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
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 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
Hu-Friedy, a global leader in the manufacturing of dental instruments and products, will honor dental hygienists across the country by wearing purple (the official color of dental hygiene) on October 19, 2016, the fourth annual #ShowUsYourPurple Day. Hu-Friedy created this event in 2013 as way of recognizing and celebrating hygienists during National Dental Hygiene Month. … Read more
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is proud to recognize nine leaders in oral health for their outstanding contributions to the dental hygiene profession, the national association, research, and knowledge translation. “Our 2016 award winners have set high goals and achieved much in their professional and personal lives,” notes Donna Scott, CDHA President. “We are … Read more
On October 1, Canadians celebrated the older adults whose mentoring, leadership, and volunteerism have shaped the nation. National Seniors Day was also an occasion for dental hygienists to remind Canada’s seniors and their caregivers of the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene habits throughout the lifespan. “Thanks to healthier lifestyles and advances in oral and … Read more
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the Wrigley Oral Health Care Program (WOHP) are proudly partnering for the seventh straight year to celebrate the work dental hygienists do and provide them with a wide range of oral health resources to share with their patients throughout October for National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM2016). NDHM2016 is … Read more
Fluoridation is useless for low-income children, US federal data shows. Now please keep in mind the source, the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation (NYSCOF) Inc. Having said that, Center for Disease Control (CDC) 2011/2012 statistics reveal that low income children’s tooth decay rates are increasing substantially despite record numbers of children served fluoride … Read more
I am a retired dentist who has a passion for preventative dentistry and preventive medicine. I recently became painfully aware of the ramifications of acid reflux and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) on the oral cavity. I developed severe GERD late last year. Unfortunately, complete understanding of the difficulties experienced by patients comes best through direct … Read more
Purchasing a new practice management software for a dental office is not a trivial task. There are a lot of different choices and packages offered by software vendors that confuse the buyer rather than help her/him. Each package has its own strengths and weaknesses. But what are the fundamental elements a dentist should look for … Read more
Sunstar Americas recently celebrated its fifteenth year of honoring North America’s outstanding dental hygienists. The oral health care leader and RDH magazine joined forces to create the Award of Distinction program in 2002. Since then, 113 dental hygienists have been recognized for their success and accomplishments in the field of dental hygiene. The four most … Read more
My husband Steve, teases me about living in an orange bubble. Those of you who know me know that the color orange plays a big part in my life and how I brand myself. In fact, I often receive orange gifts from friends and colleagues…which BTW I love! Radiate O.R.A.N.G.E.! So what is the Power … Read more
Nowadays, dentists are forced to balance between providing the best patient care and staying profitable and efficient. Recent changes in the dental industry and patient expectations have created a competitive market and introduced new challenges dentists never had to deal with in the past. Let’s face it. What was acceptable ten years ago is no … Read more
Abstract Over the past several decades, a political movement has evolved whose agenda is to end community water fluoridation. Despite decades of data demonstrating safe and effective reductions in dental caries, anti-fluoridation activists continue their efforts globally. Under the banner of concerned citizens, the activists lead with emotionally charged fears (e.g fluoride causes cancer, fluoride … Read more
Consider the type of patient you would like in your practice. Stop spending time putting out fires that consume valuable time and energy, with problem patients. Spend more time with your preferred patients and their friends. Birds of a feather really do flock together. Patient surveys show that the majority of patients find out about … Read more
Why would a dental practice require an eye wash station? Is it required by law? And if so, what type of equipment is needed? Although the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario recommends the installation of eye wash stations in dental offices (Infection Prevention and Control in the Dental Office, 2010), there is still … Read more
Providing clean, safe dental water is critical to implementing and maintaining effective infection control protocols. Exposure to poor water quality can pose a health risk for people and conflicts with universally accepted infection prevention protocols. Noted most recently, in 2011 was the fatal case of an 82-year-old otherwise healthy woman who developed Legionnaire’s disease after … Read more
Dentistry is part art, part science, but all about people. In dental school, the people part of the equation was overlooked, and it takes a number of years in practice to realize its importance. Dentistry is a service business, and communication is paramount to success. Communication, by definition, is “the exchange of ideas, messages, or … Read more
Every dentist has experienced it: a choppy hygiene report that creates chaos, patient confusion and a ripple effect of schedule delays. When it becomes chronic, it has a deleterious effect on your entire operation. How to fix this common but potentially dire problem? As with just about every aspect of practice development, consistent process is … Read more