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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• Beyond the Clinic: 5 Industries That Can Benefit from Dental-Inspired Sterilization Solutions

  Posted: January 29, 2025

  Categories: IPAC Compliance , Infection Control , Professional
  

  In healthcare, sterilization is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of patients. Dental practices have long been at the forefront of stringent sterilization processes, driven by the high standards required to prevent infection. But what if these best practices could extend beyond dentistry? Here, we explore five industries that could benefit significantly from dental-inspired sterilization solutions.

  1. Veterinary Medicine

     The veterinary field shares many similarities with dentistry, particularly regarding the types of instruments used and the need for infection control. Just like in dental practices, veterinarians operate on live animals, which requires meticulous care to prevent post-procedure infections. Implementing dental sterilization protocols – such as using steam autoclaves to efficiently sterilize surgical instruments – can significantly improve patient outcomes. For

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• The Importance of Proper Donning and Doffing Techniques for Dental Professionals

  Posted: January 24, 2025

  Categories: IPAC Compliance , Personal Protection and Safety , Infection Control , Professional
  

  In the dental field, maintaining a sterile environment is crucial to ensuring patient safety and preventing the spread of infectious diseases. One of the fundamental practices that can significantly impact infection control is proper donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off) of personal protective equipment (PPE). In this blog, we’ll explore why these practices are essential for dental professionals, provide step-by-step instructions for both donning and doffing and highlight key tips to keep in mind.

  The Importance of Proper Donning and Doffing

  The mouth can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and viruses, making it imperative for dental professionals to take the necessary precautions. The correct donning and doffing of PPE help to:

  • Protect Patients and Staff: Wearing proper PPE safeguards b

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