Recent Blog Posts

• National Dental Hygienists Week: A Celebration of Our Profession

  Posted: April 04, 2025

  Categories: Dental Hygiene , Professional
  

  April 4 to 10 is our week, fellow RDHs! National Dental Hygienists Week™ (NDHW™) is a time to reflect on how far we've come as a profession, celebrate our contributions to oral health, and continue advocating for a future where everyone has access to preventive care. We are the unsung heroes of dentistry, bridging the gaps in healthcare, fostering trust with our clients, and standing at the forefront of prevention.

  Our Journey: From Auxiliary to Independent Healthcare Providers

  Did you know that dental hygiene as a profession started in 1913 with Dr. Alfred Fones training Irene Newman in Connecticut? His vision was clear: rather than just treating disease, we would prevent it. That vision remains at the core of what we do today.

  For decades, RDHs were restricted to working under strict supervision, but as research reinforced the connection between oral and systemic health, our role expanded. And now? We are essential members of the healthcare team. We've earned our

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• What Counts and What Does Not: 2018 AAP Periodontal Classification

  Posted: March 14, 2025

  Categories: Professional
  

  As dental professionals have implemented the 2018 AAP periodontal classification of staging and grading there is still some confusion as to some of the rules of what counts and what does not count. One of the ways to make sense of the ‘rules’ is to ask the question Papapanou et al. (2018) pose in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, “How do we define a patient as a periodontal patient?” (p. 168). Answering this question clarifies the rules of staging and grading, including the need to capture true interdental CAL’s, the requirement for a matching CAL site, searching for the highest CAL’s, why adjacent CAL doesn’t count, when buccal and lingual CAL can be considered, and how periodontitis distribution is assessed across the entire mouth rather than assigning generalized or localized labels to specific stages.

  To answer this question, we must consider how we have traditionally approached it and not ask "Does the patient have perio?" instead "How do we define a patient as

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• The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Your Orthodontics: Tips, Tools, and Techniques

  Posted: January 10, 2025

  Categories: Oral Care , Patient Health , Professional , Orthodontics
  

  Whether you're wearing traditional metal braces or clear aligners, proper care is essential not only for your comfort but also to ensure the effectiveness of your treatment. In this post, we'll explore some helpful tips for caring for your orthodontics, as well as the tools and aids that can make the process easier and more effective.

  Understanding Your Orthodontic Options

  Before diving into the care routine, it's important to understand the two main types of orthodontic treatment.

  Traditional Braces:
  Traditional braces consist primarily of metal or ceramic brackets bonded to your teeth, connected by a wire. These braces work by applying continuous pressure to gradually shift your teeth into alignment.

  Clear Aligners:
  Clear aligners are a series of clear, removable trays that gradually move your teeth. They are a popular choice for adults and teens preferring

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• The New Normal in Dentistry: Navigating Post-Pandemic Challenges for Dental Clinics

  Posted: December 13, 2024

  Categories: IPAC Compliance , Infection Control , Dental Hygiene , Office Life , General , Professional
  

  As we approach 2025, it’s hard to ignore the seismic shifts brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. While much of the world has adapted to new norms, certain sectors, such as dentistry, continue to face unique challenges. The pandemic affected not only our health but also our dental practices, introducing waves of stress, financial burdens, and new stringent infection prevention and control (IPAC) protocols.

   

  In this week's blog, we explore the unseen struggles dental clinics face as they navigate a post-pandemic landscape and what that means for the patients who rely on their care.

   

   

  The Financial Strain on Dental Clinics

   

  When COVID-19 swept the globe, dental clinics were among the first to feel the effects. With government mandates for non-emergency dental procedures to halt, m

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