How Are We Talking About Toothpaste to Patients?
A few days ago (before everything stopped!), I dropped by my local pharmacy and strolled down the oral hygiene aisle. Now, being a dental hygienist, I feel like I know quite a bit about all the products that are lining the shelves. But, as I walked down, there was a customer picking up a box of toothpaste, spinning it around, putting it down, then went to the next product. Seeing her thumb through each item highlighted how confusing this aisle probably is to most patients and how we can be a source of credible information for them. It’s easy for me to rattle off oral hygiene instructions in my operatory, but putting myself in the store where the patients make the ultimate decision put everything into perspective.
So- what are we telling patients when are they in our operatory chairs? Are we creating meaningful conversations that they can take with them into the store? Are we recommending products that are easy to find and easy to remember? What are things you want to point out to patients so they can make the transition to purchase the best product for them? Here are a few things I like to chat about with patients to tailor product recommendations:
Ingredients: When talking about toothpaste, it’s all about the active ingredient. Point how important having fluoride in a paste and educate your patient to actually read the labels of brand they’re looking at. Like Crest Gum Dexofiy or Crest Gum and Sensitivity, I always recommend a stannous fluoride.
Cost: Of course, cost is a factor. You’ll need to look at the patient population you have and what they can afford at their time in life. Do you work with lots of college students, who may not have a lot of extra income and not be able to purchase an electric toothbrush, or work in a more middle class area?
Location: What stores are close to your office? Is there a big box retailer across the street that only carries a certain brand of toothpaste or toothbrush? Take a second during a lunch break and check out what products are offered at the stores close to you, so you can make practical recommendations to your patients.
We can educate all day to our patients about their needs to improve their oral health, but if we aren’t making it accessible to them, it is even that effective?
What do you do in your office to help patients improve their oral and overall health?
A huge thank you to Crest/Oral B for sponsoring this post! We have loved working with this amazing brand who focus on being #hygienistproud and supporting dental hygienist’s missions.
COVID-19 for the RDH
I’m currently quarantined.
A few days ago, I found out that a family member we had seen the week before tested positive for COVID-19. This news was a huge shock- there haven’t been many cases diagnosed in Utah, let alone America, and the thought of having it so close in the family made it unreal. With all this new, bring so many questions from me, the safety of my family and my patients, and what’s next. We had several conversations with the Utah Health Department and the CDC about what was next for us and them, and what’s best for our communities. Since I am low risk with no physical contact with the person but have been within 6 feet of them, my family and I was put on a state mandated home quarantine. So here I am, a few days in, with many questions as I watch from the outside (inside since I’m stuck in a house?) the news unfold of number updates, changes in ADA recommendations, and company closures.
Through it all, this is what I’ve learned so far:
1. We need to look out for each other. This thing is scary. It’s unknown, and we don’t know how long it’ll last or how bad it can be. Because of that, let’s be compassionate with everyone around us. We’ve had several neighbors text or reach out, but they rarely ask how we are doing or how the patient is. The questions are always “should I be worried about myself?” “You shouldn’t go into your yard” “You should get tested…” Unfortunately, we can’t really answer many of these questions, and it’s a bit overwhelming.
2. Get my finances under wrap! Since I’ll be out of work for a while with lots of questions of when offices can open again, this has really put my finances in the forefront. We’re excited to be working on some easy tips for RDH with finances. Because nothing makes you think more about them then being out of work for weeks.
3. This virus is ever changing. Each day, we are getting new updates on what to do, where to do and where not to go. And it’s overwhelming! There also is a lot of fear involved with the unknown and the changes. Take some time for self care and to make sure your mental health is doing ok.
Am I low key freaking out about being out of work for who knows how long, especially since I’m the main breadwinner in our family? YES!
Am I worried about my patients, my students, my career? YES!
Did I just stress order a comfy lounge outfit to wear the entire time I’m in lock down? YES!
There are many emotions and concerns with all the unknown that’s happening right now. However, one thing I do know is that I’m here to help if you need it. Need someone to vent to? Put on your own self isolation or a state mandated quarantine? Have a family member diagnosed? Need to vent? Have personal questions about what the CDC has been telling us? Please reach out! I’d love to chat with you and support you through this crazy time.
Let’s work together to stay safe and make the world a bit better.
How To Do Hygiene Recall Like a Pro
Most of the time there are things in every profession that you don't realize you will be doing when you chose to purse it. Recall, recare, continuing care or preventive care (whatever you want to call it) phone calls was one of those things for me. I didn't realize that hygienists need to be proficient in "telemarketing." Personally I would rather be treating patients, but that is an issue for a blog post on another day.
