Chances are that you know of someone with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) 1, and/or your practice has some patients at high risk or early signs of this same, dreaded condition. And chances are you know that these same individuals are entering a decline in their oral health too. Not only because you observe growing inflammation … Read more
Sherry, would you consider volunteering in leadership of your knowledge and experience in Vietnam and plan a service and learning venture for our graduating Dental Hygiene bachelor’s degree students? What would you say to volunteering your time, taking time off work without pay and organizing a trip to a country that is vast with learning … Read more
Beneath bright blue skies with perfectly painted clouds lies a place that is making a change in dental hygiene. As a practicing RDH of 11 years, clinical educator and speaker, I not only welcome the opportunity to make a difference in our profession but I have opened my mind and heart to these wonderful coincidences. … Read more
They say the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. With busy lives, it can be difficult to find the time to volunteer. But volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart. Volunteering is at the very core of being human, as no one has … Read more
It shouldn’t be up to cities to decide to add fluoride to drinking water, but provincial officials, a Canadian mayor says. Windsor, Ont., is bucking a national trend and looking at lifting its ban on adding fluoride to drinking water after seeing an increase in cavities among children. Community water fluoridation is recommended by public … Read more
Recent, wide-spread news coverage based upon a recent research study may raise unwarranted concern about the safety of certain types of dental floss. The ADA Science Institute finds the data insufficient to support the conclusions presented in this research and associated media coverage. No restrictions on the use of dental floss have been issued by … Read more
Canada’s dental hygienists will mark National Non-Smoking Week (January 20–26) by urging all Canadians to quit smoking and vaping for better oral and overall health. While most people know that tobacco use is a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and lung and mouth cancers, few may be aware of the harmful effects of e-cigarettes, … Read more
Join forces with the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) to support our second annual competition to recognize dental hygiene health care superheroes in communities across Canada. Championed by your oral health defender CDHA and sponsored by Sensodyne®, we’re looking for the heroes in your community who fly to the rescue of clients everywhere, leap oral … Read more
The beginning of a new year is a perfect opportunity to make a fresh start and set new personal and professional goals. With the recent legalization of cannabis in Canada, dental hygienists urge everyone to think carefully before using cannabis, given its negative impact on oral health. “Cannabis use has many side effects that can … Read more
A new study suggests certain types of consumer behaviors, including flossing, contribute to elevated levels in the body of toxic PFAS chemicals. PFAS are water- and grease-proof substances that have been linked with numerous health problems. The findings provide new insight into how these chemicals end up in people’s bodies and how consumers can limit … Read more
Oral hygiene among children and adults with severe hemophilia is poorer than in healthy controls, a single-center study suggests. The study, “Oral hygiene and dentition status in children and adults with hemophilia: A case–control study,” was published in the journal Special Care Dentistry. Dental care is a health concern often neglected by patients with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders due … Read more
Introduction Non-sterile clinical gloves are a key component of Standard Precautions. It was envisaged that their use, when there was a risk of direct contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin or mucous membranes, would prevent potential pathogens in those locations from being transmitted to other patients and, therefore, assist in reducing healthcare associated infections. … Read more
There are many systems that can be implemented in a dental practice to enhance time management between dentists and hygienists. Although these solutions are relatively simple and easy to implement, they require the cooperation of all members of the administrative team. Let’s look at managing hygiene exams and assessments. The first question to ask is, … Read more
Do you ever request your patients to close on the saliva ejector to evacuate fluids from their mouths? If so, when was the last time you effectively cleaned out the valve? When a patient closes on the saliva ejector or the tip becomes occluded, backflow may occur due to a temporary drop in vacuum pressure. … Read more
The public’s perception of saliva is low indeed. The act of spitting on someone is considered a vile act, one of disrespect, and even hate. Yet, in some cases, spitting can be done in a joking manner, as in a Canadian produced comedic program where residents of one town, upon hearing the name of their … Read more
Do you find that each of your instrumentation kits typically contain the same instruments? Are most of your instruments similar to what you were taught in school? I usually start my instrumentation presentations by asking the audience these two questions. More times than not, the majority of the room agrees that their kits are the … Read more
It’s that time of year. The alarm goes off and you get out of bed to start the day. You peek outside the window and surprise – it’s still dark. Your motivation to get the day started is lagging. You pull yourself together and head to work. You manage to have a successful and productive … Read more
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is proud to recognize a number of individuals for their outstanding contributions to the dental hygiene profession, the national association, research, and knowledge translation. “Our 2018 award winners have set high goals and achieved much in their professional and personal lives,” notes Tracy Bowser, CDHA President. “We are thrilled … Read more
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is pleased to announce the installation of its new president, Tracy Bowser, at its recent Leadership Summit held in Charlottetown, PEI. Tracy is from Prince Edward Island and joins president-elect Leanne Huvenaars (Saskatchewan), past president Sophia Baltzis (Quebec), and directors Mandy Hayre (British Columbia), newly elected Alexandra Sheppard (Alberta), … Read more
Hu-Friedy, the global leader in dental instrument manufacturing and infection prevention solutions, today announced the launch of EverCare, a new subscription-based scaler sharpening service for dental professionals that demand peak performance from their Hu-Friedy instruments. Even the highest quality dental scalers and curettes lose their sharp edges with use, which can strain the joints and muscles … Read more