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1 week ago | 
rdhmag.com | Jackie Sanders |Melia Lewis
As I spoke with Melia Lewis, I could hear the entrepreneurial wheels turning and the excitement in her voice as she discussed her many ventures. She's one of the founders of Hygiene Edge, which is now 10 years old. If you aren't familiar with Hygiene Edge, I encourage you to visit their website and check out all they have to offer. Many of their videos are also available on the RDH website. Check them out by searching for Hygiene Edge.
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2 weeks ago | 
rdhmag.com | Jackie Sanders
As we recognize National Dental Hygienist Week (NDHW), many of you may receive words of acknowledgement, small gifts of appreciation, or even a big surprise from your fellow team members. Good for them!But many people are not even aware that it’s NDHW, or that there’s a recognition week at all. So, many dental hygienists may not receive anything other than self-appreciation. But don’t let that dampen your celebratory mood.
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1 month ago | 
rdhmag.com | Joy Lantz |Jackie Sanders
Do you want to advance your career, do more, and learn about different areas that affect oral health? Joy Lantz, RDH, PHDH, COM, IBCLC, and I discuss areas that might pique your interest. Joy received her certification in orofacial myology (COM) in 2017, and added International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) credential in 2022. How do these credentials apply to dental hygienists? Here’s how Joy went down this path.
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1 month ago | 
rdhmag.com | Jackie Sanders |Bethany Montoya
A recent three-part series of podcasts released by Endeavor’s A Tale of Two Hygienists has caused a ripple effect in the dental hygiene community. The first podcast was ADHA Membership Renewal? followed by ADHA Pt 2: Unnecessary Hulabaloo, and the latest episode was ADHA Pt 3: Are There Really Benefits? Let's Explore!In each of these episodes, areas of concern are discussed about the direction that past national leadership has taken.
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2 months ago | 
rdhmag.com | Jackie Sanders
I recently took advantage of the opportunity to soak up some new hygienist energy when I chatted with Maddie Blythe, a dental hygiene student from Pennsylvania who rounded up all 18 of her fellow hygiene students to attend Dental Hygiene Seminars in Ohio. The group enjoyed the enthusiasm of their fellow students and hygienists and loved the boost of confidence they received about their choice of profession.
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2 months ago | 
rdhmag.com | Katie L. Pondolfino |Jackie Sanders
Why would dental hygienists want to consider degrees beyond their associate degree? Katie Pondolfino, an adjunct professor at Empire State University who teaches community health, leadership in health care, and health-care ethics, has some answers. In her classes she stresses dental practice management, which entails leadership, communication and management skills, and prepares her students for all stages of their career and what’s available to them, depending on their education.
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Dec 3, 2024 | 
rdhmag.com | Kathy Forbes |Jackie Sanders
Dental assistants now have the opportunity to perform a prophylaxis in some states. So, how do offices code for this for insurance purposes? What is the procedure code if an assistant is scaling supragingivally? Since Kathy doesn’t know exactly what assistants are doing, her opinion is that there is no procedure code for assistants. This is a hot topic right now, and Kathy discusses some of what’s going on in the industry, and how to move toward solving this complicated dilemma.
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Nov 25, 2024 | 
rdhmag.com | Jackie Sanders
Early in our careers, dental hygienists become accustomed to working with a community. As students, we form a community with our fellow classmates by learning together and supporting one another. We may also become involved with community projects that offer care in our university, homeless shelters, or long-term care facilities, bringing a heightened awareness to public health and the personal needs within our hometown communities.
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Nov 7, 2024 | 
rdhmag.com | Katie L. Pondolfino |Jackie Sanders
Katie Pondolfino discusses the articles she wrote about sugar alcohols and natural sweeteners for RDH. She became interested in the topic when she realized patients don’t always understand what they’re consuming, or what can damage their oral health. Dental hygienists need to dive deeper into discussing nutrition and diet while they have their patient in the chair. The myriad of sugar substitutes can have an impact on oral and overall health.
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Oct 24, 2024 | 
rdhmag.com | Juli Kagan |Jackie Sanders
Juli Kagan discusses how new (and seasoned) dental hygienists can take care of themselves. New hygiensits have a lot of enthusiasm for the profession, and they need to take care of their mind, body, and spirit to maintain that enthusiasm. In our profession, ergonomics is of particular importance. Julie shares what she’s learned through the years to prevent injury and encourage career longevity.
