Preventive services are at the forefront of medical, fitness, and nutritional research. Everyone talks about prevention, but very few people adhere to it long-term, and that is what really counts in all preventive programs. It is easy to fall off the wagon and get discouraged. There are many causes why prevention eventually fails, but the … Read more
“Please don’t give me a lecture on flossing today.” I am sure that you have heard this countless times from patients before. You knew that it was coming as the same patient has asked you the same request during the visit before, and the visit before that. When I first started practicing dental hygiene, I … Read more
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
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
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
Hygiene Spotlight features an exceptional dental hygienist every month. This month, we are showcasing Kathleen Bokrossy, RDH, BSc, a passionate dental hygienist and educator, and member of Oral Hygiene’s Advisory Committee. She is the founder and president of rdhu, a dental hygiene education centre that provides inspiring, hands-on learning experiences for hygienists across Canada. Why did … Read more
Tremendous strides have been made in both the construction and the placement of modern dental implants compared to earlier iterations. Yet, the prevalence of peri-implant disease continues at an alarming rate. In a meta-analysis of 110 clinical studies examining the extent of peri-implant disease affecting more than 12,000 active dental implants, it was shown that … Read more
Treating children, not teeth The assessment of the child-parent interaction is important in determining how to deal with the dental situation. First of all, I recommend the doctor does an initial exam and have the preventive aspect at a follow-up appointment. For young children, timing is important—a morning appointment is highly recommended. Children are more … Read more
This research paper explores the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing (MI) in addressing and assisting participants in overcoming nail-biting habits. The study aimed to understand how MI could be used as a behavioural intervention to support individuals in making positive changes regarding this common yet challenging habit. The outcomes of the study were notably positive. Motivational … Read more
An elite athlete presented with multiple areas of incipient interproximal caries. Through ongoing learning of behaviour modification techniques and evidence-based decision-making, incorporating the patient’s goals and preferences, the latest research, and clinician expertise were imperative. Initially, my participant presented with a high caries risk assessment and an initial Plaque Index of 68%. Reducing his risk … Read more
Roles of the dental hygienist The key responsibilities of dental hygienists1 include health promotion, education, clinical therapy, research, change agent, and administration. We are familiar with some of these roles, especially clinical therapist and educator. The roles of researcher and change agent are not as widely fulfilled, yet they are vital to advance the profession and … Read more
Have you ever considered undertaking your own action research project? It’s an intriguing concept, isn’t it? We engage in research daily, often without even realizing it. At rdhu, we encourage our members to plan their year around topics that truly interest them. We offer complimentary webinars designed to spark curiosity and leave you eager to delve … Read more
A counter-petition launched by Ontario dental hygienists has gathered 1,763 signatures as of Monday, opposing an earlier petition by dentists seeking to allow foreign-trained dentists to provide preventive dental care in the province. “We, the undersigned, oppose the proposal to allow internationally trained dentists to perform dental hygiene services, such as scaling, without completing an … Read more
As a registered dental hygienist with fourteen years of experience, one of the most fulfilling and rewarding aspects of my career is the relationships that I have built with my patients and their families. Not only do I have the privilege of following a patient’s journey to improving their oral health, but I also get … Read more
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
Treating children, not treat Fluoride dental treatment has been around for about 75 years, serving hundreds of millions of people without any proof of detrimental effects, unless over ingested. The great majority of cases being dental fluorosis. Fluoride works on the dental complex in three essential ways. But there are two modes of action: systemic … Read more
As links between oral and systemic health grow stronger, dental hygienists take centre stage in promoting a prevention-first model of care. April is Oral Health Month in Canada—a reminder that oral health is deeply connected to overall health. This year, dental hygienists are using the spotlight to highlight their expanding role in preventive care and … Read more
Hygiene Spotlight features an exceptional dental hygienist every month. This month, we are showcasing Jazmine Chavez, RDH, Founder of Pearl House Studio, which provides a modernized approach to preventative dental hygiene care. Last year, Jazmine stepped into a role at The Dental HyGenius, which helps dental professionals master the business side of dentistry. Why did you … Read more
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
Treating children, not teeth Infant toothbrushing is not really important until about the ages of two and a half to three. The reason is that there are large interproximal spaces between the erupting teeth and all the surfaces, especially the interproximal surfaces which are self-cleaning. At two-and-a-half to three years, the second primary molars erupt … Read more