National Dental Hygiene Month Giveaway
We’re so excited about this month’s giveaway to celebrate our favorite month of the year! Dental Hygienists are an amazing group of people that we want to celebrate.
This year, we’ll be doing one mega giveaway for a deserving dental hygienist. Nominate yourself or a friend who needs a quick pick up after a long year in an amazing but sometimes difficult career. Email us your nominations @ hygieneedge@gmail.com. Entries are due on October 31, 2019 at 11:59MST and we’ll be pouring over the entires and announcing the winner the week after that.
Some amazing things you can win:
Five instruments of your choice and a cassette from American Eagle Instruments
Safety Glasses from Cees Glasses
Whitening Go Trays and Whitening Tubes from Ultradent
A Prize pack from our Hygiene Edge Shop
Sharpening Guide from PDT
Nose Filters
GumChucks autoclavable handles and inserts
Enter today! Happy Nation Dental Hygiene Month!
Social Media Tips to Help Your Practice Grow
We were lucky enough to go to the Digital Dental Marketing Conference last week held by My Social Practice and learned so much about the online space for dental hygienists and dental offices. Who knew the online space was so complex, and using it as a tool to promote a practice could be so easy and so complex all at the same time? Here are a few tips we picked up on during the convention that you could use tomorrow to grow your office’s online presence.
1. Check your website on your phone. The majority of patients and people use their phones to do any searching online. Makes sense! I’m always looking up companies on the go, comparing prices when I’m at a store, or asking questions online all from my phone. Why wouldn’t patients be looking at you from theirs? Make sure your website looks good and makes sense from mobile and answers all their questions about your office, like hours, services, and location all easily from their favorite browsing device.
2. Use What You’re Doing to Your Advantage! If you’re already doing monthly cavity free giveaways or volunteering on mission trips, document them! And use them as content for your website and social media. Show off all the amazing things you already do, and let both your patients and your potential patients know how great of an office you are.
3. Keep Videos Short and Simple. People, aka patients, attention span online is 30 seconds to 1 minute. So, if you want to do some quick OHE Videos, or how tos, keep them just that- quick. If you’re thinking about showing the differences between different materials, think about breaking them up into a few different videos to keep them short.
4. Use Mircroinfluencers to Promote Your Practice. Are their local people online talking about what’s happening in your town? Ask them to come to your practice for a tour or a whitening treatment to show off what’s happening or what’s new in your office.
5. Google Your Office. Make sure your offices phone number, office hours, and photos are available right away if someone is searching your name. Seems simple, but if you’ve never checked before, they probably aren’t on there!
Having your office online is major when it comes to patients finding you. I mean, it is almost 2020! If you are looking for something new to work towards as an office, using social media may be it!
Does your office use social media to promote the practice? What is your role in creating posts or content for their online presence? Maybe consider heading to the Digital Dental Marketing Conference next year right here in Utah! We’d love to meet up with you if you do!!
Ways to Celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month
It’s here! It’s October. Not only does this month come with season changes, lots of hayrides and pumpkins, and sweater weather, it brings the best thing to celebrate all year- National Dental Hygiene Month! We are very excited to celebrate this special month with you over the new few weeks. Are you looking for some ideas on how to celebrate? We’ve thought of a few we’ll be doing this month!
1. Share about it on your Instagram or Facebook! Let all your friends and family know how important oral health is to you and it should be to them. Highlight what you do as a dental hygienist each day and how much you love your career and taking care of your patients every day. I had a few students mention they had no idea what dental hygienists did before coming to school, but coming into school has opened their eyes to how important dental hygiene really is and how smart RDHs is as well! If people searching out, shadowing and actually coming to school to be a dental hygienist doesn’t truly know the extend of what we do, what does the general public know? Let’s work together to educate, and this month is the perfect excuse!
2. Paint rocks and hide them around town. Does your town have painted rocks around? They are definitely a fun way to do something different to promote oral health. Include a specific hashtag for your office or include #NDHM so you can see where they end up!
3. Attend a local ADHA event. Do you know where they are held? If you don’t know, we can help you! Email us! Do you ever attend their meetings? Sign up and support! You’ll meet dental hygienists locally to you, and learn something new. Having a network of hygienists that are close to home in so important when it comes to finding a new job in your area, plus you can discuss cultural concerns and situations that are common in your area with your new RDH friends.
4. Order yourself a new name tag. Get a new, simple name tag (especially if you don’t ever wear one) that includes your first name, your title and that you’re a dental hygienist. Let your patients know by this simple act that you’re different than the assistant or dentist, and that you have a unique and critical role in their health care.
5. Sign up for a dental hygiene magazine, like RDH Magazine or Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. They’re free, come every month or so, and are a great way to learn about new products. Plus, since they come regularly, it’ll keep National Dental Hygiene Month going all year! I love when they come, can review them during a slower clinical day, and learn a new skill or review different medications or syndromes.
