Hygienicated

How Does Ergonomics Improve Productivity?

marketing@ydnt.com (Young Dental) — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 23:15:13 GMT

As a dental care provider, it's easy to become so focused on your patient's comfort that you may end up pushing your own health risks aside. Muscle pain and tension in the arms, hands, and back are quite common. The position of the body and arms mixed with repetitive tasks can cause pain. Ergonomics can not only help, but make your practice more efficient.

What Is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is more than wrist support or lumbar pillows. While many men have been credited with being the father of ergonomics, we know it dates back to at least 1949 when the first ergonomics textbook was published. The simple definition is that ergonomics is building the workplace around the safety and comfort of workers using individual techniques, like stretching, blended with equipment designed for optimal performance between humans and machines.

Dr. Don Coburn is credited with bringing ergonomics into the dental field. A lot of developments have happened under "Coburn's Laws of Ergonomics" since 1969. Every tool you use now has an ergonomic adaption available, and the options keep developing, from an ergonomic dental chair to ergonomic instruments. Dental professionals need the right tools, but also need the training to use them correctly.

In the spirit of ergonomics, release the tension in your jaw, relax your tongue, and roll your shoulders back. Move your device to eye level if you're craning your neck to read this. You've just ergonomically adjusted the task you're doing right now.

Transformative Healing: Topical Debridement for Effective Dental Care and Reduced Infection Risk

Nicole Fortune, MBA, RDH — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:49:00 GMT

In the landscape of oral health, periodontal disease stands as a formidable adversary, affecting millions of Americans and posing significant challenges to overall well-being. As we delve into the state of periodontal disease in the United States, it becomes evident that this oral health issue extends far beyond mere dental concerns, impacting systemic health and quality of life. The state of periodontal disease in the United States demands attention and action.

As a dental hygienist, I have witnessed the remarkable success of scaling and root planing, especially when complemented with adjuncts like desiccates, in the treatment of periodontal inflammation.

Periodontal disease, characterized by inflammation of the gums and damage to supporting structures, is a common oral health concern affecting millions. It begins with the accumulation of biofilm—a sticky film of bacteria—on teeth surfaces, progressing to gingivitis and, if left untreated, advancing to periodontitis.
Scaling and root planing stands out as a highly successful and minimally invasive intervention in the arsenal of periodontal treatments.

One of the key successes of scaling and root planing is its ability to halt the progression of periodontal disease. By addressing the root cause—bacterial accumulation—this procedure prevents further damage to the gums and supporting bone.

Integration of Adjuncts: Desiccants

In recent years, the integration of adjuncts have enhanced the effectiveness of scaling and root planing. PerioDT from Young is a desiccant that further targets and eliminate bacteria in the periodontal pockets, aiding in the reduction of inflammation and promoting a healthier subgingival environment.
The use of PerioDT during scaling and root planing procedures enhances the success rate by:

Removal of the Smear Layer:

Instrumentation, both mechanical and powered, leave behind a smear layer containing bacteria, viruses, calculus, toxins and necrotic debris. PerioDT effectively removes this smear layer, eliminating a barrier to healing and encouraging the reduction of inflammation.¹

Supplementing Bacterial Elimination:

Desiccants provide an additional layer of bacterial elimination, targeting microbes that may persist even after thorough scaling and root planing. In one study, PerioDT reduced the amount of red complex bacteria in one application. What’s more, that reduced level was maintained for a year, based on microbial analysis.²

Reducing Pocket Depth:

By effectively eliminating bacteria and coagulating necrotic debris, desiccants contribute to the reduction of pocket depth, promoting optimal gum reattachment and preventing the recurrence of periodontal disease. Adjunct use of PerioDT resulted in significantly greater pocket reduction and the reduction of inflammatory markers such as bleeding upon probing.³

As a dental hygienist, I am passionate about empowering patients on their journey to optimal oral health. Scaling and root planing, when complemented with adjuncts like desiccants, exemplifies the transformative power of preventive and therapeutic dental care. If you're grappling with the challenges of biofilm removal, consider trying PerioDT as an adjunct to your mechanical therapy.

Best Dental Ergonomic Assessments & Practices

Erika Lauren, RDH — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 17:52:00 GMT

Dedication to great ergonomics may be the most important effort one can make in the dental office (yes, even more than winning the thermostat battle). Ergonomics is the study of one’s efficiency in their working environment, which can be poor in dental professions. An ergonomic quality analysis produces guidelines for improving mechanics by assessing subjective and measuring objective data.

Increase Hygiene Production in the Dental Office

Erika Lauren, RDH — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 17:09:15 GMT

Hygienists accomplish vast patient care in their allotted appointment time, but sometimes we struggle with reaching productivity goals. When one-on-one with a patient, we're not always thinking about our "Revenue Generator" capes blowing in the wind. Sometimes that "R" stands for "ran out of time." The industry standard is that the hygiene department will produce at least 30% of total office production. Common productivity goals to achieve 30% production include adequate X-rays, implementation of add-on treatments, and in-house retail. However, the issue of time, planning, and tools may hinder achieving this goal.

Improving Treatment Plan Compliancy with Dental Patients

marketing@ydnt.com (Young Dental) — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 17:08:47 GMT

What if every "yes" saved a patient's tooth? Creating a treatment plan that resonates with your patients that will yield a "yes" indeed relies on knowing the "why?" Every resonating treatment plan is made from knowing the "why" of the patient and the patient knowing the "why" of the treatment.

