Allied Dental Education Programs Enrollment Sees Declines

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

Canadian Dental Hygienists Association Releases Policy Paper on a National Oral Health Care Plan for Canadian Seniors

In a policy paper, the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is calling on the Government of Canada to commit $2 billion over five years to provincial and territorial governments to deliver a pan-Canadian oral health program that would give Canadian seniors, wherever they may live, access to preventive oral care services to help them maintain good … Read more

Joint Statement from the Oral Health Professions Regulators

The CDHO has partnered with Ontario’s oral health regulatory Colleges to produce the following statement on fallow times and closed operatories. This statement is endorsed by: Glenn Pettifer – Registrar/CEO, CDHO Roderick Tom-Ying – Acting Registrar/CEO, CDO Dan Faulkner – Registrar/CEO, RCDSO Judy Rigby – Registrar/CEO, CDTO Ontario’s oral health regulatory Colleges (Dental Hygienists, Denturists, … Read more

3 Pivotal Business Systems for Hygienists to Embrace

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In the hundreds and hundreds of dental practices we at Jameson have had the opportunity to work with over the past three decades, we have seen high-performing practices and low-performing practices. We have seen teams that work as an aligned group of leaders and we have seen teams that don’t look or behave like a … Read more

Expanding The Dental Hygienist’s Role: A Focus on Reducing Heart Attack and Stroke Risk

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The first time I heard Dr. Bradley Bale, MD, and Dr. Amy Doneen, DNP, speak about their latest research and the effect of oral health on arterial disease was at a 2016 AAOSH conference. From that point, I began to view my role as a dental hygienist much differently. It opened my eyes up to … Read more

Straight From a Patient’s Mouth: A Patient’s Perspective on Hygiene

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There are two types of hygienists, and it’s not whether they are partnered with a dentist or independent. Let me explain from my own experience as a patient what the two types are. A BIT OF BACKGROUND I never saw a hygienist until I was about 21 because our family dentist always did a bit … Read more

Get Your Dental Practice Online in 2022 (With Bonus Tips)

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The dental industry is getting more and more competitive every year; not only is it getting harder to keep your current patients, it is getting difficult to acquire new patients. One of the best ways to acquire new patients is having an outstanding online presence. How Do I Get My Business Online? Just having a … Read more

Making an Impact by Giving Back, One Smile at a Time

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As healthcare professionals, we are passionate about positively impacting our patients’ lives and giving back to the communities we serve. With April being National Oral Health Month, many Canadian dental practices will be celebrating in different ways. dentalcorp, the organization I work with, recognizes National Oral Health Month by donating their time and skills through … Read more

Battle Over a National Dental Care Plan Looming with Provinces

A jurisdictional battle with the provinces could be looming over the dental care program that’s a centerpiece of the confidence deal between the federal Liberal government and the NDP. The federal budget said the dental care program would become available to some Canadians before the end of the year, with eligibility expanding after that. But … Read more

COVID-19 Pandemic Has Interrupted Access to Vaccinations and Routine Dental Care for Many Children, Toronto’s Top Doctor Says

The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted access to dental care and routine immunizations for many children and a new report from Toronto’s top doctor says that the city needs to work with the province to create a plan to address the backlog. The report, which will be considered by Toronto’s Board of Health today, takes a wider … Read more

The Government Has Committed $5.3 Billion to Establish Dental Care

The Liberal budget laid out money for a new dental care program Thursday, but not necessarily a plan. Now that $5.3 billion is on the table, the government has just shy of nine months to drill into the details and deliver. Dental care for low- and medium-income families is a major tenet of the confidence … Read more

Orthodontics: A Straight Perspective, From a Dental Hygienist’s Eyes

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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

Technically Speaking: Tips for Implementing the 2018 AAP Periodontal Classification (Part 14)

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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

Know Your Worth

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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

How to Ensure Patients are Keeping Up with Dental Hygiene Throughout the Pandemic

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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

Communicating Oral Inflammation: A Chair-Side Conversation That Can Change a Life

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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

Client Experience in Oral Healthcare is the Doorway into Better Wellness

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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

Technically Speaking: Tips for Implementing the 2018 AAP Periodontal Classification (Part 13)

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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

Research Reveals Impact of COVID-19 on Dental Hygienists

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