Digital Bitewing Tips
Headed back to work? Review your digital BWX skills with our latest video.
Getting a Dental Hygiene Job in a Pandemic
Congratulations to the new 2020 dental hygiene graduates! This is definitely an odd time to graduate with all the PPE changes, patients expectations, and nervousness with being so close to people. However, this is a great time to be part of the profession! We’ve been able to rethink the way we work, the way we treat ourselves and our patients, and to brush up on the latest research and needs when it comes to infection control and PPE.
So, you’re found yourself with your new degree and new license in hand. Now what? How should you be looking for a job, especially now that walking into an office with your resume is a bit out of the question. Here are a few ideas of how to spread your reach in the dental field, and network for the next step in your career.
1. Get on your local Dental Networking Facebooking group. This is the perfect place to connect with other dental professionals in your area, and see who is hiring. Especially if you’re new to the area, this is a great way to see what’s out there, what the job market like, and temping opportunities.
2. Create an online resume website. How awesome would be to see a job posting online, and be able to send your resume right away, without having to stop it by the office. Having an online portfolio will make you stand out since it’s different than a regular Word Document resume. You can include photos of yourself in scrubs/professional headshots, skills you know and have mastered, volunteer opportunities you’ve taken part of with photos included, etc. Most professions have these online portfolios, why not us? This is especially great right now while meeting face to face is tricky. Show your character, strengths, and abilities through a simple and clean online portfolio.
3. Be part of a local study club or your local ADHA chapter. This is the perfect way to network and get the word out that you’re looking for a job. You’ll meet other dental hygienists in all areas of their careers. They may not want to go back to their job after this pandemic is over, and they could definitely recommend you or lead you to potential job opportunities.
4. Learn as much as you can while you’re off. Keep up your skills by of course watching and practicing along with our Hygiene Edge videos, but learn about different topics you may not have talked about in school on webinars. There are many free ones going on right now with all the down time, and you’ll definitely keep your skills and mind fresh with all the learning.
We are so excited for you and what’s next in your career! If you’re a new grad, have you been looking for a job? What’s working for you? What isn’t? We’d love to know!
Jessica on the ADHA Podcast
The Official ADHA podcast just released this week’s episode, which features our very own Jessica! She’s chatting to ADHA President Matt Crespin. Hear it today!
Have you listened?
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-official-adha-podcast/id1510670243?i=1000474312679&fbclid=IwAR2YFMTJYX03oSSwOEB2mBUYrTO3qsbuz--iy3QJpvOrCHgFypoyK0WybZk
Being #hygienistproud
Dental hygiene has not only been our careers, but so much more. It has impacted us physically (as you all can relate to), emotionally, mentally, pretty much every aspect of our lives. We love what we do, even with the changes and tough times it goes through, and we are so proud of being dental hygienists.
From classroom to career, Crest and Oral-B are dedicated to continually supporting dental hygienists, so that we can continue to make a difference in the lives of our patients. We’re so grateful for Crest and Oral-B’s Hygienist Proud platform and celebration for the RDH profession. Today, we’ll be sharing some defining moments of our careers and what makes us #HygienistProud!
Shelley:
I am #HygienistProud as my career and dental hygiene has had a huge impact on many aspects of my life. One of the greatest impacts is that of being a better communicator. I remember my husband coming in my second year of dental hygiene school. The dentist came over for the exam and I was discussing my husband's treatment plan with him. After the dentist left my husband looked up at me and said, “I have never heard you talk so professional like that before.”
That was a defining career moment that helped me realize the positive impact this career was having on my life. I recognized that effective communication in my personal life would be key to a happy life and that in my professional life it would define being able to make a difference in my patients lives.
Strong communication skills help patients modify behaviors, accept treatment plans and purchase product recommendations. I am #HygienistProud, and am grateful for a career that has helped me learn and apply professional communication.
Jessica:
There I was sitting at my friends kitchen table during our state’s board of trustees meeting. The topic of discussion was who was going to run for President-Elect for our state association. I sat there and it became evident in my mind and heart that I could throw my hat in the ring. I was terrified, felt inadequate and then… I looked around the table. I wouldn’t be alone. Dental Hygiene has given me the opportunity to be in the arena, to grow as a person, clinician, educator, advocate, mentor, business human, it has helped ME be better. This has all been possible because dental hygiene has introduced me to other hygienists and they have made all the difference.
