Dental Hygiene Student Podcast with The Happy Flosser RDH

Episode #31 introduced you to the descriptions we use to document oral pathology. In this episode we dive a bit deeper to distinguish between different types of lesions and treatment considerations for care. It is important to document findings, have a plan, and closely monitor lesions that you see. Follow up with patients on treatment recommendations related to a diagnosis. As I say.... "Tho...

Coronal polishing has been seen as the core of the prophylaxis by most of the population for decades. Those of us in the field are aware of this misconception. As providers driven to practice following the evidence, I have asked myself many times. Why are we still polishing? In this episode I will share my journey on coronal polishing as well as the struggle to increase awareness and understanding...

Ethics provides us with the decision-making model. We use our ADHA core Values as a guidepost to consider all of our options as a healthcare provider and weigh out the risks involved. It would be nice to think that we will never have an ethical dilemma. The reality is that we will all face ethical dilemmas throughout our careers. The best thing you can do is be prepared and ready for when an ethic...

Join me as I talk with Melanie Solari about her journey to becoming a dental hygienist. Melanie shares her story as an experience of continued evolution and growth. Melanie's story is an example of my favorite quote "Little by little, a little becomes a lot" Melanie shares how her path pushed her to develop herself, listen to her inner voice, and keep growing on her journey in the fi...

The Christmas break can seem too short, and full of many things that keep us from actually resting and recovering from the rigors of the fall semester. In this episode, we will review some of the main strategies that will help you stay focused on your plan for a successful start to the spring semester. Sometimes it is good to be reminded of why we are doing this thing called dental hygiene school....

Today on the podcast I have an open conversation with Bambi Dixon on her recent research into interprofessional care and dental/medical integration. Communication is the key to successful medical/dental integration. Bambi has had conversations with providers and challenged providers to ask the screening questions necessary to provide comprehensive preventive care to our most vulnerable populations...

Nutritional considerations are one of the key aspects of the assessment for the dental hygienist. Patients have many variations of food choices which impact how they present in the dental chair. In this episode we take a look at the role of proteins and how they impact oral health in the body. As I say.... "Those who know will grow." Additional resources:  Study Sheets: ⁠⁠https://thehapp...

Our patients need medical-dental integration for them to receive comprehensive care for the treatment of both diabetes and periodontal disease. It is up to us as healthcare providers to first understand the connection between periodontal disease and glycemic index. We are responsible for collaborating with medical professionals to meet the specific needs of our patients. In this episode, I will co...

In this episode, I have a conversation with one of my very own NHTI senior dental hygiene students Zack. He shares the journey that brought him to dental hygiene school, some of the challenges and obstacles he has faced, and some of the triumphs that have occurred on his journey. Zack shares his poem from Oral Anatomy 1 and so much more about life as a dental hygiene student. As I say.... "Th...

Tobacco cessation is one of the toughest things our patients face and can be one of the most challenging conversations for us to have as oral health therapists. In this episode I speak about some of the effective ways you can lead a conversation with your patient to walk them down the path to being tobacco free. As I say.... "Those who know will grow." Additional resources:  Study Sheets...

In this episode, we will build on the information centered around motivation for our patients. The social cognitive theory and stages of change will be discussed. This can apply to the individual in the clinical setting, or population beliefs when designing a program to shift perspectives among a population. As I say.... "Those who know will grow." Additional resources:  Study Sheets: ⁠⁠...

Whenever we are taking on a new challenge or embarking on a journey into the unknown it can be scary. Often times as we approach the high stakes leg of an important journey things can get really tough. In those moments where we are challenges to stretch ourselves and grow we may need to have a gentle reminder that we are capable of many things and that we have what we need to be successful. As I s...

The dental hygiene student is challenged with developing an understanding of how to do a successful appraisal of research. We deliver care based on the most current research and are evidence based in all we do for our patients. In this episode we will discuss evidence based research and the PICO question. The basics of research development and the process of assessing research that is currently av...

Taking exams can be one of the toughest aspects of dental hygiene school. The entire program is an ongoing accumulation of knowledge building with a continuous expectation of clinical application of theory to practice. It is an essential skill-building component of being a successful student. Taking tests and learning the right way to study can take some practice. In this episode, we will discuss...

The first time you have a patient in your chair who has bone loss on the radiographs and presents with active infection may cause you additional stress. You have all of the knowledge you need in order to perform a complete assessment on this type of patient. You will need to use all that you have learned to be comprehensive in your assessment. You can do this! As I say.... "Those who know wil...

As a dental hygienist, you can support your patient's nutritional needs by providing them with education and supporting their efforts to make meaningful changes in their lives. Improving our patients' food choices and habits will go beyond meeting the oral health needs of our patients. It will strengthen the ability of our patients to defend against chronic diseases and lower the risk of s...

Nutritional counseling is one of the tasks performed by the dental hygienist. Nutrition is a core component of overall health and assists the hygienist during the assessment process to meet the patient's needs. A strong correlation exists between nutritional habits - caries risk - and periodontal risk. Many patients are unaware of how their food choices impact the dentition. In this episode, w...

Pharmacology can be a challenging course in dental hygiene school. I have found that the best place to start is by understanding how the body naturally works and how the central nervous system controls the functions of the body. Having a good understanding of the autonomic nervous system goes a long way in helping you to develop a comprehensive understanding of drugs and how they work. As I say......

There are times in our lives where the feeling of being overwhelmed can creep up on us. Being a student enrolled in a dental hygiene program and trying to balance the rest of your life can certainly create more demands than we can handle. In this episode, we will review the most common traits of being overwhelmed. Even more important is a discussion of ways to reduce the feeling of being overwhelm...

One of the major diseases we help patients to manage is dental caries (tooth decay). As a student, you will learn all about the formation of enamel. As a clinician, you will need to know all the ways in which dental caries can be managed to help your patients combat the disease. Understand the process of caries and know what creates an increased risk for our patients. Discover and learn what the b...

Navigating the transition from student to clinical dental hygienist can be a challenge. Join me as I have a quality discussion with Astrida Curis, owner and operator of newgradrdh. We discuss some of the benefits and drawbacks of temping in clinical dental hygiene. What lead her to becoming a “Dentaprenuer” and how she recognized and overcame burnout in hygiene. Astrida brings so much valuable inf...

The field of dentistry has always shown me so much love! Networking and collaboration are essential for growth and development. Paola Brown is a fine example of what can happen when you open your heart and mind to all that is possible in dental hygiene. In this episode, Paola shares her journey and discovery process in becoming a dental hygienist. She shares her path to becoming the hygienist she...

Value-Based Care in dentistry puts the focus on Prevention, Education, and Sustainability. Dental Hygienists are the prevention specialists of oral health and are trained to meet the challenges ahead in our communities. Listen as I discuss the challenge of going from school to private practice. In school, we are taught the value-based care model and then become employed in a primarily fee-for-serv...

Taking radiographs takes practice. Taking good diagnostic radiographs takes skill. In this episode, we will discuss some of the criteria for taking radiographs, review some of the anatomy that causes challenges, and many patient management techniques to help with successful radiographs. Every patient comes with unique needs. As a clinician, the skills and techniques you use to take quality radiogr...

In this episode, I thought I would share a poem I wrote about a life well lived and the connection to dentistry. We become connected to all facets of dental. You are on break, so I thought I would share something that may bring you joy and relieve your stress. I have this poem available in print on my Etsy shop. As I say.... "Those who know will grow." Additional resources:  Study Sheets...