Poor oral hygiene leads to gum and dental disease (the most prevalent disease in the entire world), causing pain, misery and expense, yet in spite of all scientific and technical advances, there has been no reduction of dental disease in the last 10 years. Every dentist and hygienist knows that caries and gum disease are … Read more
Most people understand the benefits of gut probiotics, but fewer individuals and oral health professionals are aware of the preventive and/or supportive health benefits that oral probiotics can provide by reducing the risk or severity of oral disease. Could the addition of this modality to our traditional therapies be a “missing link” that could improve … Read more
When my journey as a hygienist began over 15 years ago, never did I believe I would find myself fulfilled in a career as an orthodontic clinician. As a fresh graduate with a suction in my left hand and a scaler in the right, I was going to save smiles, one tooth at a time! … Read more
This issue we take our final in-depth look at the 2018 AAP Periodontal Classification. We’re excited to bring you more Q&As from Gabriele Maycher in 2022 on such topics as client care, record keeping, technical skills, office communication, and much more. Email your questions to amy@newcom.ca with Stay Sharp in the subject line. What systems … Read more
Heading into the third year of the pandemic, many dental hygienists are feeling frustrated, beat down and overworked. There is no doubt that we are experiencing a shortage of dental hygienists. You just Google the topic and find many articles and surveys conducted; however, it is not just our field in which people are getting … Read more
As part of its strategic planning ahead of its 100th anniversary as an association representing the nation’s dental hygiene profession, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) is apologizing to communities of color for its role in perpetuating a culture of discrimination. ADHA President Sharlee Burch, RDH, MPH, EdD said, “We cannot celebrate the accomplishments of … Read more
The pandemic has affected everyone around the world in one way or another, and we’ve all had to make changes to adapt to this new normal. For many of us, staying indoors more and limiting the locations we visit has been part of our efforts to stay safe. But the impact of this is that … Read more
Have you ever said to a client during their dental hygiene appointment, “oh there is just a little bit of bleeding”? Overall, giving the client the impression, this is expected, normal, or really not something to be overly concerned with. ⠀ Throughout my career I have seen communication strategies of active inflammation evolve, and now … Read more
By occupation a dental hygienist, I see myself as the natural link between healthcare in its traditional understanding, and the ever-expanding sector – or industry – of wellness. This link embodies the multiple dimensions and nuances shaping the profile of the dental hygienist and oral healthcare of the future. We are clinicians, healers, healthcare providers, … Read more
Still confused about the 2018 AAP Periodontal classification. Never fear! The next few monthly columns will review some of the most important updates made to the industry’s global periodontal guidelines to help hygiene teams achieve the highest level of care. Once we have exhausted this topic we will move onto other questions about the process of … Read more
Nearly two years into the pandemic with widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines and a decrease in infections, new studies reveal dental hygienists have low COVID-19 infection rates and high vaccination acceptance. In addition, less than half of dental hygienists that left employment early in the pandemic have returned to the workforce in 2021, and staffing … Read more
February is children’s dental health month. The importance of dental health awareness can serve as an early indicator of many possible illnesses. That was the case for a 9-year-old student in Maine, who recently participated in a school oral screening program and was led to receive a crucial diagnosis. Dental hygienist Sherry Laliberte conducts dental … Read more
Join forces with the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) as we mark our fifth year recognizing dental hygiene health care superheroes in communities across Canada. Championed by CDHA and sponsored by SENSODYNE, the Dental Hygiene Superhero competition runs from February 1 to May 17 and celebrates dental hygienists who educate and empower their clients to … Read more
We know the pandemic has had a profound impact on the dental profession. Hygiene, in particular, has been hit hard, with a number of hygienists seeing it as a sign to change careers. The resulting labour market has seen dentists jumping over each other, pushing salaries ever higher to make sure they had someone—anyone—available to … Read more
There are some very important tasks that must get done in a routine dental hygiene appointment. Each of us has our check lists: medical history update, extra oral and intra oral examination, periodontal charting, scaling etc. There is a standard of care for each of these components. We have a limited amount of time to … Read more
Still confused about the 2018 AAP Periodontal classification. Never fear! The next few monthly columns will review some of the most important updates made to the industry’s global periodontal guidelines to help hygiene teams achieve the highest level of care. Once we have exhausted this topic we will move onto other questions about the process of … Read more
Students at a private Vancouver technical college for dental hygienists say their school isn’t doing enough to ensure safety amid the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Students at the Vancouver College of Dental Hygiene are calling for their classroom instruction to be moved online, citing crowded classrooms, poor air circulation and and on-campus COVID exposures. … Read more
The Swiss government wants to boost an exchange of specialists from the education and the medical sector with Canada’s largest province of Quebec. The deal foresees the mutual recognition of diplomas for social workers, as well as experts in dental hygiene, dentistry, radiology and midwifery. It aims to regulate access to each other’s labour market. … Read more
Still confused about the 2018 AAP Periodontal classification? Never fear! The next few monthly columns will review some of the most important updates made to the industry’s global periodontal guidelines to help hygiene teams achieve the highest level of care. Once we have exhausted this topic, we will move on to other questions about the process … Read more
Brenda Di Muzio says her work keeps her humble. “Owning your own business has its pros and cons, and it’s challenging and different every day,” said the woman behind Brenda Di Muzio Dental Hygiene Professional Corporation — a mobile service that provides oral care to long-term care residents and hospital patients. “A lot of these … Read more