Most of the time there are things in every profession that you don't realize you will be doing when you chose to purse it. Recall, recare, continuing care or preventive care (whatever you want to call it) phone calls was one of those things for me. I didn't realize that hygienists need to be proficient in "telemarketing." Personally I would rather be treating patients, but that is an issue for a blog post on another day.
The skill of knowing how to make a successful recall phone call does often times come with the job description. I am not a natural on the phone and quite frankly doing recall scared me for a long time. I figured that many of our viewers were probably feeling the same stresses so I created an easy to follow phone script for you to use while doing recall. You can get the latest version in our shop HERE.
Special notes on how to use the script sheet
1. If you have to leave a message tell them that you have a question concerning their appointment. No, they don't have an appointment scheduled but you would like to schedule one. This will usually get them to call the office back thinking, what appointment did I schedule? If you leave a message only saying, " it is time for a check up, please call us back," 99% of the time you wont get a call back.
2. Don't take no for an answer. They are going to give you a reason that they don't want to schedule. My rule of thumb is to try and have a solution to the reason for them saying no. As shown on the script sheet, it will most of the time be, "I don't have time," OR, "I don't have money." Check the script sheet on how to answer these common, "no" responses.
3. Keep it positive, upbeat and try to remember that you are doing this to help keep their mouths healthy for a lifetime.
You can get the latest version of the script above in our shop HERE.
Simple Ways to Celebrate National Children's Oral Health Month
How are you celebrating National Children’s Oral Health Month this February? We have a few simple ideas you can start tomorrow!
February is becoming one of my favorite months. January finally ends, we get to focus on love for our family and friends, and we celebrate Children’s Oral health! Even with only 28 short days, there are some easy ways you and your office can celebrate this month.
1. Post about it on social media. Let’s let the public know about this month and how important home care and oral health is! Sometimes little things we think are common sense may not be to your friends. Like sharing utensils with babies, brushing baby teeth, children that snore can lead to other problems, etc, these are totally second nature to us. But if you’re never been to dental hygiene school, makes sense you wouldn’t know. Your post can be light and positive and highlight the importance of health in kids.
2. Play some kid friendly music in your op. Do you switch out your music for your patient type? We’ve made a Spotify playlist just for kids but won’t drive you crazy at the same time. Add it to your operatory today and switch it up this month (or any month!) when you have a pedo patient in your chair. Have a wiggly kid that’s having a hard time with the appointment? Invest in a few fidget spinners to have them play with while you’re scaling or polishing.
3. Hand out toothbrushes at your neighborhood school. What parent or kid wouldn’t love a new brush to take home? It can also remind parents of the importance of changing out their toothbrush every few months.
4. Get on your local news or write for your local paper. Wouldn’t this be a fun way to talk about oral health with the public? Share 1 or two oral hygiene tips for the general public to know and start doing at home. It’ll also highlight your office, and how start and caring dental hygienists are. Win win.
These are just a few ways to celebrate! How are you guys celebrating this month?
Dental Hygiene Valentine's
Three perfect Valnetine's to print or email to your coworkers or hygiene friends!
Valentines day is coming up. Need a last minute Valentine Idea for your coworkers? Print or email them one of our Dental Hygiene Themed Valentines! Does your office do anything special for Valentine's?
MI Paste: What's the Difference?
We all love MI Paste. But, did you know there are 3 different kinds on the market? It can be tricky to stay up to date on the latest info when it comes to products, so we’ve done a bit of research on what’s the difference between each one and who each should be recommended to.
MI Paste
This is the 1st type of MI Paste that came out on the market and the 1st product that was delivered to patients through a prescription. The company actually says this paste is a “tooth cream” , which means it should be used in adjunct with brushing with regular toothpaste. It is applied with your finger or your toothbrush after brushing as as extra step to the oral hygiene routine. The main difference between MI Paste and MI Paste Plus -this paste does not contain fluoride.
MI Paste Plus
MI Paste Plus is pretty much the exact same as the regular old MI Paste, but now it contains fluoride at 900ppm (over the counter pastes usually have 1000-15000ppm of fluoride). It is also used as an adjunct to brushing with over the counter toothpaste, and is applied with your finger, a Q-tip, or a brush after regular home care.