6. Since this month also includes “Treat Yourself” Day on October 13 (any Parks and Recs Fans here?!), why don’t you treat yourself this month! Buy yourself a new pair of scrubs and throw an old, faded pair away. Look into a yoga class to keep your body stretched and healthy. Replace your old clinical chair with a new saddle chair. Your body and career will thank you as you treat yourself this month.
How are you celebrating? We’d love to know and join with you!
What Should I Take When I Temp?
Whether you are thinking about occasional temping or full-time temping it is a good idea to bring along a few essential items. Please adapt this list for your level of temping.
Items for Patient Treatment:
Patient glasses
Blood pressure cuff
Supplies: Your patient education folder
Your preference of instruments- (be sure to sterilize before you leave)
Sharpening stone- Most instruments are not sharp when I temp (be sure to sterilize before you leave)
Cordless Handpiece- (be sure to sterilize before you leave)
Your own favorite no-hassle floss
Polishing paste, Prophy brushes. (Items you may want to try from the trade shows)
For you:
Labcoat
Nametag
Loupe light- HERE is one we wrote about that you can use to try out a light and then save for your favorite one.
Saddle chair
Den plugs- Start protecting your hearing from those high frequencies.
Nasal filters- Protect your patient and yourself from aerosols
Small clock to stay on-time.
Patient Samples: Toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, xylimelts, interproximal brushes (items you get at trade shows)
Making It Memorable
Xylitol suckers- For those pedo patients, an OHE tool for parents or a fun treat for the child tagging along with a parent.
Need to stock up on any of these items? Check out our Amazon Influencer storefront of recommended temping products HERE.
Want to know more ideas about temping read our article Becoming and Unforgettable Temp.
Disclaimer: We are #amazoninflencers we do get a commission if you buy a product we recommend. We have an influencer store front on Amazon HERE of products we find valuable for dental hygienists. We thank you for your support.
September Hygiene Round Up
We’ve collected some of our favorite dental hygiene articles and products from all over the web and completed them just for you!
Figs Scrubs (our fave) are on sale for 20% off today. I’m ordering a jacket!
Do you talk about weight at a dental visit?
Do you follow us on Instagram? We just showed the difference between each Nevi by Hu Friedy, and we’re working on a post right now about them (with a video on how to use them intraorally.
Who’s been using a cordless hand piece? There are so many new brands out there! What are you using and loving or hating?
We’re also interested in trying out the new Orascoptic Trucolor light.
Dental Hygiene Nation launched their fall line. This sweatshirt is our favorite.
Who dresses up for Halloween in a dental theme? Or dresses up as an office for a clinical day?
Need an interim light while you save for the one you really want. The light pictured is from amazon for 30$. See all about it in our recent post HERE. Or check it out on our Amazon shop HERE. #amazoninfluencer
Graduation Awards- So What?
A few weeks ago, Shelley, Jessica and I attended the graduation ceremony of the Dental Hygiene School we teach at. I sat in the audience and watched each student happily except their diploma and gain a degree, a career, and a social life all in one 10 foot stroll across a stage. And I’m sure like most dental hygiene school graduations, several students received awards for their time in school, from being awarded the “Golden Scaler” award for their clinical skills, to being a “Future Leader” for their volunteer work in SADHA and other dental events. Students were also recognized being part of the SADHA leadership, helping with volunteer events, and going on service trips while during their time in school.
When I was a student, I did none of this. I didn’t win any awards at my graduation. I wasn’t recognized for my hard work or my leadership qualities at this ceremony (let’s be honest- I was quiet and wasn’t part of the SADHA leadership at all, so that makes sense). I went on a mission trip as a senior, but nothing was said about it since a few students went on 2 or 3 during school.
Honestly, that graduation night I had so many emotions. So happy to finally be finished a huge and hard chapter of life, grateful my parents were there from Canada to cheer me on, but also a bit heartbroken not to receive any recognition of my 2 year time frame in school. Was I really that bad of a clinician/student/person? All the self doubt crept up that evening. Maybe dental hygiene wasn’t for me?
Fast forward 10 years later, and I know that any of that self doubt that evening was in vain. I’ve learned so much about hygiene, our profession and myself over years. I’ve learned that these awards may seem important at that very moment at graduation, and may be nice to add to a resume, but there are so many other ways to pad a resume, find a dream job, and continually grow and improve in our profession.
So, if you’re a recent grad, congratulations! Did you just barely pass your classes? Who cares. You did it! You didn’t receive any awards during your time in school? So what. That’s just a blip in time. Are you questioning if hygiene is for you? You got this! Try it out and see instead of making up your mind before stepping into an office.
I’m excited for you! And we here at Hygiene Edge are rooting for you at any stage.
