We all have our share of patients who’s periodontal health never improves, or improves very little, year after year. In other words, they are in a chronic state of active disease. And too often, we hygienists blame ourselves for failing to help these patients improve their periodontal health. What could I have said to persuade…
Introduction Cherie R. Dillon, a hygienist from Idaho, is going to prison for five years for practicing beyond her license (e.g. fillings, extractions, etc.), illegally billing Medicaid and other insurances, and using the identity of a disabled, non-practicing dentist to make it happen. She also has to pay over $500k in restitution and has to…
Introduction Let me guess. When you first saw the photo you thought, “What the hell happened to Vin Diesel”. Wrong guy. That’s actually Carlos Rodriguez. Carlos is a dental hygienist, speaker and stand-up comic. He combines his dental knowledge with his comedic skills to create CE courses that will make you laugh. Check out what…
As a practical joke, I sent the text message pictured below to my boss on Thursday morning. I didn’t expect the response I received. He was very understanding and compassionate. I was expecting something more like, “Really?” or “Huh?” or “Ok” or “Are you messing with me bro?” We do have two chickens (and 1…
What is it? It’s a hands free dental suction system that is primarily designed for dental hygienists. The green part, which is shaped like a leaf (hence the name), is disposable. The remaining parts come in a few sections. The hard, clear plastic part, where the leaf attaches, is curved 180 degrees so it can…
Is the market for dental hygienists over-saturated? I’ve been asked that question from potential dental hygiene students many times over the last 7 years or so on social media and here’s my answer. It’s the wrong question. Dentistry, and healthcare in general, is a relatively stable part of the economy. Ample opportunities for dental hygienists…
In this video podcast, Michael Barr, DDS and I discuss the topic, “Guns in the dental office”. The conversation was triggered (no pun intended), by the recent story about the 72-year-old who shot himself while being treated in a dental office.
In this episode, I comment on some of the things Joe Rogan has said over the years about oral health.
I’m sure most of you have heard by now, as recently reported by the media, that the effectiveness of flossing is not, and has never been, proven by science. We’ve been lied to by Big Floss people! When I first read those media reports, I thought to myself, “Oh boy, here we go again, another…