MI Paste One
This MI paste is the newest on the market and has more of a toothpaste feel. Instead of adding a second step like the other products do, this one can replace the 1st brushing and instead, your patient can just brush normally for 2 minutes with MI One. It has the same amount of fluoride as an over the counter product (1,000ppm) but only needs a 2 minute exposure time. If you try it, you’ll notice it is a lot creamery then the other products, and foams more just like a toothpaste would, however they say it doesn’t use SLS as a foaming agent.
So, which one should I recommend?
That question can only be answered by you for your patient population! It’s tricky to know if adding a second step in their oral hygiene routine will make it more cumbersome or be more motivating to the patient. If you know your patient population aren’t fans of fluoride, MI Paste is the best bet. If you’re patients are having a tricky time brushing and flossing at all, MI Paste One is probably a safe bet for them to use.
But what about a Milk Allergy?
I’m sure you’ve recently heard about the little girl who ended up passing away to using MI Paste due to a severe milk allergy. In MI Paste, they use casine, which is in milk, as part of the ACP to help uptake of the product. Only severe milk allergy patients have an allergy to casine. But to be safe, better ask patients of their food allergies before prescribing the product and steer clear of MI Paste if they do have any milk sensitivity or allergy.
Do you currently recommend a prescription treatment for patients to use at home for caries or for sensitivity? Which one?
Getting Organized for 2020
The new year is almost here! And with the new year, new goals. Is one of your goals keeping up with your continuing education classes, getting them finished before the last week of your renewal deadline, or having them organized to make finding what you’ve taken easier?
I try to stay up on organizing my CE credits throughout the year to keep my CV updated and if I ever get audited (knock on wood), it’ll be easier to track everything down. There are some amazing CE tracking apps on the market, but using a regular old document works great too, and what I’ve been utilizing the last few years. Keeping all the information online makes searching for needed information quick and easy.
I organize my CE credits on Google Docs. Having the information on a cloud service makes sure I won’t lose all my information if something happens to my computer, and lets me access it from any place if needed. You never know if you’ll need to find out if your attended a pharmacology class this renewal cycle last minute, right? I’ve been able to share this document with my work as well to highlight how many additional classes I’ve been taking over the year.
So, as soon as I take a class, I’ll update the document with all the important information- date, number of continuing credits, Speaker name, sponsors, etc. Each state is a little different, so I would recommend looking into exactly what your state needs for proof of continuing education credit. Honestly, sometimes I’ll update the document during the lecture at a break or a slow time during the class. Then, I’ll hang onto the physical CE paper and file it in a file folder away per year. Then, the papers are close by if I ever need them, but I have a quicker and cleaner way to look at everything that I’ve learned the last year.
One thing that’s always a little stressful is losing a CE paper from an event! Tracking right away will help keep the stress at a minimum, so you know exactly who to contact if you need a replacement. Another way to prevent this heartache is to take classes that have online tracking for you, like Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. With each class you take, the course and the CE certificate is kept safe in your online account. And lucky for us, they have an amazing end of the year promotion right now for CE classes! Purchase 4 CE courses to receive a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card or 6 CE courses to receive a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card. No code needed, and you’ll be able to redeem the classes throughout the next year, so you don’t have to stress to get them in before January.
Do you track your continuing education credits somehow? What works for you? We’d love to learn a new way if you have something better!
How to Survive the Holidays: Dental Edition
I don’t know about you, but December seems to be one of the busiest months for us in Dentistry. Lots of patients coming into the office, trying to squeeze in the last prophy appointment and dental work before December 31st hits and their insurance rolls over. On top of extra hours and extra patients, the holidays are in full swing with parties, office lunches, specialty offices dropping off treats, and gift exchanges. It can be a lot to handle! Here are a few tips and ideas to help these next few months go by a bit smoother.
1. Take Time for Yourself.
Yes- it may seem impossible with everything going on. But, spending a few minutes for yourself during the day will be helpful to recenter and figure out what’s most important. Keep going to the gym (if you love that), listening to your favorite podcast (I love Tale of Two Hygienists)
2. Don’t start Christmas Music in your office too early.
It can be tempting to try and sneak it in and blast it early in the month. But, maybe ease into it a bit. We even created a playlist to hopefully balance out the holiday music with the everyday music to make this month go a little better.
3. Don’t stress about gifts for your office.
I know, it’s definitely fun to give gifts. It is honestly one of my favorite parts of the season! Finding the perfect gift for someone. But, if your office normally exchanges gifts for everyone, it might be time to suggest something different. Maybe donate the money you’d use for gifts to a local charity, or sponsor a Sub for Santa child if you have a giving tree close to your office.