Melia:
When I think about my career (so far) in dental hygiene, I definitely think about opportunity. Now, I’ve had many people say to me “Doesn’t dental hygiene get repetitive?” “Is there any room for growth in your career?” “Do you ever get bored?” I’m not going to lie- yes I have been bored, and yes, at times it felt like there wasn’t room for growth in an operatory. But, pushing myself to see past these questions and opening up myself to new opportunities and experiences has definitely created so much more opportunities. I’ve been lucky enough to help on the legislative level in our state to change our practice act to allow dental hygienists to start working in alternative practice settings. I’ve been so lucky to work in education roles both in formal education and for companies, spending hours each day talking about a topic I love so much- dentistry. I’ve been able to meet some of the smartest, kindest, and hardest working people I know through this profession. And I’ve been able to expand my knowledge and creativity with Hygiene Edge. So yes, dental hygiene can be repetitive, but only if you let it. I’m so grateful for our profession and how much we can learn from it and each other each day.
Crest and Oral-B’s Hygienist Proud platform was created to ensure that dental hygienists are confidently equipped with the resources and tools needed to transform your patients’ smiles. Hygienist Proud has so much to offer -- including free CE courses, information on new products, and a community of 100,000 RDH peers on the Crest and Oral-B for Dental Professionals Facebook page.
Why are you #HygienistProud? Have you had a defining moment in your career, or a reason why you go into your operatory each day? We want to know!
A huge thank you to Crest and Oral-B for sponsoring this post and letting us share a big part of our careers and why we love it so much!
Troubleshooting Toothpaste with Arm & Hammer Essentials Fluoride Toothpaste
Since we are out of the office for a few weeks, let’s talk about over-the-counter products. There are so many on the market, which is no doubt overwhelming for our family and friends who are stocking up on pretty much everything right now. With toothpaste, there are a few main components that make it effective. Let’s review some of the important benefits to look for, break down some key aspects of toothpaste and discuss how to talk about them with your patients, families and friends to find the best fit.
Some of the aspects to look for in a toothpaste:
Fluoride- Of course, fluoride is one of the most important aspects of toothpaste. You’ll want to look at what kind of fluoride is in the toothpaste you love and recommend. It will either be sodium fluoride or stannous fluoride. Both have great benefits for caries prevention, and research shows both are effective. Pretty much all toothpastes have the same amount of fluoride in them: either 0.243% sodium fluoride or 0.454% stannous fluoride, which breaks down chemically to the same amount of fluoride released as in sodium fluoride.
Surfactant- The surfactant component of toothpaste is the foaming agent of the paste. Without a surfactant, there would be no bubbling effect to it. Many of our household products contain a surfactant, and we’ve been trained to love that foaming feeling of being clean. Many products contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) as a surfactant which works by taking water into its chemical bond and making it foam. Many toothpastes are heading away from including SLS as their surfactant due to patients having reactions to it. Since it does pull in so much water, people have noticed it can cause sores or sloughing of the tissue. One toothpaste that’s free of SLS is new Arm & Hammer Essentials Fluoride Toothpaste.
Desensitizing Agent- Most over-the-counter toothpastes have potassium nitrate as an agent to prevent teeth from being sensitive to cold. It works by filling in the exposed microtubules in the sensitive areas of the tooth, and by calming down the nerve that can get irritated from external sources.
RDA Value- So, what’s the deal with RDA value when it comes to toothpaste? Relative Dentin Abrasivity or RDA is all about how tough a paste is on your patient’s teeth and gums. There is a lot of back and forth about RDA, but as of now, the most important thing to know is it must be 250 or lower to get the ADA Seal of Approval. Baking soda has an RDA of only 7, and many Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Toothpastes have low RDA. In fact, the new Essentials Fluoride Toothpaste has an RDA of just 86.
How to Talk to a Patient
The best way to direct a patient to a certain product is to make personal recommendations. For instance, interview your patients and have a conversation about what’s working in their routines and what isn’t. You can also ask about their oral health goals, and offer suggestions and recommendations based on those goals. Are they hoping to reduce the bleeding in their gingiva? Are they looking to use more natural products? Are they trying to prevent caries? Honestly, many times their goals aren’t what we would set for them, and that’s ok! Taking baby steps to enrich patients’ oral health is a huge improvement, and recommending the right products is a great start to helping them reach their oral health goals. So, when we head back into practice, don’t be shy to ask about the over-the-counter products your patients are using. But instead of asking the same OHE questions, mix it up by asking what type of fluoride they are using, what their pain points are in home care, and what you as a dental hygienist can do to help.
