion for preventative dentistry and preventive medicine. I recently became painfully aware of the ramifications of acid reflux and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) on the oral cavity. I developed severe GERD late last year. Unfortunately, complete understanding of the difficulties experienced by patients comes best through direct … Read more
One of the critical choices made before treating each and every patient is choosing your protective face mask. While the mask construct is straight forward with layers of tissue and filtering materials suspended by elastic loops … the question of protection goes far beyond a simple physical barrier. Considerations of the treatment being delivered in … Read more
Purchasing a new practice management software for a dental office is not a trivial task. There are a lot of different choices and packages offered by software vendors that confuse the buyer rather than help her/him. Each package has its own strengths and weaknesses. But what are the fundamental elements a dentist should look for … Read more
Eighty million people in the U.S. struggle with bad breath — many of them don’t even know that they do, but the people around them are likely all too aware. Last year at CES, Breathometer teased a connected device called Mint that measures a user’s breath and gives them some tips on how to improve their oral health. At … Read more
Sunstar Americas recently celebrated its fifteenth year of honoring North America’s outstanding dental hygienists. The oral health care leader and RDH magazine joined forces to create the Award of Distinction program in 2002. Since then, 113 dental hygienists have been recognized for their success and accomplishments in the field of dental hygiene. The four most … Read more
My husband Steve, teases me about living in an orange bubble. Those of you who know me know that the color orange plays a big part in my life and how I brand myself. In fact, I often receive orange gifts from friends and colleagues…which BTW I love! Radiate O.R.A.N.G.E.! So what is the Power … Read more
Nowadays, dentists are forced to balance between providing the best patient care and staying profitable and efficient. Recent changes in the dental industry and patient expectations have created a competitive market and introduced new challenges dentists never had to deal with in the past. Let’s face it. What was acceptable ten years ago is no … Read more
Dental demographics are changing almost faster than we can keep up: The Baby Boomers are retiring, the Affordable Care Act is scrambling the marketplace and the archaic system of employer-provided benefits is looking more long in the tooth than ever. As such, smart dentists are reconfiguring their practices around a choice-based, consumerist mentality. Think of … Read more