A vast amount of my career has been spent on defining our powerful role as dental hygienists in the earlier discovery of an abnormal lesion through effective visual and tactile examination of the structures of the head, neck and oral cavity. Frankly, the omission of a thorough and effective extraoral/intraoral examination can cost a life. … Read more
Is dry mouth a complaint you hear frequently from your patients? Does your mirror ever stick to your patient’s cheek during their dental visit? We can all probably think of those patients – those patients with severe dry mouth. The American Dental Association reports that anywhere from .9-64.8% of patients suffer from dry mouth.1 The … Read more
Proper procedure coding within your practice is important on many levels, from ensuring accurate payment for dentists to creating a valid record of patient care. Failing to use appropriate procedure codes can lead to all kinds of mischief for dentists as well as poor outcomes for patients. Indeed, accurate procedure coding is a legal requirement … Read more
Q: I just started using the term “nonsurgical periodontal therapy” (NSPT) when speaking to my patients, and they often ask how NSPT is different than a “cleaning.” What is the easiest way to describe the difference without getting too technical? A: Interestingly enough, when I consult and teach, most hygienists insist that NSPT is something … Read more
According to findings of the 2022 Original Tooth Fairy Poll® released by Delta Dental, the Tooth Fairy visited 79% of homes across the country with children ages 6-12 who have lost teeth. Most kids are demonstrating patience for the Tooth Fairy’s visit, with more than half of parents (61%) reporting that their child waited for … Read more
Earlier this year when the federal government announced plans to create a national dental care program, Dr. Lisa Bentley, dentist of over three decades and president of the Ontario Dental Association (ODA), was excited for the gap in access to care to be filled. But now, even after meeting with Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, the ODA is still … Read more
Dental insurance continues to support optimal health as highlighted in the recently released 2022 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report, a nationwide analysis of consumer opinions and behaviors relating to oral health. Findings from the Delta Dental-commissioned research of U.S. adults and parents of children ages 12 and younger also inform how adults who … Read more
Did you know that 80% of patients will look for another clinic if you fail to provide a great patient experience and their expectations of convenience are not satisfied? That’s why it’s of an immense importance for dental clinics to strive at patient experience improvement. You might even have to reframe your work to satisfy … Read more
Since the onset of the pandemic, our personal and professional lives have been turned upside down in ways we could never have imagined. In addition to adopting rigorous health and safety protocols and procedures in our practices, we also go above and beyond in our daily interactions with our patients to ensure they feel safe … Read more
Some days, the life of a dental hygienist is like running on a hamster wheel. The race of the clock, running around in circles as you frantically try to stay on time. In hygiene school, we were given three hours to provide comprehensive patient care. When we compare this to the traditional 60 minute-model given … Read more
In my personal and professional journey throughout of my life, I have discovered that giving back is the ultimate sign of true success. And in today’s world, we need to remember that we are all connected, in many ways. We are a society that makes decisions on how we feel and each individual is dealing … Read more
Q: Can you make a dental hygiene diagnosis based on pocket depths alone? A few of my fellow hygienists insist that a 5mm pocket depth is an indication of periodontitis. A: No, you can not make an accurate Dental Hygiene Diagnosis (DHD) based on pocket depths alone. Pocket depths may assist in making a diagnosis … Read more
An Island-wide staffing shortage in dental clinics is causing a backlog of appointments, and it’s forcing some patients on P.E.I. to wait months before receiving care. “As with any part of health care, everybody’s looking for somebody to help them out,” said Dr. Brian Barrett, executive director of the Dental Association of P.E.I. He said key positions … Read more
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says he’s confident the federal government will be able to set up its proposed dental care program by the end of the year, though his department has not yet settled on a model or begun formal talks with the provinces. As part of a confidence and supply deal with the NDP to avoid an election … Read more
You might cringe at the word “audit,” associating it with stress-causing, time-wasting tax problems. Fortunately, not all audits are as daunting – or frightening – as those. A social media audit is a methodical review of your profiles, postings, and strategy, which yields valuable insight into potential problems and opportunities for improvement. Overview: what a … Read more
Cellerant Consulting Group is pleased to announce the 2021 Cellerant Best of Class Hygiene Award winners. “Since 2009, the Cellerant Best of Class Technology Awards have identified and acknowledged the top technologies in dentistry,” said Melissa Turner, Chief Hygiene Officer at Cellerant. “We will now expand the program to focus on the dental hygiene community … Read more
Just to be clear, the link between cross-training and summer has nothing to do with peak fitness so we look great in our summer wardrobe! Well…it could be about that. But not in an article for a dental publication. Instead, this is the time of the year when we try to slow down at work … Read more
A patient emails 20 different dentists her recently taken full mouth series of x-rays, stating, “My previous dentist took these just before I moved to town. The move was sudden (work-related), so my dentist never had a chance to tell me what work I needed done. I’m here for two years on assignment, and I’m … Read more
“A picture is worth a thousand words.” You may have heard this common phrase many times before. Have you thought about this when it comes to your daily interactions with patients? We are trained, educated and taught how to assess, identify and differentiate between healthy and non-healthy, normal and abnormal in terms of teeth, tissue … Read more
Q: Some of my patients resist getting recommended radiographs. What can I do to encourage them to consent? A: If you read my article, “Are you Taking Adequate Radiographs?” (November 2021 issue), you know that most practices aren’t taking the necessary images throughout the process of care, especially considering the recommendation of the new global … Read more