Amy Lemons

Jun 5, 2024 | rdhmag.com | Amy Lemons

As hygienists know, very little in dentistry is black and white. This can be frustrating when you’re trying to make clinical decisions and provide the best care, or when determining whether to refer a patient to a periodontist for surgical treatment and periodontal disease management. To provide some help with this dilemma, I’ve put together a list of common clinical findings and risk factors to help hygienists through periodontist referral decision making.

Feb 26, 2024 | rdhmag.com | Barbara K. Tritz |Lisa Curbow |Amy Lemons |Annie Walters

We shouldn't be looking just for cavities in our pediatric patients. Children can also develop gum disease. Parents are often focused on and asking if their children have cavities. They believe the solution to the bleeding they see in their child is better oral care. While that certainly doesn't hurt, we need to educate parents that a "little bleeding" and tartar buildup may be signs of oral infection that can't be fixed simply with more brushing or a different toothpaste.

Feb 26, 2024 | rdhmag.com | Lisa Curbow |Amy Lemons |Katie Barrer |Alyssa Aberle

Kratom, a botanical product from the Mitragyna speciosa tree of Southeast Asia, has become popular recently as an herbal supplement pain reliever. While supporters believe its benefits include pain relief and mood enhancement, there are potential dangers associated with Kratom use. Kratom is marketed as a natural and legal alternative to opioids.1 Dental clinicians should be aware of these dangers and be on the lookout for Kratom abuse by patients.

Feb 22, 2024 | rdhmag.com | Amy Lemons |Katie Barrer |Alyssa Aberle |Samantha Farrar

I vaguely remember learning about periodontal files along with hoe and chisel scalers from my Wilkins’ textbook in dental hygiene school. I assumed these were archaic tools used in the past for periodontal instrumentation.

Nov 27, 2023 | rdhmag.com | Amy Lemons |Bethany Montoya |Olivia Bodunde |Anne Rice

Dental clinicians know that using ultrasonic instrumentation saves time and reduces clinician muscle fatigue. But if you’re looking for a new ultrasonic scaler, temping, or working in multiple offices, it helps to know the difference between magnetostrictive and piezoelectric ultrasonic scalers. The question of which one is better is still up for debate, and the research is conflicting.