As of Monday, dental hygienists in the Northwest Territories now have the legal right to practise without supervision by a dentist, its government announced. Under the first phase of the newly enacted Dental Hygiene Profession Regulations — a change anticipated since 2023. Previously, all dental hygienists had to operate under the direction and control of … Read more
Hygiene Spotlight features an exceptional dental hygienist every month. This month, we are showcasing Jennifer Turner, the CEO of Hygiene Headquarters Inc., and an active member in the dental hygiene community. Jennifer is an award-winning Dental Hygiene Professor and inspiring speaker. What advice do you have for the dental hygienists out there who are not feeling … Read more
Picture this: A temp dental hygienist walks into an unfamiliar practice, feeling nervous yet determined to do their best. They are given minimal instructions, a quick overview, and shown to an operatory they have never worked in before. With barely 20 minutes to prepare, they catch their breath just as their first patient arrives. Is … Read more
In an era characterized by rapid advancements, one constant remains: the prevalence of oral diseases has reached epidemic levels. According to the World Health Organization’s 2022 Global Oral Health Status Report, untreated oral diseases affect over half of the global population, with the number of cases increasing by one billion over the past three decades. … 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 a senior hygienist on our team, I frequently find myself needing to retreat periodontal therapy due to calculus being left by previous hygienists. My goal is to reduce the need for … Read more
Planting the Seed For 5 days in August 2023, Fanshawe College dental hygiene professors Kelly Turner and Shelley Getty helped run a pilot sealant project for Grenada’s children. Grenada, the “Isle of Spice” in the Caribbean, boasts a population of approximately 125,000 beautiful souls. It’s known for being safe and politically stable and full of … Read more
Health Minister Mark Holland has voiced his concern regarding the reimbursement discrepancy between independent hygienists and those working in a dentist’s office. “I haven’t been convinced by the rationale defending it,” he said on Tuesday. The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) has been vocal on its concerns regarding the fee guide for the Canadian Dental … Read more
The Canadian Dental Hygienist Association (CDHA) is applauding the federal government’s Budget 2024 for expanding the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program to dental hygienists working in rural and remote communities. “The expansion of the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program will support dental hygienists in delivering critical oral health care to historically underserved rural and remote … Read more
April is Oral Health Month in Canada, and an important part of the celebration is National Dental Hygienists Week™ (NDHW™), which takes place from April 4 to 10. The week’s theme is “Oral Health for Total Health,” reminding us that taking care of our teeth and gums has an impact on so much more than … Read more
As the voice of a female-dominated workforce of oral health professionals, the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is proud to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8. CDHA recognizes this as a time to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of all women in the profession of dental hygiene. This year’s theme for International Women’s … Read more
The BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) and the BC Dental Hygienists Association (BCDHA) are pleased to introduce a comprehensive set of resources designed to support dental hygienists in offering trauma-informed services to patients who experience anxiety and mental discomfort during dental visits. The resources include a new website and supplementary materials designed to help patients reduce … Read more
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
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) recently shared their support for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) along with their concern about some of the details regarding the program, such as reimbursement rates for independent hygienists. The CDHA worked closely with government officials during the development of the CDCP to ensure preventive services were covered. … 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
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
Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is celebrating National Dental Hygiene Month throughout October 2023, providing education and thought leadership discussions to spotlight and support hygienists. This month serves as a time to recognize dental hygienists as essential members of the dental team who positively impact the oral and overall health of patients. In recognition of … 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
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In the last two issues of Oral Hygiene, we revealed the introduction to this topic, Secret #1 and #2. If you missed them, be sure to look back at these articles! SECRET #3: SPECIALIZE. By specializing, you are setting yourself up to be ‘Indispensable in the Dental Practice!’ You are setting yourself up to be … Read more
Speak with any dental practice owner, and it will take a little while to hear about their challenges with post-Covid staffing. A shortage of dental assistants had been the major challenge just before the pandemic, and since then, the challenge has broadened to include dental hygienists. This staffing challenge has had a negative impact on … Read more
Did you know dental hygienists are responsible for preventing and treating gum disease? According to the Canadian Dental Association, “7 out of 10 Canadians will develop gum disease at some time in their lives. It is the most common dental problem, and it can progress quite painlessly until you have a real problem.”1 This statistic … Read more