A huge thank you to Arm & Hammer for helping us with some research on toothpastes! You can check out our Instagram TV post where Jessica explains RDA, plus learn more about Arm & Hammer’s new Essentials Fluoride Toothpaste (available in two options: Healthy Teeth & Gums and Whiten & Strengthen). If you have a patient who is looking for something new, this may be the product for him or her! With a low RDA, a mild mint flavor and safe, effective clinically proven benefits, your patients will love this toothpaste that’s just the “right amount of natural!”
Communication in the Dental Office
This has been a weird time. Anyone else feel this way? One minute I’ll be happy and loving being at home with my little one, with the next minute I’m missing patients and students and wish I could be at work. Then, the next is sadness for all the dentists and dental hygienists around me that are having similar thoughts and emotions as me.
If I’ve learned one thing during this time at home being away from people is the importance of communication. We are all fearful of what’s next for our careers and what’s next for our patients when it comes to our practices. But, with all the unknown comes fear. However, many times the unknowns can be answered with proper communication between the dental team.
Looking for a way to open the lines of communication between your office? Reach out to your dentist or office manager with kindness. They most likely are freaking out as well. Ask the question “What you can do to help?” It may be nothing, it may be just giving some supporting words, it may be talking to other offices to see where they are ordering supplies or PPE from.
Another way to open communication is be the communicator you wished they be. Let them know you’re always open to talk about things and what form of commination is the best for everyone (texting, calling, email, etc). Ask if it’s ok to start up an office group text to keep everyone on the team on the same page of what’s next. If everyone is getting the same information at the same time, this will prevent confusion in the future.
Also, as an office, share all the news. The good, the bad, the ugly. When we’re all on the same page of what’s working and what isn’t, it can make communication so much smoother. Let’s not only talk about the negatives right now (we have enough of that on social media or the news). Let’s talk about what’s also working and what’s a positive plan to move forward. Instead of sending a generic email of “closed until further notice” and end the conversation at that, keep the conversation open. Ask questions, get feedback, treat everyone in your office like a human.
Now- I’m the first to admit that communication is not my strongest skill (just ask my husband). However, now more than ever, communicating thoughts, feelings and plans will help prevent future fears and heartaches. Let’s work together as a team to be on the same page, do what’s best for our teams and our patients, and stick together for what’s right for our communities. We’re scared. Let’s be scared and help each other together.
One other thing to think about. A way to increase communication through your team is working on a project together. One great project to take on right now is thinking and focusing and creating content for your office’s social media. We all need some positive content right now. Why not have your office be the one making it? We have lots of ideas on social media for your office and will be sharing some of them soon on a new video. Stay tuned for that!
How has your office and team been communicating over the last few weeks? How are you feeling with everything? We’d love to chat.
What's the Difference between N95 and K95 Masks?
Well- the time has come. Many of us have word that we’re heading back into our practices. We’re jumping back in to help patients and prevent oral and overall health issues. But, it won’t be the same, mainly due to PPE changes. Many states have changed their PPE requirements and increased what we’ll be wearing each day. But- what does the mask recommendations mean when it comes to N95 and K95 masks?
Basically, they are the same thing. They have the same purpose and are required to filter out the same size of particles (0.1 to 0.3 microns) and be 95% effective in their filtration. N95 us the name for the masks in the US, K95 is what they’re called in China.
One key aspect of either of the masks is the fit. They should fit tight on the face, and OSHA says they should be fit tests to the wearer. If there is any gap or opening, they become ineffective for any filtration.
Looking for more info? This is a great resource comparing masks.
Organization Tips for the Dental Hygienist
We all know that it’s weird right now. And we have lots of time on our hands. And we’re missing our offices and patients. However, with all this time, it could definitely be a positive! We can accomplish things that we never have time for, especially within your office. One thing that I find there is never enough time for is cleaning and organizing. Why not utilize these days without patients, head into your office, and take on the large challenge of cleaning out your drawers and getting organized? Then, when we’re back and able to see patients again, your office will be set for the rush of people wanting to get in.
But, cleaning and organizing an entire office can be very overwhelming, especially if it has been a few years. Well, lucky for us in the dental field, Zirc Dental Products is here to help. They offer so many great products, like tubs and trays with locking covers to help make your office streamlined, organized, and safe. Plus, Zirc would love to connect with you virtually, answer any questions you may have, and give you some specific pointers to help you. Feel free to reach out to their product and efficiency consultants with clinical experience to help guide you in your organizational journey. They’ve been there before and are happy to help!
