“Leadership is an invisible strand as mysterious as it is powerful… It pulls, and it bonds. It is a catalyst that creates unity out of disorder. Yet, it defies the definition. No combination of talents can guarantee it. No process or training can create it where the spark does not exist. The qualities of leadership … 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 4–10. The week’s theme is “Oral Health for Total Health,” and it reminds us that taking care of our mouth, teeth, and gums benefits our overall physical and mental well-being … Read more
John Echternach, a retired dentist, is making a pitch to change the state rules of which procedures dental hygienists are allowed to do, according to an article from Times Argus. Echternach will be going before the Vermont Board of Dental Examiners to ask the state to allow registered dental hygienists to perform the “same procedures … Read more
With the shortage of dental hygienists, some dental professionals are considering encouraging more male dental hygienists to join the field, according to CBC. Currently, it is rare to see a male dental hygienist and Gerald Proctor notices the surprise from many patients when he meets them. “Proctor is a rarity on P.E.I. According to the … Read more
This is typically the time of the year when dental offices in Canada, as well as the United States, search frantically for dental assistants and hygienists. That’s because patients become aware that their benefits associated with insurance plans, or opportunities to incur expenses for their 2022 taxes, are about to expire. “As a practicing dentist, … Read more
“A Tommy Douglas Moment” The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA), today praised Royal Assent for Bill C-31. The new law is the first time in history that the federal government is providing broad based, targeted support to Canadians for dental and dental hygiene care. “This is a Tommy Douglas moment,” stated Anne Caissie, president of … Read more
TempStars, North America’s largest and most respected dental temping and hiring service, will continue its expansion into the United States when it sponsors and exhibits at the Illinois Dental Hygienists’ Association’s (IDHA) Annual Conference in early November. Already the dominant provider in Canada, TempStars introduced its service to the U.S. last year and has since … Read more
Enrollment for dental hygiene and dental assisting programs declined from pre-pandemic levels in 2021-22, and the decline in dental assisting programs started prior to the onset of the pandemic, according to a new report from the ADA Health Policy Institute. For dental hygiene programs, enrollment declined in 2020-21 followed by a recovery in 2021-22 to … 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
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
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
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
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
TempStars, North America’s largest and #1 rated dental temping and hiring service, announced today that it is open for business in Phoenix and Scottsdale, another step in the company’s expansion in the United States. “This will create many new opportunities for dental hygienists and assistants in Phoenix and Scottsdale that weren’t there before,” said Dr. James Younger, … Read more
Weekly Wisdom: This week Peter Barry reminds us of how important our dental hygiene teams are — they are much more than teeth cleaners! Subscribe to Oral Health’s weekly e-newsletter to have the latest episode delivered straight to your inbox each week!
A recent study has shown dental hygienists contracted COVID-19 at a much lower rate than other health care professionals, revealing great leadership among those is the dental industry, some suggest. The study, conducted by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the American Dental Association (ADA), found that 3.1 percent of dental hygienists have had … Read more
Joint research investigates pandemic’s impact on infection control practices in dental health setting; employment rate of dental hygienists Despite having been designated as high risk for COVID-19 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a new study finds 3.1 percent of dental hygienists have had COVID-19 based on data collected in October 2020. This is … Read more
You are a dental hygienist. You went to school, you graduated, wrote the national board exam, found yourself a job and now you scale likely somewhere between 160 to 256 teeth each day, four days a week or upwards of 60,000 teeth per year. You have been at the same clinic for a few years … Read more
Some Alberta family doctors say they’re frustrated their offer to help administer COVID-19 shots have gone unanswered. Dr. Noel Grisdale, who has a practice in Black Diamond, says he’s among many family physicians eager to aid Alberta’s vaccine distribution program. “The frustration from family doctors I’m hearing is that there’s no mention of talking to … Read more
The hygienist plays such an integral role in the overall success of our relationship with our patients. From the work we provide directly with the patient, to the role we as hygienists play in passing the baton of goodwill to our doctors or business team members, how we execute each step of our hygiene appointments … Read more