June 2017 Utah Central Component Meeting
Utah Hygienists!
Make sure you keep June 8, 2017 on your calendar clear. Jessica and Melia will be speaking at our local ADHA Central Component meeting in Provo all about Dental Fads: What You Need to Know. It'll be a fun event of interaction, learning, and tons of giveaways (because who does't love a giveaway?!)!
RSVP today and see you there!
Need Free CE Credits? Look No Further.
I'm not going to lie. I love CE's. I love going to classes, learning new ideas, and being inspired. Even with my love of classes, I've still found myself scrabbling for a few extra credits right before license renewal. After having my daughter, getting out of the house for a couple days or even a couple hours is tricky! We've compiled a list of websites so you will never get find yourself in that situation again!
Before taking any online course, I would recommend contacting you State Dental Licensing Board to see their regulations on how many online credits you can take for each renewal period, how many have to be in different topics, and if "live" classes held online can count toward your "live" credits for renewal. Each state is so different, so always double check. To make it even easier, sign up for CE Zoom to help track your credits and to have them double check to see if they're count!
Dental Care by Crest is regularly adding new classes to their long list. These are self study courses, so if you are an audio learner, this might not be the best option for you.
Colgate sponsors live webinars a few times a month. What I love about it is they vary times. Lots of webinars are always held at the same time (8 PM eastern) which doesn't always work for my schedule. So, having them mix it up with times, even having some during the day for hygienists outside of the US, is great! Sign up for their emails to keep updated on their class schedule.
Viva Learning offers several live classes a week, plus keeps these webinars on their website to watch later. This is one of my favorite websites for both dental and dental hygiene topics. Their classes are always 1 hour long and require a little quiz after the webinar is complete.
Hu-Friedy offers classes both on demand and live. Sign up for their emails to know when the class live classes will be held. I recently watched one on subgingivial air power polishing that was very interesting.
These self study courses cover a varitey of topics. One that caught my eye was "Successful Appointment Transitions for the New Dental Hygienist".
Though most of their CE's are paid, they will sometimes offer free classes. They also have great articles to keep up with the latest in dental hygiene.
American Eagle offers a 1 CE credit course on instrumentation and offer it regularly. Keep an eye on their website to find out when the class is held.
Good luck getting that CE, guys!
Where are you favorite places to get CE? What has been your favorite class recently?
You May Forget Things You Learned In Hygiene School
There are a lot of things from hygiene school that I have suppressed, purposefully forgotten or just don’t utilize on a daily basis, therefore I have forgotten them. I know that the hygiene students reading this may think that that is unfathomable right now as you have to know and memorize EVERYTHING. In the case of the G.V. Black classifications, I honestly only remember/use class 5 (V- caries at the gingival margin on the facial or lingual of a tooth.) This is because the dentist, while diagnosing, will have to distinguish caries in the buccal pit vs. the margin for digital charting.
For now though, dear hygiene student, you will see those Black Classifications in several of your courses as well as on boards. Below are several ways to help keep them in your mind until the day you may no longer need them at the tip of your tongue.
G.V. Black Classification
Class I (1) Occlusal areas and buccal/lingual pits (Anterior/Posterior)
Class II (2) Interproximal (Posterior)
Class III (3) Interproximal (Anterior)
Class IV (4) Interproximal including the incisal edge (Anterior)
Class V (5) Gingival margin facial or lingual (Anterior/Posterior)
Class VI (6) Cusp Tips
Mnemonic to Remember
RHYME
Class 1 (1) HOLE IN ONE
Class 11 (2) ALL THE WAY THROUGH
Class 111 (3) NO INCISAL FOR ME
Class IV (4) INCISAL MORE
Class V (5) CERVICAL DIVE
Class VI (6) CUSP TIPS
Visual Learners
Study Tips
Write it down
Say it out loud
Point to is as you say it
Make flash cards
Teach it to someone else
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Needle Safety With a Needle Card Protector
When creating the video below on safety card use for dental injections, I came across a website called oneandonlycampaign.org. They run a campaign for all health professionals about injection safety. It was a good reminder about the risks we take each day in our profession and the importance of keeping yourself healthy and safe. If you have ever been stuck by a contaminated needle or sharp instrument, you realize instantly the potential severity of the situation. I encourage you to not get lax with your safe injection practices so you can have a long and healthy career and life. I would recommend reviewing your practices in an upcoming staff meeting soon.
Over Your Dental Office Music? We Can Help.
Tired of your regular old music that you listen to each day while you work? Or if you use the radio, having another dental office's ad come on while you're in the middle of a procedure? We can help! We've made a Spotify playlist for your office! We'll regularly update it with new music so you never get bored.