4. Buy yourself new clinic shoes.
Nothing is better than new shoes. You deserve it to get you through the month!
5. Drink lots of water.
When dentistry gets busy, basic things like going to the bathroom or drinking go out the window. Make it a priority to take at least 1 sip of water in between each patient to stay hydrated during the day.
What are you doing this holiday to make it through?
Black Friday 2019 Dental Deals
Can’t believe it’s the end of 2019! Remember when it was 1999, it was turning into the new millennium, and everyone was freaking out? How was that 20 years ago!?
With the next year and the new holidays coming up, means Black Friday is upon us. And, of course, we have dental family members, dental besties, coworkers, and even ourselves to shop for this holiday season. We definitely want to best deals on these gifts, and we are definitely going to be utilizing Black Friday this year. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite deals just for the dental team right here on Hygiene Edge.
Figs- Of course, we love our Figs. They definitely have a higher price tag than some other brands, so this is the perfect time to get a pair or two. Today, they have 30% off your purchase.
Dental Hygiene Nation- Need a gift for a dental hygiene bestie? Here is the place! With selected items on sale throughout the store, plus a FREE Blackjack scaler with a $75 purchase, what’s not to love?
Dimensions of Dental Hygiene- If you want to learn something new, this is the perfect opportunity to stock up! Purchase 4 CE courses to receive a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card or 6 CE courses to receive a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card. Purchases must be made between November 29 - December 2, 2019, but courses can be taken at your convenience.
Ultradent- So many amazing promotions on Friday and Cyber Monday! Check out the deals on their website. You’ll need to register and make an account with Ultradent where you’ll be able to order directly through the company.
Reebok- Some of our most favorite shoes to wear on a long hygiene day. 40% off their classic designs.
Bombas- Our favorite socks. They stay up all day (which is a huge feat in dentistry) and breathe throughout the day. Save 20% with code HOLIDAY20.
Jaanuu- Another amazing scrub brand that we love. They’ll be having 35% off your purchase this week!
Ulta- Our favorite Buxom Waterproof mascara is on sale on Friday for only $10. It works amazing with loupes, stays on all day, and doesn’t flake, even with everything that is thrown at us during the day. We always stock up for the entire year this weekend.
Hygiene Edge- Of course, we’re going to throw in our own shop! We have 25% through the weekend on everything in the store! Use code HYGIENEEDGE25 to save.
Diabetes and Implant Care
Of course, we all know diabetes effects dental treatment and healing. However, does your home care education change when you know a patient has diabetes? What about when they have a dental implant and diabetes?
Since implants are more and more common, regularly recommended to many different patients, and being placed in general offices, implant protocol for an immune compromised patient with diabetes is crucial. Here are a few things to think about when talking to a patient diagnosed with diabetes about implants:
Has missing a tooth or multiple teeth effected their nutrition? Is their diabetes uncontrolled because of their eating limitations due to missing teeth? This may be a perfect candidate for an implant, as having it will help the patient’s overall health.
How is the patient’s home care? Do they regularly come to your office with generalized biofilm? If the patient is already having a difficult time with their home care, will adding another aspect to their home care with an implant going to be beneficial? Especially with delayed healing on top of the infection with the bacteria, it may be tricky to place an implant and have positive results.
Is their diabetes in control? Well controlled patients with diabetes have an HbA1C levels between 4.0% and 7.5%. These levels are taken over monthly visits to their MD, and averaged to show how well their body is tolerating treatment and how in control their blood sugar is. If the patient does not have these numbers, it may be a sign that they have not be regularly seeing their doctor for treatment, and potentially may not be in control. If a patient is well controlled, they do have a high chance of success for implant placement.
Are they willing to come in at least every 3 months for recall appointments? We as dental hygienists play a major factor in implant maintenance and education for the patient. Having the patient dedicated to coming in every 3 months highlights their commitment to their health and oral health, which in turn will make them a better candidate for implant placement.
How often do you see implants in your patients? Does your office offer implants as a treatment method for missing teeth? We see them every day, and see patients with diabetes regularly, so taking this online CE Course through Dimensions of Dental Hygiene was definitely eye opening!
A big thank you to Dimensions of Dental Hygiene for letting us take this class! They have an amazing Black Friday sale coming up on Friday and through the weekend, which you won’t want to miss! Register today to be the 1st to know of what the sale is, and what you can learn through their peer reviewed courses.