The beginning of a new year is a perfect opportunity to make a fresh start and set new personal and professional goals. While many people focus on self-improvement initiatives, dental hygienists remind Canadians not to overlook oral health when making choices about improving overall physical and mental well-being. “Good oral health is essential to total … Read more
Dr. Esther Wilkins, a Chelmsford native and longtime professor at Tufts University who was known as the “godmother of dental hygiene” as one of the world’s foremost experts in the field, died Monday. She turned 100 just three days prior. Tufts University School of Dental Medicine was to celebrate the achievements Wilkins and two others … Read more
32-year-old Dental Hygienist, April MacDougall, has returned from volunteering with Mercy Ships onboard the world’s largest charity hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, in Cotonou, Benin. MacDougall paid her own way to live and work amongst 400 international crew members all giving their time to provide free life-changing healthcare to thousands in need. MacDougall was born and raised … Read more
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released a new report that presents research and policy recommendations on electronic cigarettes and their use among adolescents and young adults. The report, which was reviewed by 150 experts, highlights some of the risks associated with using electronic cigarettes, including nicotine addiction, behavior risks – including the use of other drugs … Read more
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) is pleased that Health Affairs recognizes the enormous impact oral health has on the overall public health system in the U.S. by devoting an entire issue to the subject. ADHA has long advocated evidence-based oral health management strategies for the prevention of oral and systemic diseases. In fact, ongoing … Read more
Only 12 percent of older Americans have some form of dental insurance and fewer than half visited a dentist in the previous year, suggests new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research on Medicare beneficiaries. Insurance status appeared to be the biggest predictor of whether a person received oral health care: For those with … Read more
The Internet-of-Things is everywhere. Even in your toothbrush. Chicago startup Onvi has created what it calls the world’s first video toothbrush, named Prophix, which uses a video camera paired with an iOS app that lets you see the areas you’ve missed while brushing. The high-tech brush connects to your phone via Bluetooth (no pun intend) and lets … Read more
After revolutionising the design of vacuum cleaners, hair-dryers and standing fans, Dyson could now be looking to conquer the dental hygiene market. The British tech company has filed patents for a new electric toothbrush with built-in water jets capable of blasting away food debris from between your teeth, potentially doing away with the need to … Read more
Background PANDAS is an acronym for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infections. This is a condition that affects a small group of children resulting in a sudden and abrupt onset of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms. In the late 1990’s, investigators at the US National Institutes of Mental Health, during a study of … Read more
Your three-pound brain is the CEO of your whole body’s operation. It’s the playmaker, manager and overseer. It keeps 2000 gallons of blood surging through your heart each day and throughout 63,000 miles of blood vessels. It has you place one foot in front of the other as you walk from patient to patient and … Read more
The first touch-point for patients is the reception area and it is critical to make a positive and lasting impression. Patients expect a dental office to maintain high standards of cleanliness and safety, which starts from the moment they enter the door. Is the room inviting, comfortable, organized and well maintained? Or does the room … Read more
In the September 2016 issue of this journal, I shared information about how the dental professional can help patients with their general and oral health through the diagnosis of acid reflux, a condition that affects up to 50% of the population. In this article, I discuss bulimia, an eating disorder which in the early stages … Read more
Have you ever experienced listening to a grandparent, a parent or a spouse snoring so loud you couldn’t sleep? No matter how hard you tried to ignore it, that’s all you could focus on. Then suddenly, sweet silence! You breathe a sigh of relief because they stopped! However, the only thing that stopped was their … Read more
Sometimes it takes a village, sometimes a marriage of powerful forces to produce something meaningful and that is the case with the recently-released custom collaboration between Colgate and Scientific American Custom Media. “The Future of Oral Health, Global Challenges, Advances and New Technologies” is an important document introduced at the ADA’s annual meeting in Denver … Read more
On November 20, dental hygienists will celebrate Universal Children’s Day, reminding us all of the importance of protecting and promoting children’s rights, including the right to good oral health. As Gerry Cool, president of the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA), explains, “Optimal oral health is the cornerstone of overall physical, social, and mental well-being. CDHA … Read more
OraCoat, a division of OraHealth Corp., the world leader in the breakthrough technology of oral adhering discs, recently launched a new version of OraCoat® XyliGel®. Formulated with all-natural ingredients, XyliGel coats the mouth with 17% xylitol and oral lubricant to help relieve the symptoms of xerostomia (dry mouth) for those who have very low levels … Read more
The product is the perfect solution to provide for the percentage of patients who want a whitening treatment but don’t even have the 20 minutes for their in-office treatment or who simply prefer to whiten teeth and remove stains at-home. The dental supply company Smile Perfected, creator of the extremely popular Smile Perfected 20-Minute Whitening … Read more
On November 14, Canadian dental hygienists will join more than 1 billion people worldwide in marking World Diabetes Day. As primary health care providers, dental hygienists are important members of the diabetes health care team. According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 11 million Canadians are living with diabetes or prediabetes. These individuals are particularly susceptible … Read more
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has released a new white paper that underscores the ability of the dental hygienist to perform dental hygiene diagnosis as part of the oral care team working to ensure that every patient is evaluated and treated, based on their individual oral health needs. According to the ADHA paper, dental … Read more
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is pleased to announce the installation of its new president, Gerry Cool, at its annual general meeting in Edmonton, Alberta, on October 22. Gerry hails from Alberta and joins president-elect Sophia Baltzis (Quebec), past president Donna Scott (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut), and directors Mandy Hayre (British Columbia), Leanne Huvenaars … Read more