Hygiene Edge 2/14/23 Hygiene Edge 2/14/23

Why I Attend Our State Dental Hygiene Capitol Day

Each year, our state dental hygiene association hosts a day at the Capitol for dental hygienists all over Utah. It’a a day where everyone gathers, chats about access to care or needs in the state, and connect with others, both dental hygienists and representatives, about what’s happening in the real world and in our communities. Honestly, attending this day isn’t always the easiest. It’s held on a Friday, so I have to take a day off work which I don’t love doing to my patients. Second, our legislative session is always in January through February, which means it’s the coldest part of the year here in Utah. Third, parking at the Utah State Capitol is a nightmare. You usually have to park a mile away and wake through the dark and cold to get to a 8:30am start time meeting. But, even with these little annoyances, I still mark it on my calendar each year and make it a priority to go. Why?

1. It’s important to be visible on a legislative level when it comes to our profession. Our profession has a license attached, which means there’s laws and rules associated with it. Those laws could technically change anytime with a vote from our states House and Senate. These elected officials probably don’t know much about oral care. They’ve probably never even though of it, unless they had a toothache or during their 6 month recall appointment. They probably don’t even knows what a dental hygienist is as compared to a dental assistant, and we should be the ones to help dispense the information.

2. It’s great to be an involved citizen. You’ll get to know you’re elected representatives in your area and not only become a support your then with dental issues, but any legislative issues that effects you and your family. Since there are laws passed each year that effects us, this is the perfect time to get up to date on what’s happening, and see the changes that are occuring.

3. It’s inspiring to connect with others who feel passionate about dental care in your state. Feeling burnt out with dental hygiene? Going to the Capitol and speaking about your passion can relight that fire! Connecting together for a common goals grows the community of dental hygiene, and always relights the spark inside me to keep going with this profession.

So, if your state currently holds a Day at the Capitol, take the time to go! Even with the little annoyances that the day could bring, it definitely brings out the best in you and the profession. If you’re local to Utah, come with me next February!

xoxo, Melia, RDH (@meliardh)

Hygiene Edge 12/2/22 Hygiene Edge 12/2/22

Dental Whitening Recommendations with Ultradent

We all know that whitening is a big motivator for patients to come into our practices. And it makes sense! There is an overwhelming amount of products, ads, and influencers talking about white teeth and what's the best and brightest way to get that perfect smile that we see. So, without a doubt, your patients will be asking you for your professional opinion on what’s best, what they should do, and what product is best for them.

Lucky for us, we spend time with our patients, get to know them personally, and understand their different priorities. We also know about their recession, sensitivity to cold or pressure, and oral habits that can affect their teeth. With this knowledge, we can give the best recommendation to each patient, and make it specific to them. Do you know what to recommend when? Check out our latest video below, highlighting many of our favorite whitening products for both us as professionals and patients to use from Ultradent.

A bit more about Opalescence- this brand is perfect to tailor to your patient’s needs. From in office whitening products that are easy to use and effective, to toothpaste to keep sensitivity with whitening at bay, you’ll be able to find something for everyone of your patients.

Hygiene Edge 12/1/22 Hygiene Edge 12/1/22

Free Continuing Education Courses with Cloud Dentistry

It is almost end of the year. Do you know what that means when it comes to dental hygiene? Nope. Not just secret Santa gifts and holiday parties with the office, or extra full schedules with people wanting to get in before the end of the year. It can also mean license renewal time for many states. Are you current on all your continuing education credits for this year’s license? I definitely know that each state has different licensing timelines, but lots have the end of the year as the deadline to have all your credits in.

If you have a year like mine, you might be feeling a little bit overwhelmed and find that you’re a little bit behind on the amount of credits you need to keep your license active. Well, look no further than Cloud dentistry to get all your CE before the end of the year. The classes are free, accredited, and contain some really great content. A lot of the speakers are real renowned speaker is that you find at big dental hygiene and dental conferences. It’s so great to be able to connect with them personal level through the Cloud dentistry classes, learn about their expertise, and gain helpful tips and tricks you can take into practice the next day.

So, what are you waiting for? Register for the next class that’s coming up today! Plus, you’ll learn a little bit more about Cloud Dentistry and how they are supporting Dental Hygienists and their goals not only during this busy holiday/temping season, but all year long.

A big thank you to Cloud Dentistry for supporting us at Hygiene Edge. They agree with our mission of education and supporting dental professionals, and love to have them with us on this journey. Check out their new app for the latest open temp opportunities, classes, updates, and more. Learn more at: https://www.clouddentistry.com/

xo, Melia

Hygiene Edge 11/30/22 Hygiene Edge 11/30/22

National Inspirational Role Models Month- Jennine Gates, RDH, BSDH, MS

November is National Inspirational Role Models Month. This is a month to appreciate the educators in our lives who set positive examples we aspire to emulate. Role models perform vital functions through their character, accomplishments, and behavior. They show us what’s possible in life. Below is a nominated educator that we are very excited to recognize for her dedication.