As an added bonus, we've made an RDH Pump Up playlist! To get you ready for a busy day. Listen to it while you're getting ready, commuting, or even as you set up your operatories before your first patient arrives.
Find us by our username, Hygieneedge, or at the link above!
A New Product For You To Check Out- Smart Select Polishing Paste
Our latest video shows you how to use Smart Select Polishing Paste (by Young) that has a fine and course paste in the cup. This allows us to preform the selective polishing techniques we have all been taught about.
Hygienist Spotlight- Krystal Frankfurt
Name: Krystal Frankfurt
From: Grew up on a dairy farm in Gibbon, MN. Lived in Australia, Germany, Nevada, and currently; Montana.
Where and when you Graduated DH School: Minnesota State University, Mankato -May 2012. Studied abroad in Australia and got to visit the “Crazy Dentist” of Australia
Favorite Part of Dental Hygiene: Knowing that I can help someone and make a difference in their life and health!
Funny story from school or practice? Oh boy, which one! I will start with the most recent. I was doing my chart notes when I noticed my patient from earlier that day was checking out at the front desk. I saw their date of birth on the top of my chart read todays date, so I exclaimed “[Patients name]! Happy 48th birthday! Hope you have a great birthday!” and their blank expression turning into a confused looked smiled back with no words exchanged. As I turned back and continued in my chart notes, I thought to myself “that’s weird they didn’t say anything, maybe I did the math wrong”. I continued writing when I realized I had someone else’s chart! It was at that point I completely turned red because I not only called my patient the wrong name/age but gave them a “happy birthday wish” that turned out to be 8 months ahead.
In the military I was instructed to called my patients by their rank and last name. I had been working for about 3 months mind you, calling them by their rank and last name. Well one day, the patient I called back started laughing. When we got to the patient room and they informed me they had to tell me something. I was shocked to find out SSG wasn’t pronounced S-S-G but STAFF SERGENT! (and you can imagine all the other ranks I butchered.) It all made sense why sometimes my patients were unsure when I was calling them back and received lots of smiles.
One day when I got home my husband informed me his tooth just “fell out!” I looked inside his mouth and indeed he did lose something, but rather than “his tooth”, it was a crown. Coincidently it was hailing out and we were about to get in the car to head to the dentist. I asked if he had remembered to bring his crown. He dug in his pocket grabbing his white crown to confirm he had it and then accidentally dropped it on the ground. WHILE it was hailing. We spend hours digging, sorting, and deciphering what could be a crown or hail. After hours of only finding hail, we gave up and spent a big chunk for a new crown.
Last one is the greatest memory from hygiene school. I laugh every time I tell this story! I placed fluoride varnish on my patient and told them not to eat or drink for 8 hours. Later I ran into their mom I thanked her for her son helping me out. That’s when I found out it all went well except he was starving! I had accidentally told them 8 hours instead of saying nothing hard or crunchy for 4-6 hours. At least we know the fluoride was absorbed!
Eight grade I knew I wanted to go into dental hygiene. My dad went to the dentist for routine care and they found a lump on his jaw. After referring him, he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He was able to catch it in Stage 1 and after going through chemo and radiation, he is now 13 years cancer free! That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue hygiene.
Any advice for a dental hygiene student? Stay positive and keep working! Be proud of the things you’re learning—everything you learn will help you to help others!
The Diary Of A Pregnant Hygienist- PART 2, The "Prego"genist
Do you see that picture? Yup, that is me, 8 months pregnant, the “prego”genist working with a watermelon tucked under my scrubs.
Do you see that picture? Yup, that is me, 8 months pregnant, the “prego”genist working with a watermelon tucked under my scrubs. At this point there IS a daily apology for my baby kicking at least one of my patients in the head. Once showing you will probably get some funny questions. For example, one patient recently asked if I had a condition that made my stomach large or if I was pregnant. Those patients say the darndest things sometimes.
The extra weight you gain while pregnant brings on lots of new things you didn’t know your body could experience such as, swollen hands and feet making running around treating patients all day hard and may cause you to have to use a larger sized glove to keep those hands happy and healthy. Give yourself permission to buy the most comfortable shoes, and consider some type of compression stocking to make life a little easier as well.
You may start to notice your back hurting at some point. Some options to combat this are a seeing a chiropractor, massages, stretching, using a more ergonomic chair, purchasing a belly support band, or consider standing for portions of treatment delivery. It will also help to keep pounding the water while working. This will make for more trips to the ladies room but will help you feel better at the end of the day.
