Modern Hygienist

DPR editors have compiled a list of must-read books with your dental practice's management goals in mind. The concepts and ideas conveyed through each book can easily translate into your dental practice, among your staff and even your patients. #2 New York Times Best Seller: The Power of Habit: Why we do what we do in life and business

While dental organizations warn that patient safety is at stake, California and other states are exploring dental therapy models to expand the dental workforce and to address the problem of people going without oral healthcare.

The DPR Technology Census has been a cornerstone of the DPR Editorial Calendar for a number of years. Part of what makes the tech census a must-read year after year is the fact that it helps dentists benchmark themselves. It's not always about what technology is available, but who is using it, who plans to use it, and what barriers to entry exist.

Ready to move your career up a notch? Xlear, a company that has been a CareerFusion sponsor for 5 years, wants to help you get there.

If a patient leaves your dental office annoyed, that patient likely isn't coming back. Your patients want to feel safe and comfortable throughout their stay at your practice.

Last February, we published Jeanne Bosecker's web article What did you say?, which featured the craziest things she has heard from her patients while working as a hygienist. Bosecker provided her personal commentary on each patient comment and also shared tips on how to respond in a professional way, even for the most unexpected requests that come up.

A positive trend occurring within dentistry is the adoption of “green” or environmentally-friendly strategies. These strategies include the selection and use of products that are biodegradable and have less toxic byproducts, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Dr. Fresh®, Inc., maker of the best-selling FireFly® toothbrush, announced that it has entered a new licensing agreement as the exclusive U.S. manufacturer and marketer of Angry Birds® branded oral care products. Angry Birds fever has captivated a broad swath of consumers across all generations, and Dr. Fresh is the first to leverage the brand’s appeal in an innovative oral care line.

The Mississippi Dental Board now requires all dental offices in Mississippi to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) onsite. This mandate deadline date is July 1, 2012. The regulation also requires that all licensed dentists and dental hygienists licensed by the State of Mississippi maintain a current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Looking to better serve governments, large accounts and educational facilities, Holt Dental Supply has created a Special Markets Division. Over the years Holt Dental Supply has worked steadily to build the best full service dental dealer possible. For more information on the company's announcement, see the full press release below.

Dental cavities and tooth decay is one of the most common medical conditions experienced by Americans and the single most common disease of childhood. 

Research presented by the American Association of Dental Research shows that periodontal treatment and appropriate dental care can help lower the medical costs for diabetic patients.

CHICAGO, IL – March 4, 2010 –Hu-Friedy, a global leader in the manufacture of dental instruments, acknowledged the work of two Dental Hygienists by sponsoring their trip to attend the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, which convened at McCormick Place February 25-27.  

Scientists seeking to predict a person’s risk for developing dental caries by identifying the presence of harmful oral bacteria have to date identified only about 800 of the thousands of microbes residing in the human oral cavity. But now a multimillion grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to the J.

September 28, 2010, Sun Prairie, Wis.-Exploring Transitions, LLC announces a third in their series of books for the dental and dental hygiene market. The Purple Guide: Paper Persona the newest installment in the series of books to support dental hygienists.

When I first arrived at the CareerFusion meeting in January, my main focus was on the networking I was about to do to further my personal goals in dentistry. What I got was a whole lot more. Throughout the four-and-a-half-day meeting, there were plenty of opportunities for personal development, career enhancing education and a warmth and camaraderie that I have never felt at any other meeting I have attended in dentistry.

You’re going about your day. You’re rockin’ your hygiene thing, yucking it up with your dental cronies in the lab, or perhaps you’re in the operatory for the periodic exam with the dentist, then all of a sudden- WHAMMO!  Eva Watson, RDH.  You know how this goes.

Maintaining excellent hygiene can be a challenge during orthodontic treatment. However, this problem can be addressed with the use of 3M ESPE’s Vanish™ XT extended contact varnish, combined with ongoing daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste. Vanish XT immediately creates a protective barrier on the tooth and provides a long-term release of fluoride, calcium and phosphate. The varnish can be applied either directly following bracket placement or later, depending on the patient’s level of risk, and its effectiveness continues for up to six months after placement.

“I love teeth,” Sarah Wyssmann readily admits. “I am a teeth fanatic. I love to take care of my teeth-brushing, flossing.”

Photo: Eva Watson Day 20 “We’re still conducting interviews at this time but we’ll contact you when we’ve made a decision.”

June 7, 2010 | modernhygienist.com web exclusive Part 1: The importance of oral cancer screenings Photo: Trimira Clinical Image Library

It’s pretty like a sparkly birthday present with a shimmering, pink bow on top.  It’s content like a satisfied meal that’s digesting comfortably in your belly.  It’s wonderful like a Newfoundland puppy that just tried to slobber up your saliva then plopped down in your lap to rest.  Awww, puppy.

Year after year, survey after survey, DPR’s readers affirm that when it comes to choosing new dental products for their dental practices, colleague recommendations are vital. Here, we provide space for dental professionals-like you and your team-to reflect on the products they see making a difference.

Be yourself Home care compliance and individuality are closely related. Here we take a look at four unique patient personalities and highlight basic essentials that should have a place in their medicine cabinet.

November 2, 2010  | dentalproductsreport.com Editor's Note: This article is in no way, shape or form an endorsement of any system of belief.

The dental profession certainly knows what goodwill is and what the general understanding of its value means to the dental practice and its owner. Most experts allocate high percentages of the value of the dental practice as a whole to goodwill, compared to equipment, supplies and other items in the sales agreement or valuation report. Goodwill is a method of choice for allocation when a seller looks at tax implications from his or her sale compared to other sources of designation of assets or service and administrative charges for their sale.

June 7, 2010 | modernhygienist.com Photo: Getty Images/Altrendo Images

The Set-Up “The field of Periodontology is dynamic, and the role of the different practitioners is rapidly evolving. It is important for dentists and hygienists to stay on top of the latest research and trends. In this excellent review, Dr. Ryder examines the topic of prevalence of periodontitis from a public health and practical clinical perspective.

It’s easy. It’s painless. It doesn’t cost your patients anything extra, but this simple test can tell you so much about what is going on with them-both in their mouth and their entire body-so you can determine the best way to treat any problems. Chicago dentist Dr. Raymond Hatland has used Kinesiology as a guideline for diagnosing and treating his patients for 36 years. We recently talked with him about what it is, how it can be used in a dental practice and how it can benefit patients. Here’s what he had to say:

When first conducting this survey, the one data point DPR editors could never have anticipated was that nearly 80% would say infection control is something you are very concerned about.