The Journey to Becoming a Complex Care Hygienist

Posted on October 20, 2023December 20, 2023 by Sandy Sheffler RDH

My name is Sandy Sheffler, and I have been a registered dental hygienist in the State of Maryland since 1973. For the last 45 years, I have been very fortunate to work in very progressive dental offices. In 1988, I was introduced to Dr. Paul Keyes, dental researcher and director of the National Institute of Dental Research and the developer of the Keyes Technique – a 7 step system to periodontal health. He was among the first dentists to associate pathogenic bacteria with dental diseases. Th...

Consumer-Friendly Lab Reports

Posted on October 6, 2023October 5, 2023 by Kimberly Babauta, RDH, BS, BCPA

Clinical lab reports have come a long way since their inception. In the past, lab reports were typically written for healthcare professionals. They often contained medical jargon and technical terms that were difficult for patients to understand. However, with the advent of new technology as well as the increasing importance of patient-centered healthcare, the trend towards more consumer-friendly lab reports has emerged. One key factor triggering the trend towards consumer-friendly lab re...

Be the Guide, Not the Hero

Posted on September 1, 2023August 28, 2023 by Debbie Ozment DDS MS, NBC-HWC, ABAAHP

We care deeply for our patient family and are oral-systemic experts. Because we have invested enormous amounts of time and money in quality education, we know best what people need for strong teeth and a long health span. Our patients appreciate this and always listen intently to what we tell them they need to do. They happily reach into their wallets and hand us their credit card. Right? In my 34 years of clinical experience: Wrong! People buy what they want, not necessarily what they nee...

How Do You Speak Testing? With Karina Diaz, BASDH, CRDH

Posted on August 25, 2023August 14, 2024 by Karina Diaz BASDH, CRDH

Patient Bio: A new patient, female, age 41 appointed to your practice. Upon medical history review, she is currently not taking any medications, only nutritional supplements recommended by her dietician. Her family history revealed her father has cardiovascular disease and sister has Type 2 diabetes. Completing the periodontal assessment identified: How would you introduce therapy including MyPerioPath® to this patient? (Patient) we understand that the health of our mouths and the heal...

The Dynamic Duo: Benefits of Combining Oral and Gut Probiotics

Posted on August 11, 2023June 17, 2024 by Walter Tatch DDS

Keeping an eye on our oral and digestive health is crucial for sustaining a healthy lifestyle. Did you know that oral probiotics can have a big impact on your general well-being? They can! Scientists, medical professionals, and dentists alike are learning more about the advantages of taking probiotics for gut health. With their Probiotics Kit, StellaLife® offers you the ideal blend of intestinal and oral probiotics, enhancing your health from the inside out. We'll talk about the benefits of ...

How Do You Speak Testing? With Emily McCleary, RDH

Posted on June 16, 2023August 14, 2024 by Emily McCleary RDH

Patient Bio: Your 54-year-old female patient of record has been absent from your practice for 5 years. At the last appointment in 2018, this patient was going through a divorce, and it was recommended that the patient receive periodontal therapy. Now, the patient is emotionally and physically ready to address any concerns as she is caretaker for her mother who has Alzheimer’s. She is taking medication for blood pressure and fluctuating hormones. She does express an occasional bout of brain fog. ...

Calling all Hygienists: The Time for Specialization is NOW

Posted on June 9, 2023May 31, 2023 by Jamie Dooley RDH BIS

Registered Dental Hygienists have more career paths available to them than ever before. However, the biggest impact an RDH can have on overall health is still untapped! Large and small healthcare systems need our expertise. Hospital administrators around the world have oral health integration on their strategic plans, but insurance reimbursement, coding, governance, and EHR differences have made integration with the dental field extra challenging. On top of that, general dentists are alre...

Nobody Has Ever Done that Before

Posted on May 26, 2023May 18, 2023 by Lee Sheldon DMD PA

In this era of trying to differentiate yourself from the provider down the street, a simple solution is incorporating OralDNA® salivary testing services. Imagine a patient who has had periodontal disease and has seen several dentists and periodontists in the past. They may have been told they have pockets, but what do pockets mean to a patient? Perhaps a lot, but only if they have been properly educated about the consequences of a pocket deepening. Let’s look at this from another perspect...

Testing & Treatment When the Timing is Right

Posted on May 12, 2023May 10, 2023 by Jennifer Campbell RDH

Challenge: A patient of record since 2014, single dad and full-time factory plant worker came in for a routine dental . Background: Age: 33 years old Sex: Male Medical History: asthma, high blood pressure, patient reports smoking history, on and off up to a pack per day. Last Dental Exam: 2020 Home Care: Brush, floss, rinse, shower flossing device Clinical Assessment: Dental history shows high caries risk, and adult periodontitis. The patient shows current clinical evi...

A Podcast For Your Mouth

Posted on April 28, 2023April 26, 2023 by Camille Zenobia PhD

I am the @oralhealthactivist and brainchild behind the ‘Let’s Get Oral’ Podcast. Although I am no dentist or hygienist, my PhD thesis was centered around Porphyromonas gingivalis endotoxin which led me on a circuitous pathway through oral pathology, oral immunology, oral hygiene, and clinical study in oral health. I have so much excitement to share about what we have been learning over the last 20 years that has not yet been adequately communicated. We are at a frontier regarding oral health...