Words of Wisdom by Kim Miller, RDH

Posted on August 26, 2022August 17, 2022 by Kim Miller, RDH, BSDH

Every patient is different. Overcoming a patient’s obstacles to treatment may take some finesse. The diagnosis and treatment plan are typically the easier task. In this series, we have asked the experts from our Protocol Directory, to share their insight. When Kim Miller RDH with Inspired Hygiene was asked to address “I need to think about it” or “I need to talk to ____ (my husband, wife, etc.) about it,” her response included the following: “I completely understand. I’m sure you weren...

Neglected Active Periodontal Disease

Posted on August 19, 2022August 15, 2022 by Chelsea Gonzales DDS

Challenge: A new patient, 59-year-old male, presents to our office with no specific concerns. However, a previous provider recommended a “deep cleaning.” This “deep cleaning” treatment was never completed. Patient has 4 fully erupted wisdom teeth that are difficult to access for daily cleaning. Background: Age 59 Sex: Male Medical History: High Blood Pressure but is taking medication Last Dental Exam: 2019 Home Care: Manual toothbrush 2x daily, baking soda with peroxide, ...

Inflammation is Key!

Posted on August 12, 2022August 11, 2022 by Susan Wingrove RDH, BS

It is now widely accepted and confirmed through research that there is an oral-systemic connection. The link between oral infection and certain systemic diseases has taken center stage, and inflammation is the key! Dental plaque/biofilm formation added to the inflammatory process can lead to periodontitis, peri-implantitis or other oral infections. It can reach an acute phase, initiating the inflammation cascade. Once inflammation is initiated around a natural tooth or an implant, tissue can ...

Words of Wisdom from Jan Lazarus RDH

Posted on August 5, 2022August 2, 2022 by Jan Lazarus RDH

Every patient is different. Overcoming a patient’s obstacles to treatment may take some finesse. The diagnosis and treatment plan are typically the easier task. In this series, we have asked the experts from our Protocol Directory, to share their insight. When Jan Lazarus RDH with The JP Institute was asked to address “Is it going to hurt?” her response included the following. The simple response to “Is it going to hurt?” in most cases would be, “No, we plan to make you comfortable by ...

Computer Security and You: Part 2

Posted on July 29, 2022July 25, 2022 by Rob Schuldt

Last week in Part One, common breaches were defined, and remedies explored. After reading Part 2, your objectives will be to comprehend the complexity needed for passwords and to enable two-factor authentication for your OralDNA® Labs account. Passwords are another significant risk with online accounts. A common practice is that people use the same username/password on multiple websites. The problem with this practice is that when a site gets hacked exposing your username/password, now a ...

Computer Security and You: Part 1

Posted on July 22, 2022July 21, 2022 by Rob Schuldt

Computer security can be an intimidating topic with many terms, acronyms, and different attacks to understand. We’ve all heard the terms phishing, malware, viruses, and ransomware, but may not fully understand what these things mean and how they are a threat to you. You can be exposed to all these attacks simply by using email or browsing the web. What can a user or business do to defend themselves and their patient data against this vast array of risks? As with most things in life, there ar...

What’s a “Hygiene Visit” Worth? With Dr. Michael Goldberg

Posted on July 15, 2022July 14, 2022 by Michael Goldberg DMD

Price becomes an objection when a patient does not perceive “meaningful value.” Without such a value-based context, people use money as a benchmark. Is your hygiene visit worth $39, $59, $99 or more? Or is it only worth it if the “insurance will cover it?” And now that the new hygienist you just hired is making 20% more than the previous one, how does that figure into the profitability of the practice? We are in complex times, made more intense by the pandemic-effect, which acceler...

Words of Wisdom with Doug Thompson DDS

Posted on July 8, 2022June 24, 2022 by Doug Thompson DDS

Every patient is different. Overcoming a patient’s obstacles to treatment may take some finesse. The diagnosis and treatment plan are typically the easier task. In this series, we have asked the experts from our Protocol Directory, “How would they help the patient overcome their obstacle(s)?” When we asked Dr. Doug Thompson from Wellness Dentistry Network to respond to “But it doesn’t hurt” (when diagnosing periodontal disease), here is his approach. This is one of the most difficult reali...

Sick and Tired of Patients Being… Sick and Tired?

Posted on July 1, 2022June 1, 2022 by Machell Hudson RDH

Me too! Day after day, patients dismiss their oral health, writing it off as “My gums have always bled.” Inside, my head was exploding, but outside my heart was opened. I knew that I had a chance to educate my patients to a whole new level of health. One where their energy would be boosted, risk to coronary heart disease would be lowered, and the chance of them developing diabetes would be significantly reduced. I became a hygienist on a mission. I instinctively knew that if things were g...

Words of Wisdom from Dr. John Kempton

Posted on June 24, 2022June 1, 2022 by John Kempton DDS

Every patient is different. Overcoming a patient’s obstacles to treatment may take some finesse. The diagnosis and treatment plan are typically the easier task. In this series, we have asked the experts from our Protocol Directory, “How would they help the patient overcome their obstacle(s)?” When we asked Dr. John Kempton from LAUNCH Oral Systemic Health to respond to “That’s more than I was expecting,” here is his approach. When patients respond to our consultation with “That’s more than...