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
Being pregnant is a wonderful time for women, and it’s packed with so much to do when preparing for their baby. Unfortunately, during this busy time, one of the things that sometimes gets less attention is dental health. This is really is troublesome, because dental issues like gum disease can lead to premature births. In … Read more
I recently had coffee with one of my dental hygiene classmates from the University of Alberta. We reminisced about our days of learning about the profession of dental hygiene with memories of our favourite instructors, exams, radiography labs, petri dishes and dental hygiene clinics. We shared our unique individual amazing stories of our experiences during … Read more
Irene: When did you know you wanted to open your own practice? Michelle: In 2015, the entrepreneurial vision began. Why? I’ve always had a passion for health. For wellness. For connection. For beautiful SMILES. My beginning was a shift. A shift in how the delivery of healthcare services can be provided when we recognize … Read more
Owning my own practice seemed insurmountable in 2010 when I put together my first business plan. It took me three months to add the lines and numbers into various spreadsheets and when I realized that I didn’t have enough money, time or knowledge about business, I put the well-detailed, colour-coded binder in a storage bin … Read more
I’ve been blessed to have an extraordinary support team of friends, family and colleagues who have helped me with every step of our mission, to help ‘Transform the Dental Hygiene Experience’, for the Clinician, the Client and the Practice. It is with this mission in mind that has led me on my quest to create … Read more
As you are all very aware, dental hygienists are educated health professionals who specialize in the promotion of oral health and the prevention of oral diseases. But in the grand scheme of things, you are so much more than that. You are a trusted resource provider. You’re an educator. You’re a professional. You’re more than … Read more
Have you ever asked for a raise and been declined? What about benefits, new equipment, fancy scrubs or lab coats? I’m guilty. We all have needs and wants. Practice owners have moments of splurge when the cash in pouring in, and the next moment could be a drought. The conversation around money always rears its … Read more
Pediatric patients in the dental office create an interesting environment that can be both exciting and chaotic. Often times, the parents can be far more dramatic than the patients themselves. Parents are trusting your office with their most prized possession. It is imperative for teams to connect both with the parents as well as with … Read more
The integration of services is a route increasingly taken by healthcare organizations to improve outcomes and access, and to reduce costs. A new American study has shown, for example, a greater level of integration in medical services and a focus on patient outcomes can reduce costs significantly.1 Starting in early 2019, new preventive oral healthcare … Read more
As a profession, dental hygiene is at a tipping point. We are balancing on a scale. On one end, the occupational model of practice, and on the other end, the professional practice model. The past 30 years have been a period of sustained growth for the professional model of practice. Dental hygiene professional practice has … Read more
A recent study from the Oral Health Foundation caught my attention. According to the study, evidence suggests that office workers are the most likely to eat sugary food and drinks as a result of stress – rather than those out of work. As a result, the Oral Health Foundation is calling for ‘stress-free working environments’ … Read more
Want to add some variety to your chairside conversations? Would you like to share cutting edge scientific findings with your patients? Would you like to be seen as a person of influence with a broad knowledge of nutrition and healthy living strategies? “Some patients still see us hygienists as teeth cleaners and aren’t aware of … Read more
Many dental hygienists, including myself, say they entered this profession to assist clients in developing and maintaining healthy beautiful smiles. It is widely accepted that whitening gels play a significant role in developing those beautiful smiles. According to research from EKWA Marketing (2018) Trends in Teeth Whitening: $11 billion is spent yearly on products or … Read more
Toxic biofilm is enemy number one when it comes to dental diseases. It lurks in a patient’s mouth above and below the gum line. It clings to natural teeth, restorative work, gingival tissue and the tongue, implants and orthodontic appliances. It is very challenging to remove or debride all of the biofilm from the oral … Read more
Some people look to YouTube for educational videos and others look for entertainment. When you think of YouTube, what is your first instinct? Have you ever thought that YouTube could make you a better clinician? I write articles from a place of experience and I connect with the written word on an emotional level. This … Read more
The influence of social media in modern society is no secret. It’s safe to say that most of us are consumed by it. But is this necessarily a bad thing when it comes to our professional lives? Or are these platforms providing us the opportunity to learn and connect with our peers? By now, we … Read more
As part of oral health month in Canada, National Dental Hygienists Week™ takes place from April 6 to 12. It’s a perfect opportunity to set new goals to help your smile shine. Start with six simple steps: floss, brush, use an antibacterial oral rinse, eat a healthy diet, eliminate tobacco use, and see a dental … Read more
A New look at Systemic Inflammation, Microbiome, Gum Disease Diagnosis, Treatment and Keeping Dental/Gum Disease in Remission Traditionally in dentistry we have been taught to ask our patients to brush, floss and visit us twice a year for checkups to stay healthy. In the last few years we have been hearing that by fixing dental … Read more