Her nominator stated: Jennine Gates, RDH, BSDH, MS is from Sacramento City College, is a remarkable instructor. She exhibits patience and encourages students to critically think. As adjunct faculty she always goes above and beyond both clinically and didactically. As a colleague she brings a joyful energy that fosters positivity and cohesiveness. She is always willing to go the extra mile. I can’t express enough how much I appreciate her.

Hygiene Edge 11/29/22 Hygiene Edge 11/29/22

National Inspirational Role Models Month-Christine Griffin, RDH, MS

Christine Griffin, RDH, MS

Her nominator stated: Christine Griffin is an educator at Community College of Philadelphia and is a FORCE as a hygienist and instructor. She is the most understanding, open, and compassionate instructor and clinician. Due to her expertise, my instrumentation, radiographs, patient education, time management, preventative agent placement, and knowledge has helped me not only succeed, but also pave my own path in the dental field in Philadelphia. She has not only helped me discover my absolute passion for preventative dentistry, but continues to push me in expanding upon my skills while developing into an educator.

Hygiene Edge 11/29/22 Hygiene Edge 11/29/22

National Inspirational Role Models Month- Pamela Briese, RDH, MSDH

Pamela Briese, RDH, MSDH
Her nominator stated: Pam is the type of person that teaches with her whole heart and makes each student feel so loved and supported. She always gives 100% to everything she does and creates such a wonderful environment to learn and work. She has created a clinical environment that inspires the students to give back to our community and always put the patient first. Pam is retiring in 2023 and deserves to know just how much she is appreciated and means to all of us.

Hygiene Edge 11/29/22 Hygiene Edge 11/29/22

Inspirational Role Model Month- Amanda Mitchell, RDH, BAS, MA

Amanda Mitchell, RDH, BAS, MA
Her nominator stated: Mrs. Mitchell from South College was, and continues to be one of the most helpful and encouraging instructors I had. She did everything to help us throughout the program, even in other classes. She has done so much in helping us prepare and study for boards. I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to have her as an instructor through the dental hygiene program!

Hygiene Edge 11/3/22 Hygiene Edge 11/3/22

What do you do if your patient reports halitosis-with ToKii's 2 in 1 Brush and Tongue Cleaner

What do you do if your patient reports halitosis? As you know, there are a number of potential causes for this condition, such as food, tobacco use, dry mouth, medications, and more. Lucky for us in the dental profession, we can be a safe space for patients to chat with you about their concerns and help improve their quality of life. Let’s break down a few of the causes of bad breath, what we can do as professionals to help, and how patients can manage their symptoms at home.

Necrotizing Periodontal Disease (NPD formerly known as NUG/NUP) is a condition that can be very painful, life altering, and can greatly affect halitosis. In this condition, the tissue is dying and decaying which creates a malodor in the mouth. Luckily with therapy of improved home care and stress reduction protocols, full mouth bacteria reduction through full mouth debridement or periodontal therapy, and proper tongue cleaning at home, we can help the patient with their condition which will improve their halitosis.

Another possible cause of halitosis is a digestive issue such as GERD, acid reflux, peptic ulcers etc. Consider a referral to their physician and a registered dietitian if the halitosis continues and all dental issues have been resolved; as well as their tongue, teeth and gingival care at home are being done well.

With any of causes of bad breath the first place to start is usually to have the patient start cleaning their tongue. We all know that the tongue can trap high levels of bacteria, and maintaining the flora of the tongue is key to decreasing halitosis. Making tongue cleaning easy for your patient is critical to make sure they actually follow through with your recommendation. Enter Tokii- an all in 1 system to help your patients keep their teeth, gingiva, and tongue clean at home.

Have you been educating your patients about bad breath and tongue health? What has worked/hasn’t worked for you?

Learn more about proper tongue cleaning techniques to teach your patients in our latest video that features the Tokii 2 in 1 toothbrush and tongue cleaner.

Hygiene Edge 9/19/22 Hygiene Edge 9/19/22

Things to Look at with Buying Loupes

With the new school year, and the changes in seasons, a lot of times we are looking into buying new dental loupes. This is such a huge part of practicing hygiene now, but also such a huge expense. Especially if you’re a new student, and never worn them before, it can be overwhelming to choose the best option for you without any other knowledge. Sometimes it’s hard to because your instructors have only tried out one brand, and there are hundreds on the market now. Is it worth it to splurge and get the most expensive ergonomically loops? Or should you just order them off Amazon and hope for the best? You’ll definitely have to do some digging to figure out what best for you And go from there. Here are a few questions and things to try out before nailing down your purchase.

1. Try them on. I know that seems silly, but super important to try on the frames. Sometimes the cutest ones don’t fit your face. Definitely go with something that fits the width of your face doesn’t pinching on the back of your your ears and feels light. When you try on the actual glasses they might feel great but the actual loop part you look through parentheses the magnification part parentheses can add a lot of weight. So make sure you’re trying on and feeling super comfortable because when you get them they will make feel slightly different and slightly heavier. Sometimes the cutest ones aren’t the best for your face.

