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
Dr. Leigha Rock, director of the School of Dental Hygiene at Dalhousie University, is advocating for more awards for the dental hygiene students and an increase in sums. Dalhousie recently reported that the annual scholarships have been generating the same amount of funds for the last 25 years, not adjusting to match the economic times. … 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
At its 109th Annual Meeting in Austin, the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is launching a new multi-year, multi-pronged initiative to educate dental hygienists on periodontal topics. As part of the initiative, the AAP is hosting a Dental Hygiene Symposium at its Annual Meeting, which is taking place November 9-12. The daylong session provides an … Read more
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is pleased to announce the installation of its new president, Francine Trudeau, at its annual general meeting on Saturday, October 21. Francine is from Quebec and joins president-elect Alexandra Sheppard (Alberta), past president Anne Caissie (New Brunswick), and directors Donna Lee (British Columbia), Kaylen Anholt (Saskatchewan), Kathy Yerex (Manitoba), Bev … Read more
Dr. Sanj Mohanta returns to Weekly Wisdom to share how to level-up your patients’ oral hygiene with the best products. Subscribe to Oral Health’s weekly e-newsletter to have the latest episode delivered straight to your inbox every week!
This month we wanted to look at how valuable the hygiene department is for a successful dental practice. We tend to agree with the 48% of dentists who consider an outstanding hygiene department essential for success, since hygienists help diagnose the amount of dentistry needs to be done and, therefore, increase revenue. When looking at … 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
Oral Science is happy to begin the Canadian distribution of the Curaprox Be You, a gentle everyday anti-caries and remineralizing toothpaste that will help dental professionals give their patients the confidence of healthy, happy, and good looking teeth and gums. Available in 2 zesty, fresh flavours of Peach+Apricot and Watermelon, Curaprox Be You is made … Read more
The CDHO Council rescinded the Standard for Authorization to Self-Initiate Profession-Specific Acts, which has been in place since 2007. Now Registered Dental Hygienists (RDHs) who wish to self-initiate the controlled act of scaling and root planing no longer need to apply for authorization through CDHO. “Clearance from a physician or dentist is required if any … Read more
The Ford Dental Institute is pleased to announce details of its first annual dental hygiene conference, RDH Evolve! “We’re thrilled to extend an invitation to this brand-new Alberta dental event. We are excited to be able to facilitate innovation, collaboration, and empowerment to the dental hygiene profession,” said Chrissy Ford, RDH, CEO of Ford Dental … 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
Change for the Better: Are flawed processes keeping your team from experiencing better efficiency, healthier clients, happier employees, and continued practice growth? Q: What’s your team’s billing IQ? As a practice manager, I’m dealing with numerous human resource (HR) issues and client complaints related to hygiene billing. Some hygienists bill appropriately for the entire hour, … Read more
We have all been there – hitting snooze for the 2nd time, reaching for that 3rd cup of coffee, or scouring the lunchroom for any leftover treats that the sales rep dropped off yesterday because we are tired and our brains are looking for that quick sugar/dopamine hit. Working in dental hygiene, we are used … Read more
In the dental industry, there is no older friend than fluoride. This naturally occurring mineral has been widely researched as an additive in drinking water and dental products and is considered a linchpin of oral health. Not only does it strengthen the enamel, but it has also been shown to be effective in preventing gum … Read more
Sustainability in dental practices is a growing concern as we move towards global initiatives for a greener future. The significance of sustainability in dental practices extends beyond the immediate clinical setting. As the global population continues to grow, so does the demand for healthcare services, particularly dental hygiene care. This surge in demand places unprecedented … Read more
Are flawed processes holding your team back from experiencing better efficiency, healthier clients, happier employees, and continued practice growth? Can a hygienist be ‘too rough?’ It depends on which client you ask. Challenge: As a dentist, I take pride in having an exceptional team of dental hygienists. Nevertheless, one team member consistently receives a high … Read more