But, here are a few tips just to get you started in the meantime:
Focus on 1 room. It can be overwhelming to look at the project as a whole. Instead, break it up into smaller pieces by picking 1 room at a time to clean out.
In each room, look at all the products and if they’re expired, get rid of them. Don’t let something that shouldn’t be used on a patient take up any precious space. Lots of times we get samples from conventions and forget to use them. Go through your sample stash and throw out anything that’s expired or outdated.
As a rule of thumb – if you haven’t used it in a year, it should go. No need to hang onto something that really has no purpose in your office.
Pick the least intimidating room first. Starting your organization journey in your lab might be a bit overwhelming. Try starting in an opertory or the sterilization area first and completely finish it before moving onto the next room.
We’re excited for you to tackle this project of office organization! If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, that’s ok! It is definitely a large (but rewarding) project to take on. Plus, think about how great it will be to come back to a busy schedule with a completely clean and organized operatory?
Have you taken on a project like this before at your office? What helped you get everything in place? What didn’t work so well?
A huge thank you to Zirc for helping us make this post about organization! They would love to help you with your office and answer any of your questions. Plus, if you haven’t checked out their products that include instrument trays, cassettes, tubs, locking covers, and more, you’re definitely missing out. The colors are to swoon over! Not only for looks, but functionality. Color code to keep everyone in your office on the same page of where things belong based on different procedures. Looking for that extra help? Sign up for their Virtual Practice Clean Out here!
Connecting with Patients during #COVID19
We all know we have too much time on our hands right now. We’re missing work, our kid’s homeschool work is a bit overwhelming, and we are inside out houses all day. With that, we have the thoughts of what our offices and schedules will look like after being able to leave this social distancing phase. But, this could be a positive time as well! What’s one thing your office has wanted to do but seems to never have the time? Most people will answer starting their social media channels for their practice and creating content for them. This is a perfect time to take over the creation, do something creative, and help your patients from a distance.
Now that you’ve decided to start working on your office’s social media, what do you post? We’ve compiled a few content ideas for you to take a run with right now to upload now, but create and save for the entire year.
Create a short video for Instagram or Facebook about #DentalER. Encourage your patients to reach out to you if they have a dental emergency instead of the ER to relieve some stress from the already busy hospital, and that you’re open and ready to help whenever needed. Check out our example:
Create videos answering patient’s most asked questions. You know the ones that get asked every hour when we’re working- what’s the best toothbrush or toothpaste, how should I whiten my teeth, why is this tooth sensitive to cold, etc. Each commonly asked question could be its own video for your social media accounts. Wear your scrubs, make sure your light is good, and film with your iPhone. Keep it short and casual so patients can relate with you. The last thing people want right now is scary information, negative information, or stuffiness.
Write a few blog posts about similar topics. If you don’t feel comfortable being on film (which you shouldn’t-you’re a babe!), you could write some blog posts for your office website to use throughout the year. Make sure they are at least 500 words and the main point of your article is in the header on your website.
Take some photos of your office. Since no one is in there right now during the day, go take a bunch of pictures of your space. Download a light and bright filter for them, and use these photos to update your Google Profile and save them as stock photos to use throughout the entire year.
Does your office use social media to help connect with patients? What’s working and what isn’t when it comes to social media? We love the idea of connecting with patients through social media and meeting them where they currently are. We know that connecting them with positive, educational content right now definitely makes a difference in their lives and your practice.
A huge thank you to #CrestOralBPro for working with us to help our communities stay safe and healthy! #COVID19
A Response to the ADHA Call to Action
As soon as the Call to Action hit my newsfeed, I had it filled out and sent off before the comments even started streaming in. Then the comments started streaming in… and I was surprised at them. Here is why I was surprised, I sat in the room as the topic of clinical boards came up at the ADHA House of Delegates last summer. I sat and listened as both sides of the issue were presented. I watched the process of how we are represented as a profession and I felt proud. I walked away from that experience supporting the ADHA’s stance of “The American Dental Hygienists’ Association supports elimination of the patient procedure-based, single encounter clinical examination for candidates who are graduates of Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accredited dental hygiene programs and who are eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.” I have worked in three different hygiene programs, all of which go above and beyond CODA requirements. This year is also the first year that I have been more involved in the self-study process, a process where schools show that they are meeting and often exceeding CODA standards to ensure competency in Dental Hygiene through the education process. Guys, it’s INTENSE. I am a proponent of licensure upon graduation of a CODA accredited program because of my experience. We have been graduating students above the competency requirements. Yes, I have had students who aren’t at the “top” of the scaling game upon graduation but, were they going to go willy nilly chopping people’s papilla off? No! Do I feel like those who have graduated were at a competency that was safe for the public?. Do I feel that clinical competency is only part of what makes a competent Dental Hygienist? Yes. Do I believe that Dental Hygiene is a profession of LIFE-LONG learning and progression? YYYYEEEEESSSSS!