2. Check out the warranty. Each brand has a different warranty of what they will return, what they will cover, and for how long. Some have no warranty, some only cover the actual magnification part, some will cover the frames and light. It totally just depends. Sometimes having a great warranty is a huge perk to not have to pay later.

3. What’s the vibe of your local sales rep? Do they answer your emails and answer your question, or are they MIA after you buy your loupes? You might wanna ask around to you to your friends Or coworkers to see who they’ve used and if they’ve loved the customer service/sales rep that they worked with. Sometimes having a really bad customer service is a huge problem when you want things adjusted or you have questions.

4. Figure out what is most important to you. Is it how you clean or disinfect them? Is it the price? Is it the turnaround? Is it how fast repairs happen? Where are the repairs made? These are all great questions to ask the sales reps before purchasing just to know what you’re getting into.

What else do you wish you looked into before purchasing loupes? Any advice for the new dental loupes purchaser?

Hygiene Edge 9/12/22 Hygiene Edge 9/12/22

Let's talk about Hygiene Elevated-A New Company

It is my pleasure to introduce you to Hygiene Elevated. Joffree Bunleang, RDH, is one of my colleagues here in Utah, and I just love supporting dental hygienists starting businesses. Learn more about what she is up to and how she can help your office be more successful.

Haven't heard of us yet? That's ok, we are new!

Hygiene Elevated is a dental consulting firm est. 2021.

Our mission is to inspire and educate dental professions. Elevating the level of care they provide to the community they serve, while simultaneously increasing production for the dental practice.

Our vision for Hygiene Elevated is to become a must have for dentists who want to see their level of patient care grow and production increase.

Hygiene Elevated is determined to continue earning a credible reputation within the dental industry. We strive to provide incredible results for each of our clients by creating a customized coaching plan that fits within the culture of their office.

Just a few company gems:

Data driven company. We love reports!

With our modern and creative approach we are dedicated to getting our clients results.

No two offices are alike. We customize our coaching to meet the needs of our clients.

Our follow up sessions set us apart from other consultants in the industry.

We coach with an incremental training approach, starting with highest priority.

We price out our service based on how many areas the office can improve in and how many providers need coaching.

Educating dental practices how to increase the level of patient care resulting in increased production.

Doctors will produce more for the rest of their careers after working with Hygiene Elevated.
We are growing! Our team currently consists of two consultants (one hygiene focused and one front office focused), a social media manager, and a software engineer.

How did you come up with the idea?

My passion for dental hygiene continues to grow year after year, it's practically an obsession!

I reached a point in my career where I wanted to do more for the community, more for the profession outside of my op. I realized my niche is coaching other dental professionals. It's very rewarding to share my passion for hygiene and improve the level of care being provided in other dental offices.

-Joffree bunleang, RDH

How does this benefit hygienists?

Let us ask the hygienists just a few questions.

Looking for personal growth?
Wishing your patients said yes more often to your recommendations?
Interested in learning something new?
Curious to know where your office can improve?
Want to gain more knowledge on products?
Running double hygiene and frustrated with your assistant?
Would you like to get your team on the same page?
Need guidance on how to stage and grade patients?
Want to see a boost in office morale?
Would you like to see an increase in office production?
What about a bonus structure implemented in the office?
Reduce your cancellation rate?
Want some recognition for all your hard work?

I am sure you said yes to at least one of these!

The skills you will gain from Hygiene Elevated will last you your entire career. We know you are already a great provider. We also know there is always room for improvement. Let us come to your office and highlight all your strengths and help the clinic improve in other areas.

See what other hygienists are saying:

Joffree has been amazing to work with! The hygiene department at Almond Dental runs smooth and is very organized. She has worked with me on communicating professionally with patients on ways to improve their oral health. With her tips and tricks I have found that my patient acceptance rate has increased and I feel more confident offering products to help my patients. Overall, she helped me become a better dental hygienist.

Brittan Kennedy, RDH

Joffree is amazing! She is always making everyone's needs a priority in her life. She cares deeply for her patients, always helps out the team (hygienists and assistants alike) and is motivated to help the doctors shine as bright as the sun. She is always looking for innovative ways to improve everyone's life. When I met Joffree I was unsure of myself as a recent COVID graduate. Joffree was always there to encourage me and support me as a fellow hygienist. She is always available if I have any questions or just need a second opinion. She has been looking out for me even when we're not directly working together. She is an inspiration to me and never makes me feel inadequate with my questions. She is an excellent mentor, clinician and friend. Anything she gets involved in is set to improve and grow with her care and charming smile.

-Cherise McAlister, RDH

Curious to see what we can do for your office?

Call us to schedule an initial consultation.

801-252-6890

Check out our website HygieneElevated.com

Email us anytime! LevelUp@HygieneElevated.com