Clinical Dental Hygiene

What constitutes new technology? Water flossing revisited

Dental school graduates from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s have probably heard of the Waterpik Water Flosser, but ask them to tell you what it does or whether it is effective, and they generally either do not know or else believe that it is not very effective at removing plaque. Graduates after 2000 may not even know what this technology is or what it does.

Maintenance of dental implants for the Hygienist

Implant dentistry has become more and more prominent in our everyday practice as patients are keen to have implant-borne prostheses than a conventional bridge work or removable dentures. One of the most important factors for long term success of dental implants is the maintenance of healthy peri-implant tissues.

Dentine hypersensitivity: Simplified

All dental practices have patients with dentine hypersensitivity. Many patients avoid dental treatment because of their hypersensitivity. Surprisingly, most practices do not have a systematic approach for diagnosing and treating this condition. This is simply because it seems too complicated.

The effectiveness of toothbrushing

Plaque control is the cornerstone of the prevention and control of periodontal disease and caries. However, although salivary flow has some limited potential in cleaning debris from interproximal spaces and occlusal pits, it is less effective in removing and/or washing out plaque, and natural cleaning of the dentition by physiological forces—that is movement of the tongue and cheeks—is virtually non-existent. [1]

Top 10 causes of tooth discoloration

NEW YORK, NY, USA: Your job as a dental hygienist is to help your patients maintain healthy teeth and gums. They also want to leave your chair with whiter teeth — in fact the whiter the better. Nobody wants discolored, dirty-looking teeth. As you know, the causes of tooth discoloration are many and varied. Some factors can be reduced by changes in patient behavior, while others causes are beyond the control of the patient. 

The business of hygiene

The title of this article inevitably bothers some hygienists. After all, hygiene school does not teach anything about the ‘business’ of hygiene, so many hygienists feel running a hygiene department as a business is wrong and impinges on the quality of care.

BrushTest from OralCDx determines whether a patient has pre-cancerous or cancerous cells

Mark Rutenberg wants you to look for this four-letter word: TEST. Rutenberg is the chairman/CEO of OralCDx, a company that provides the BrushTest, which can determine whether a patient has pre-cancerous or cancerous cells. He says his 'test' is different from others on the market because it’s the only minimally invasive diagnostic procedure that actually tests the tissue.

Loupes: making a wise long-term investment

The television shows Grey’s Anatomy, ER, House M.D. and, in the late ’80s, Chicago Hope have used the image of a surgeon wearing loupes. What point are the producers of these shows trying to make? Most likely it is an attempt to make the show technically accurate. It may also be an effort to depict the doctor as a highly regarded professional, making use of the best equipment available in order to provide excellent care to the patient. Isn’t that what each hygienist strives for ...

Study shows flossing can decrease the occurrence of gum disease-causing bacteria

In dental offices all over the world, patients are often told they are not flossing enough or instructed to floss more. As the old saying goes, you only need to floss the teeth you want to keep. After all, not flossing regularly can lead to tooth decay and to periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

What do Batman and orthodontic braces have in common?

The most stomach-wrenching thing dentists see is an oral cancer lesion; for hygienists, it’s the melted enamel under and around orthodontic brackets and bands. The hot pink tissue seems to pulse with a life of its own. It covers the gingival third of the tooth hiding a caustic biofilm that percolates acids reminiscent of the vats Batman hung over, strung up by the Riddler. The chemistry under there has baffled third year dental and dental hygiene students. What to do with melted enamel?