Hygiene Spotlight features an exceptional dental hygienist every month. This month we are showcasing Kellie Watson and her extraordinary work in Saskatchewan’s oral health community. Why did you decide to pursue dental hygiene as a career? I have always had a passion for health and wellness, and I love helping people. As a child, I looked … Read more
Change for the Better: Are flawed processes holding your team back from experiencing better efficiency, healthier clients, happier employees, and continued practice growth? Challenge: As part of the administrative team, we encounter a notable challenge in the effective transfer of information from clinicians. Our daily workload is often marked by a bustling environment – clients … Read more
In the ever-evolving field of healthcare, the relentless pursuit of perfection can be all-consuming. As a healthcare professional myself, I’ve often found that the desire to be flawless is deeply ingrained in our work. Let’s be real – healthcare, by its very nature, is complex and dynamic. Despite our unwavering dedication and meticulous approach, patients … Read more
Hygiene Spotlight features an exceptional dental hygienist every month. This month we are showcasing Sonya Dunbar, the face behind the Geriatric Toothfairy brand. Why did you decide to pursue dental hygiene as a career? When I was a child, I loved to see people smile. I would smile at people and wait for them to … Read more
Don’t let flawed processes hold your team back from experiencing better efficiency, healthier clients, happier employees, and continued practice growth. Challenge: As a new hygienist in my current practice, I’m noticing the comprehensive oral exams (COE) for new clients are falling short of provincial fee guide requirements when conducted by some of my colleagues, and … Read more
How many sealants have you placed in your career? Chances are you’re busy drying, etching, and curing sealants every week in addition to educating your patients even more frequently than that. But should you still recommend sealants? And if so, how do you choose which type to use? The good news is the application of … Read more
FACE (and embrace) THE FACTS! Whether you’re right out of dental school or you’ve been practising in the trenches for decades, there are some fundamental truths that all hygienists should embrace in our efforts to provide exceptional client care – and some of these facts may surprise you. FACT 1: Periodontal disease prevalence is higher … Read more
Are flawed processes holding your team back from experiencing better efficiency, healthier clients, happier employees, and continued practice growth? The Challenge: I often find myself in disagreement with my fellow hygienists regarding the stage determination for our periodontitis clients. From my perspective, they may be overestimating the severity of the condition based on their assessments. … Read more
Dental care that takes a holistic approach takes into account the interconnected nature of the patient’s mouth, body, and mind. The utilization of natural materials, the implementation of preventative practices, and the identification and treatment of the factors that underlie oral health issues are emphasized. Experience holistic dental care for improved health and well-being. The … Read more
In March 2023, Oral Health published an article entitled “Seal Grenada: We Can Do This!” In that article, I talked about how a private-public partnership was formed based on a call to action from one of Grenada’s top dentists, Dr. Julie Du Bois, to help seal the teeth of the children of Grenada. Grenada is … Read more
Post-COVID dental events are officially back and better than ever! As an event owner, I understand the significant value in-person and virtual events provide for our industry. Dental events help announce new products, educate on new technology, provide valuable hands-on experience, and – my favourite – they help us build our valuable professional networks! It … Read more
Are flawed processes keeping your team from experiencing better efficiency, healthier clients, happier employees, and continued practice growth? The challenge: As a dedicated practice manager, I have a team of exceptional individuals who showcase remarkable skills and talents. However, some challenges require attention. Specifically, I invest significant time in managing questions and conflicts related to … Read more
You wake up and get ready for work. Feeling nothing. You drive to the office. Wondering why? You put on your scrubs. Wishing you weren’t there. You care for your patients, go home, and when your spouse says, “How was work?” You respond, “Fine.” But you’re not fine. You’re not happy. You are no longer … Read more
As an OMF surgeon, my patients often ask for liquid medications due to difficulty swallowing large pills. There is now a product on the market that allows my patients to take their vitamins via toothpaste, though antibiotics have yet to find a way into toothpaste. But wait, can you really get a significant amount of vitamins … Read more
In a profession dedicated to maintaining the brightest of smiles, a stark trend has emerged that is casting a shadow on the field of dental hygiene. Numerous dental hygienists are resigning from dental practices that they have worked at for years. The cause behind this surge in resignations are multifaceted, and in this article, we … Read more
I recall feeling thrilled after discussing a program that raises awareness about hearing loss. Seeing that a company was willing to provide closed captioning for the course was heartening. I had hoped that more companies would follow suit as awareness about hearing loss grows, but unfortunately, that has not been the case. I still have … Read more
Are flawed processes holding your team back from experiencing better efficiency, healthier clients, happier employees, and continued practice growth? The challenge: As a new graduate I am having a hard time integrating the techniques and standards I learned in school into our practice, particularly with some resistance from more senior hygienists. The solution: Navigating differences … Read more
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Today’s digital age has revolutionized dentistry as we know it, enabling streamlined processes from appointment booking to patient communication. The transformation, however, has also made the dental industry a target for cyber threats. As in dentistry, prevention is key in the world of cybersecurity. Dental hygienists need to be savvy about data security to ensure … Read more
In the last few issues of Oral Hygiene, the introduction to this topic, Secret #1, #2 and #3, were revealed. If you missed them, be sure to look back at these articles! To continue, when we look at what we can do in the dental practice to feel like we matter, to bring value, and … Read more
We don’t have to drill and fill every cavity. That’s right! Sometimes, the best option to manage caries is with a preventive agent, not a handpiece. The American Dental Association (ADA) Council on Scientific Affairs and the Centre for Evidence-Based Dentistry convened an expert panel to do a systematic review and create evidence-based recommendations for … Read more