The importance of regular recall exams must be clearly communicated to patients, along with the benefits of maintaining a recall schedule tailored to their specific needs. Establishing measurable goals and parameters allows both the practitioner and the patient to monitor progress or detect regression in oral health conditions.
Gossip happens every day in dental practices. Not because dental teams are unprofessional. Not because they don’t care. But because dental practices are high-pressure environments where people work closely together, and when frustration or uncertainty isn’t addressed directly, it gets redirected indirectly.
Hygiene Spotlight features an exceptional dental hygienist every month. For March, meet Mary Bertone, a professor with a long record of leadership and community service in dental hygiene be it on ground, leadership or education. Last fall, Bertone, RDH, BSc(DH), MPH, an associate professor and director of the School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Manitoba’s … Read more
The removal of a standardized clinical competency examination raises an important question: Is academic evaluation alone sufficient to ensure readiness for independent clinical practice?
The reality is hygienists already assess caries risk every day. The integration of a CAMBRA-informed approach helps us organize our clinical findings and link categorical risk groups to phased and focused action.
We need to get back to the gold standard of 5% sodium fluoride varnish for our adult patients. We must stop selling our patients short and start providing the elite, preventative treatment they deserve.
Most dental practices don’t fail suddenly. They slowly lose momentum. The real problem isn’t effort, it’s invisible inefficiencies. These are the silent killers of practice performance.
The term Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) might seem daunting, but it’s a crucial and positive commitment in oral healthcare — not just another burden.
For years, dental hygienists have searched for the perfect dental office. The perfect schedule. The perfect dentist. The perfect patients. The perfect culture. Eventually, most discover a hard truth: No dental office is perfect. Not because dentistry is broken. Not because teams do not care. But because every practice model carries trade-offs. Yet many dental … Read more
Patients don’t need a perfect dental hygienist. They need a present, prepared, and intentional one. The question is: Will you choose to stay comfortable…or will you choose to become unstoppable?
This month we are showcasing Krystal Afzalzada, B.Ed, RDH, CDAII Educator, advocate for aging populations, and public speaker. With two decades in the dental industry, Krystal empowers professionals with evidence-based tools to improve patient outcomes and elevate standards of care.
As dental hygienists, once a patient walks through your door and settles into your chair, something powerful begins to unfold. The During Experience is where trust is built—or quietly broken.
As dentistry continues to move toward data-driven decision-making, tools that close the diagnostic gap in hygiene are becoming essential to sustainable practice growth.
January is a perfect moment to pause and ask an important, guiding question: Where could I enhance and elevate the care I provide to my clients this year? Growth in dental hygiene doesn’t always require dramatic change. More often, it begins with honest assessment, thoughtful reflection, and intentional decision-making.
This month we are showcasing Precious Rios, RDH, Myofunctional Therapist, and Ortho Coordinator. Precious is passionate about helping families understand the powerful connection between oral health, breathing, and overall wellness.
Hygiene Spotlight: Fatimah Datoo is a dental hygiene educator currently working full-time as a Dental Hygiene Professor at George Brown College and is the creator of the online education platform “Dental Hygiene Made Easy.”
In this piece, common oral health complications with gum disease during pregnancy, safety of dental X-rays, and preventive care throughout pregnancy will be explored.
On Track with KathleenYour monthly reset button for professional growth and personal well-being As dental hygienists, we often think of the appointment as starting when our patient sits in the chair. But from your patient’s perspective, their journey begins much earlier. The before experience—everything that happens leading up to the appointment—sets the tone for how … Read more
Effective oral hygiene instruction and regular recall appointments provide significant benefits for pediatric patients and are an essential part of the overall treatment plan. But what happens when the child you first meet is non-compliant?
As dental hygienists, we spend much of our time focusing on clinical care. Yet from your patient’s perspective, their experience extends far beyond the chair.