Dental Hygiene Student Podcast with The Happy Flosser RDH

Dental sealants are a game changer in arresting and preventing decay in the occlusal surfaces of all the grooves we find in the posterior teeth. It is essential for the dental clinician to gain knowledge, learn the techniques, and understand the process of providing this preventive service. As I say.... "Those who know will grow." Additional resources:  Study Sheets: ⁠⁠⁠https://thehappyf...

Providing Local Anesthesia for our patients is a blessing for our profession. It allows us to provide care and comfort to our patients. We are strongly connected to our patient's experiences in the dental setting and are able to meet the challenges of providing local to our very anxious patients. Having a good understanding of the techniques allows us to become confident in delivering adequate...

How did we get here as Prevention specialists? The field of dental hygiene is focused specifically on education and prevention of oral disease. As prevention specialists, we must follow the research and use our ethical principals to do no harm to the patients we serve. It is important to use the data to guide us down the path to implement the process of care that serves our patients at the highest...

The use of topical anesthetics is commonplace in the dental office. They have been used to help reduce pain felt during many minor dental procedures as well as take the edge off the injection process of local anesthesia use for more involved treatment. As a provider, you should be aware of some critical elements of topicals and “non-injectable” options when using them with patients you see. As I s...

How did water fluoridation take shape? It is important to understand the path to the process and all of the science behind how we got from A to B. Historical perspective helps us to understand how to stand behind our beliefs and the “why” behind what we do. In this case - we monitor the levels of fluoride in the community water systems because the years of research guided us down the path to under...

This is the second episode in the motivation series. Episode #97 was Motivation #1 covering Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. in this episode, we will cover the Health Belief Model. This is an essential model for the dental hygiene student to understand in the process of care when trying to change a behavior with our patients to improve oral health outcomes. As I say.... "Those who know will grow....

Self-awareness can create some fantastic opportunities for you as you move ahead in your profession. The DISC personality profile test is available for you to take to allow you the opportunity to discover how you respond to the world around you. It is helpful to get to know yourself and understand the different personality types so you can be better at communicating with those who have different s...

Local anesthesia is widely used for many dental procedures to ensure patient comfort and provider accessibility. It provides the ability for patients to relax during procedures known to cause discomfort. As a dental hygienist, having the ability to provide local anesthesia opens up so many doors in the area of patient care. In this episode, we will look at some of the main components of pain manag...

In a world of 3D imaging and computer technology….why are we taking impressions and pouring up models? It is important to have a wide range of skills when you graduate to build on where we have come from and discover where we are going. As I say.... "Those who know will grow." Additional resources:  Study Sheets: ⁠⁠⁠https://thehappyflosserrdh.etsy.com/ ⁠⁠⁠ Specialized Course: How to be s...

The end of the semester marks a milestone on your journey toward your goal of graduating and becoming a dental hygienist. It is important to reflect on your experiences and take time to recharge your batteries. Keep your eye on your goal - take some time for self-care and recharging. It is necessary to provide yourself the space and time to prepare yourself for the next step in your journey As I s...

You have taken the time to learn all of the fundamentals of instrumentation. The hours of practice are countless. Now it is time for patient care and the calculus just won’t come off! In this episode, we will take a closer look at the working stroke. Let’s use all that you have learned and know to get the stroke right. It is essential to use all of the skills and knowledge you have acquired to be...

You have assessed your patient and determined that your patient has periodontal disease with active infection. Phase 1 therapy is the first step in managing the disease and setting your patient on the path to periodontal stability. In this episode, we will discuss phase 1 Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy. As I say.... "Those who know will grow." Additional resources:  Study Sheets: ⁠⁠⁠ht...

Learning the cranial nerves of Head and Neck anatomy can be pretty challenging for students. In this episode we will review each of the basic locations and functions of each of the 12 cranial nerves. We will also review memory tips to remember the names and functions of each of the nerves. Study Sheets : https://thehappyflosserrdh.etsy.com/ Resources: Textbook: Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygi...

The transition from school to “The Real World” can be anxiety provoking. Students often have fears about time management, skill development, and confidence. It takes time to really work into a good routine that feels natural and flowing. In this episode, I speak with Kim Augustus - The owner of BloomRDH. Kim shared her vision and love for our new grads and what she is doing to support students as...

As a dental hygiene student, you are tasked with developing a concrete understanding of the AAP Periodontal Disease Classification system. We use this when we are working with our patients and performing an assessment on our patient. Each patient falls into a category of periodontal health. Each patient must be appropriately classified and documented regarding their disease status.  As I say.... &...

Students experience some of the most beneficial learning opportunities in the clinical setting. In this episode, we will review the remaining three of six perceptions that are holding you back in the clinical setting as a student. There are opportunities with each session to connect the dots on the process of care. The valuable clinic time can become a source of frustration for students as challen...

Students experience some of the most beneficial learning opportunities in the clinical setting. As a student, do you feel accomplished and proud of your learning at the end of each clinic session? If not - this episode may provide you with some help. In this episode, we will review the first three of six perceptions that are holding you back in the clinical setting as a student. There are opportun...

Getting our patients on the path to health can come down to one word - motivation. It is important to share results from the assessment process with our patients. Unless we motivate them to change their behavior, their oral health will continue to decline. In this episode, we will discuss Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It is beneficial for the dental clinician to understand how patients prioritize n...

In a world where distractions are all around us. How can we communicate with our patients in a way that helps them move toward health and change their behavior? In this episode, I listen to Liz Lord share some of her insights on how we can communicate more effectively with and for our patients. Are we really listening to our patients? In what ways can we intentionally make efforts to shift our com...

As a dental hygienist, it is important to know how to interpret data and research effectively. Confidence intervals and p-values are important considerations of the validity of findings. In this episode, we will review some of the most important components of biostatistics for the dental hygiene student. There are questions on your boards that relate to this content.  As I say.... "Those who...

As a dental hygiene student, you have to develop a good understanding of program planning. There are many questions on the board exams related to program planning. Let’s break it down so that you can understand the purpose, the methods, and the outcomes. ASSESSMENT, PLAN, IMPLEMENT, EVALUATE. These are the main components of program planning.  As I say.... "Those who know will grow." Add...

What do you want to do with your life? For many of us, we know from a young age that we want to be a dental hygienist. At some point down the road, many of decide that we desire to leave clinical hygiene- or at least the operatory. The idea is common, but the certainty and clarity of next steps, options, and possibilities may be a little less clear. Let’s take a look at some of the main roles held...

In a world where the cell phone has become essential for communication and connection. Phone etiquette has become a lost skill. Many of the ways in which we communicate have shifted from voice mails and emails to text messages and DM’s. The result of this shift has made speaking on the phone or leaving messages a lost art. In this episode, we will discuss the proper ways to speak to patients to ma...

Mary Otto is the author of the book, Teeth: The story of Beauty, Inequality, and the Struggle for Oral Health in America. Mary didn’t hesitate when I reached out for her to share her perspective with students on the podcast. This amazing book is one of your required readings in community dental health and will certainly help develop your understanding of the struggles we face as providers moving a...

As a dental hygienist, consideration of consequences that could occur during and after treatment must be considered. Quality assurance protocols should be established within the clinical setting to mitigate risk and assure quality standards are followed. Understanding that communication and documentation are the primary strategies to use to minimize risk. Having a well-established system to implem...