We’d love to chat with any new (or more seasoned) dental hygienists! Email us with your thoughts or questions at hygieneedge@gmail.com, or comment below!
Advice for the New Dental Hygiene Student
Starting dental hygiene school this semester? CONGRATULATIONS! Getting into dental hygiene school is tough, and we’re proud of you for making it! Now, we want to warn you. Sometimes, the first few days of school is overwhelming. Learning about the clinic flow, the requirements needed to pass clinic, and the science course load on top of clinic can be overwhelming at times. However, you can get through these first few difficult weeks and make it through the rest of the two years! We’ve rounded up some of the best advice for the new RDH student and made a list to hopefully help make this first little bit a tiny easier.
“If you’re interested in joining SADHA, do it! You’ll learn some new leadership techniques, get to know different people in your class that you may not have originally, and have something different for your resume. I felt too insecure to run or be part of the leadership, which now I’m not sure why I was.”
“These first few days can be a lot. I remember the 1st semester of school being the most difficult. It gets easier as you get to know your professors, have patients lined up to come, and feel more comfortable with the flow of clinic.”
“Your professors and instructors are there to help you. Ask them for help!”
“Get really good at Google Calendars. Having each assignment on some sort of calendar keeps everything straight. Nothing is worse than showing up to class and realized you forgot to finish a paper that was due that day.”
“Watch videos to help with instrumentation. The Hygiene Edge ones are awesome.”
“Don’t worry about boards and clinicals in the 1st semester. Take it one day at a time and you’ll get to that point. As of right now, just study your classes, which are all on boards anyway, and you’ll be prepping for it in a round about way.”
Dental Labor Day Sales
These amazing Labor Day Sales are killing my pocket book! But with so many amazing ones, how could it not? We’ve rounded up some of our favorites so you can join in!
Figs- 25% all scrubs. We LOVE these scrubs, and really want to try a lab coat. Maybe we’ll order some today.
Dental Hygiene Nation- 30% off and free shipping with a $50 purchase. We love these fun dental products, and are our favorite to give as gifts. Anyone else starting to think about Christmas shopping?
Jaannuu Scrubs- 25% off site wide.
Hygiene Edge- us of course! Buy one, get one FREE of our Hygiene Edge Stickers. No code needed, we’ll just add extras to your order!
The Columbia 4L 4R
It’s like a Barnhart (that has a toe) with a long shank. Wonderful for posteriors and pockets. Do you use this in your practice? Let us know what you think.
Dental Mentors
Two years after I graduated dental hygiene school, I signed up for the local Utah Dental Hygienists’ Association Annual Session. I was so excited to go to a larger meeting to meet hygienists from all over the state, but listen to a few national speakers. I hadn’t been to a large dental convention before, and since I was starting to feel more comfortable with my profession and working with patients, I knew learning new skills and tricks would be amazing for my practice. The day of the convention, I picked a front row seat. I pulled out my notebook and was wide eyed to listen to a national speaker who I’ve looked up to and read about in all the national publications.
The speaker started her lecture. I’m sure the content was amazing (I honestly don’t remember the topic) and I’m sure learned a lot from it. But, the one thing I absolutely remember from the lecture was the feeling after I had about dental hygiene. Unfortunately, the speaker was negative toward the profession and where it was heading. And I’m not going to lie- I was heartbroken! My newbie hygiene heart hurt after that lecture. I was excited to meet and listen to this powerhouse in the dental hygiene world and thought she could be a potential mentor to me. But, instead, I left sad about being picking a career in dentistry.
In contrast, my dad is a dentist. I’ve never worked for or known anyone who loves their job as much as my dad. He was obsessed with learning new techniques and technology, changing his patient’s lives, and finding the best way to treat many oral health and systemic health issues. He would tell me though that dentistry wasn’t always his favorite. When he first started as a dentist, it was hard. Starting a business, working with people, and finding great employees were all very difficult. But, once he had a rhythm and his focus was more on patient treatment instead of starting a business, he loved every second. He loved it so much that he encouraged all his kids to go into the dental field, which 3 out of the 5of us did.
So, what’s the difference between these 2 dental mentors?
First of all, they both had long, amazing careers in dentistry. And they were hard workers in a sometimes difficult career. However, one was positive about the outcome of dentistry and one maybe wasn’t as much. One loved the outcomes and saw the differences in patient’s lives, while one chose to focus on the negative aspects of dentistry. At this point in your career in dentistry, you can choose where you want to focus. Do you want to focus on the hard days, the late patients that just ate Oreos before their patients, or the way dentistry is changing in a way you don’t like? Or do you choose to focus on the positive outcomes of patients, the relationships made during your clinic day and the people’s smiles you helped create? For me, I’m choosing to follow my dad’s footsteps and legacy, and keep a positive outlook on what dentistry has done for me.
Which mentor will you be after your years in dentistry?