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
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
Last week, I had two dentists share with me a similar sentiment, “My team doesn’t support me.” When I asked them for more details, they both indicated that their teams got very upset whenever they decided, spur of the moment, to “squeeze in” more dentistry or more patients than they had originally scheduled. One of … Read more
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
Things have changed since March 2020 in many respects. The way we practice, the way we communicate with our clients, and what is expected of us as dental professionals has also changed – are you doing enough to keep up? We need to look at what our clients need and how we can best serve … Read more
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
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
Q: I just started working in a practice where restorative dentistry has been the primary focus and periodontal therapy has been neglected. How do I begin to make the transition toward a more perio-focused process of care? A: Chances are that most patients in your new practice have active periodontal disease, and a standard “cleaning” … Read more
I would like to tell you a story about a woman who was a great leader. Her name is Ione Miller, and she just happens to be my mom. Mom was a city girl who, at the age of 19, married a country boy (my dad Clem) and moved to a farm. She raised seven kids, … Read more
Floss Like A Boss With The Philips Power Flosser 3000 Besides being great clinical providers for optimal patient care, we work tirelessly as educators to teach and provide dental education to each person who sits in our chairs. Our role as dental professionals is to reinforce the importance of proper oral care, and one of … Read more
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
YOUR BODY IS WAY TOO VALUABLE TO BUY SHI**Y PRODUCTS I’m regularly asked by dental peeps whether or not they should purchase loupes. And my answer is always a no-brainer — yes. But it’s no secret that a good quality pair of loupes come with a price tag that reflects the amazing benefits. That said, … Read more
Do these statements sound familiar? Discussing treatment with patients makes me feel pushy. I don’t want our patients to feel “sold” to. Our patients would never want to hear above and beyond the minimal care needed. If you have ever thought any of these phrases, you’re not alone. Supporting optimal treatment, discussing this with your … Read more
Poor oral hygiene leads to gum and dental disease (the most prevalent disease in the entire world), causing pain, misery and expense, yet in spite of all scientific and technical advances, there has been no reduction of dental disease in the last 10 years. Every dentist and hygienist knows that caries and gum disease are … Read more
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
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
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