With that being said, there are some legitimate concerns I have heard- not the “I had to do it, so you have to do it” outcries I have been hearing… we don’t eat our young. The concerns where programs may feel pressure to push students through to graduation without meeting competency. I am open to these discussions of how to address these concerns WITHOUT the “patient procedure-based, single encounter clinical examination” ONE day does not legitimize or decimate the MONTHS of growth and clinical competency already shown. It is important to listen to other’s concerns because it is through that dialogue that GENIUS is born and we can come up with a summative assessment that is ethical, practical and will show the competency of our professional future. This is why we need ALL voices as members of OUR Association, to listen, to understand and to grow. My colleague Chanci and I were up way too late texting about this very topic. Looking at it from differing sides of the issue.
Chanci Oyler, MEd, BSDH, RDH:
When I first heard about the idea of discontinuing the single-encounter clinical exam several years ago, I was taken aback. It was all I had ever known as a hygienist. Was it stressful and hard? Yes. But it wasn’t impossible and most everyone passes on the first try so what’s the problem with it? As the discussion continued I gained some valuable insight that eventually led me to a change of heart and it was more than just the questionable ethical implications the exam has on patients.
As a dental hygiene educator I have always strived to hold my students to a high standard. Most of them meet or exceed those standards and some fall short on occasion. I sometimes worried about some of their futures as dental hygienists. In the back of my mind I always thought, well if they graduate and pass boards then they must be good enough! So as an educator on the front lines of licensure, the thought of taking away that security blanket that was the clinical board exam was a little unsettling. At first I thought, well if they are going to nix the clinical exam then we need to adjust our CODA standards to compensate for that! I have been part of three dental hygiene programs and have associated with countless instructors at many more. We all do things so differently. Won’t CODA need to set a standard as far as showing competency goes? Or is it all ok if individual schools and instructors to create their own competencies within the CODA standard? Well guess what? That is already what is happening and has been happening for decades and everything has been ok!
In our discussion, I also brought up the point that students can pass clinic and not get a passing score on any of their Type 3 quads, and then they can just go get licensed? The horror! To which Jessica replied “is being able to scale the only thing that makes a dental hygienist competent?”. Ok, good point, I probably didn’t pass my fair share of Type 3 quads in school. Being able to scale does not a competent hygienist make (hello not wanting dental assistants to be able to scale with just on the job training), it is our in-depth education that sets us apart. Are new graduates the best they will ever be? No, not even close. We have to remember that the goal is NOT to graduate perfect dental hygienists (that’s not even possible), the goal is to graduate dental hygienists that are competent at the entry level. Now, think about that for a moment. I have told my students many times, when you are done with school your dental hygiene education is not over, not even close! We have the opportunity to learn so much more out in the real world. We should always be evaluating ourselves, our techniques, our knowledge, our patient rapport. What can we improve and how can we improve it? There shouldn’t be a dental hygienist out there that feels like the peak of their career was when they passed the clinical dental hygiene exam right? Right! So why do we put so much importance on that one-time clinical exam? Again, as an educator I have seen many students pass that I didn’t think would and many fail that I was surprised about. Did the outcome of that one exam negate everything I had seen them struggle with or accomplish as students? No. So it’s not that unrealistic to think that maybe we should stop putting so much importance on that one clinical experience and instead focus our energy on making sure that programs are graduating competent hygienists who will be able to continue assessing and improving themselves throughout their entire career!
I think the most important realization I had last night was this- the ADHA is not asking for an exception to be made for the students this year just because of everything going on right now. Students still have to successfully finish school requirements and successfully pass the NBDHE. ADHA members, your voting delegates from your local components and states, already voted to discontinue the clinical portion of the exam last year. The ADHA is just using this circumstance as a catalyst to begin this process of change. This isn’t an exception, this will be a long lasting and far reaching change that I believe will be beneficial to our beloved profession in the long run.
Do we have more questions than answers right now? Yep, and that’s ok. Will this be a learning and growing process where mistakes will probably be made? Yep, and that’s ok too. It’s going to be a process and that process is going to go a lot smoother and benefit our profession more if we are all willing to work together and support each other.
We’d love to hear YOUR thoughts on this new Call to Action effecting students right now. What do you think?