With my first child, I worked right up to the last day. I felt good and had a flexible sub for when I was ready, which I would recommend lining up at least 2 months in advance. The more you can help the office be prepared for the transition the better off everyone will be. Each pregnancy will be different; with this child I am taking off 2 weeks early to rest and relax. Not everyone has that luxury but do what feels best for you.
You may be asking yourself, how long of a maternity leave should I take? I have seen several coworkers over the years take anywhere from 1 week to 2 months. Some are the sole providers for their family and just don’t have the luxury of weeks off of work without pay. With my first baby, I told them 6 weeks but when it came time to return I called to see if they could give me 8. I was very blessed to have that opportunity and was allowed that because I had lined up the temporary hygienists schedule first before talking with the manager about it. If I had just dumped it on her, for her to figure out all of those details, she may have not been so gracious.
With my second child I went back very part time just two weeks later (from 2-4 hours 2 times per week.) This was because I had an awesome child care provider. For me, that made all of the difference in my comfort level in returning to work knowing my baby was properly cared for. Stay tuned for part 3 where I talk about finding childcare and working as a now nursing mother. SEE PART ONE, THE FIRST "TRAIL"MESTER HERE.
Advice for the Recent Dental Hygiene Graduate
Being a recent dental hygiene graduate is full of emotion. For one, relief that you made it through a really tough program! Sadness that you won't see your new best friends that you've been hanging out with every day for the last two years, and nervousness as you set out to find your perfect job. We've been compiling advice from hygienists all over the US and Canada for you recent grads! Things they wish they would've known when they graduated, how to keep hygiene instresting, and how to be dental hygiene for the long haul.
"Try and get as much experience temping in multiple offices as possible. You're able to find out what you like and most of the time, temping can lead to a permanent job." Courtney Calder
"Be confident, especially in your knowledge and skills. However, you must still be teachable and know that you are still going to learn something new every day." Mandy Faucette, graduated in 2012
"The advice I would get be after 30+years is to get to know your patients. Build a relationship. You'll help them want to improve their oral health and do what you ask when they know you care. It's simple. But very powerful." Karen Alston
"I would say my best advice is to value your education and be willing to continue learning. I think we are very well educated and that sometimes we are discredited, by dentists, our patients who think we're the same as assistants, and even each other when people go to different schools. But we are very knowledgeable and have all the knowledge and skills that we need to provide excellent patient care. We need to be confident about that. But at the same time, we also need to be willing to learn from our peers and search out the latest information that is continually being released so we can make sure we are providing the best patient care." Chanci Oyler, graduated in 2008
"You have a professional degree, but your learning doesn't stop now. Take the time to develop yourself personally, gain emotional intelligence, and have courage. Your courage will help you as you evolve professionally but it will also help you uphold your integrity and your dental hygiene oath. Remember the galaxy is your limit!" Jazmin Haley
"When you first graduate, trying to find the perfect job can be tough. Take your time and do a lot of temping to see what you like in an office, what you don't, and to be exposed to many different software systems, instruments, and office dynamics. Don't stress, which I know is hard, if the perfect 5 day/week office doesn't fall into your lap right away. Just like it dental hygiene school, it all works out! Congratulations on joining an amazing profession!" Melia Lewis, graduated in 2009
"One of the most important things is to keep learning and working on developing your skills, especially in dental hygiene diagnosis and treatment planning, also clinical skills take a while before they develop fully.
Also, if you have a diploma or associates degree, get a bachelor's degree ASAP. It won't affect your income in clinical practice, but you will have more career options later on, in case you want a change from clinical practice Also, even if money is tight, get disability insurance. I worked with someone who was in a car collision soon after graduation, she could not work for six months.." Linda Douglas
"GET A MENTOR YESTERDAY and Networking really does matter." Elicia Lucpoli
"Pay attention to the ergonomics/kinesiology experts. Too many careers ruined by bad backs and other chronic workplace injuries in this job. Avoid working in offices with 12 o'clock delivery." Scott Ross
Thank you to everyone who offered advice to our recent grads!
What advice would you give yourself as a recent gradute?
Sealant Placement
In our latest video, we should the sealant placement technique per The Clinical Practices of the Dental Hygienist, 2017.
We definitely know there are lots of other techniques out there based on materials, patients, etc. What do you do in your office? What works and what doesn't work for sealant placement? Let's talk about it! Let us know below.
Citation of video content Wilkins, Esther Mae., Charlotte J.. Wyche, and Linda D.. Boyd. Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer, 2017. Print.