The 6 Types of Patients You'll Encounter During Your Career

marketing@ydnt.com (Young Dental) — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 19:14:54 GMT

They don't tell you in hygiene school that you're also going to be a psychologist, a travel agent, a teacher, or a referee. As rewarding as a career in dental hygiene may be, a day of work also ranges between mental exhaustion and consecutive comedy hours. After all, we care for the general public, and a dental office sometimes brings out very interesting sides of people! We hygienists can use an insider's list of tips and tricks, so fold this away with your academic material.

Purchasing Your Own Hygiene Instruments: Is It Worth It?

kellydivito@gmail.com (Kelly Divito, RDH, MS) — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 21:39:05 GMT

You know what makes me cringe and shake my head?

When I hear about hygienists working with substandard hygiene instruments while still being expected to remove calculus and stain on every tooth surface efficiently enough to stay on time.

I've been filling in as a guest hygienist for almost 15 years, and sometimes the experience is fantastic, and sometimes it leaves much to be desired. When filling in, the worst things to discover are broken instruments, bent probes, scratched mirrors or worse – just one ineffective Cavitron or Piezo insert for the day.

Here's what I’ve done to combat the instrument pack nightmares: I purchased a self-contained reservoir Cavitron unit and tips that travel with me to all the offices where I work.

I bought this unit secondhand from a hygienist who used it for her out-of-state boards, only, and then didn’t need it when she entered private practice. When that alone became insufficient and I could not further compromise my ergonomics, patient comfort or treatment of patients, I decided to place an order to build my cassettes with my own money.

How?

Fortunately, several dental companies allow dental hygienists, with proof of licensure, to open accounts and purchase what they need. Within a day, I had spoken to Young Dental and Darby Dental, both of which had professional sales representatives who were happy to assist me in starting an account so that I had direct access to their ordering catalog. Two days later, I got my first shipment of instruments. I purchased metal cassettes to contain them and had them ready to go.

Bringing Them to Work
I plan to sterilize the cassettes and exclusively use them with my Cavitron in offices to ensure safety and sharpness. I'll have pictures of the inventory and receipts should anything go missing or break. I’ll let the offices know I am bringing the cassettes and have a pink toolbox to transport them safely.

I will also ensure everything is in the autoclaved before my last patient and use one of their cassettes on that patient so that everything is sterile when I leave if I’m not coming back the next day. I cannot tell you the relief I feel knowing I’ll have the sharp instruments I picked out, and I won't be forced into using substandard instruments with instructions to "do my best."

I intend to purchase more instruments and setups for scaling and root planning next. As the instruments wear down or become un-sharpenable, I will replace them because I no longer want to compromise my body or patient comfort and care.

Working Sharper, Not Harder
The excitement I feel knowing I will have control over a critical portion of my career – my instruments – has renewed my enthusiasm for clinical hygiene. Like most hygienists, I hold a high standard when providing patient care. Sharp instruments give me more time for oral hygiene instruction, reviewing treatment needs and answering patient-specific questions.

Ownership over instrument purchasing and maintenance is significant because it can lengthen my career by preventing operator fatigue from repetitive motion and can also increase patient comfort due to the sharpness of an instrument, which has brought me greater job satisfaction (Wilkins, 2017).

Further, I have less wrist and back pain from grasping older, less effective instruments; I don’t feel stuck using those instruments; and I have a greater sense of ownership of my professional obligations to the patient.

But Shouldn’t the Dentist Be Doing That?
While some may argue it’s the dentist owner's responsibility to purchase instruments, I want to share why I chose to do this.

It was for me.

Investing in myself has been rewarding and has produced an immediate return on investment. I am no longer frustrated with the lack of appropriate and effective instrument setups. I maintain my accounts with dental dealers so I can easily order what I need, making it easier to take advantage of sales and save all receipts to uphold warranty agreements.

My relationships with those organizations have led to their representatives sharing specials and deals with me since they know I’m supplying my kits. I appreciate their consideration regarding cost, and I love the ease with which I can order when I need to.

Purchasing personal dental instruments may not be a financial reality for all hygienists. I can relate and have been in those shoes early in my career. I propose you work with your owner dentists to maintain what can be maintained and work collaboratively and in phases to replace what critically needs replacing today. Then establish a goal for future additions to replace in smaller but manageable batches, and search for specials within companies to save money.

Instrument maintenance will be vital to the clinician and patient comfort, and also to the boss's pocketbook.

So, Is It Really Worth It?
Purchasing new instruments is not inexpensive, but it’s worth the investment in injury mitigation, career longevity and job satisfaction. I’m protecting myself and my patient from injury, ensuring a greater likelihood of thoroughly removing calculus and biofilm without compromising ergonomics, while also decreasing my risk of burnout.

I would love it if more dentists saw the benefits of providing hygienists with the instruments they need, not only to provide thorough care to patients, but also to decrease clinician fatigue and boost morale. However, I can no longer wait for someone else to provide this for me.

I encourage you to reach out to the resources I have listed if you would like to take control of your instruments, protect yourself from musculoskeletal damage, and increase your career longevity and job satisfaction. Hygienists with independent practices already do this. Let's join them.

The total cost to make my initial purchases for prophy kits was equivalent to approximately two days of hygiene wages. Here are the quantities of what I purchased:

(20) American Eagle XP Sharpen-Free instruments
(10) Mouth mirrors
(10) Cassettes
(10) Shepherds hook/probe combo
(10) 11/12 explorers

Additionally, I purchased:
Cavitron SPS
Cavitron Tips

Knowing my setups are as sharp and effective as possible for me and the patient is priceless.

Here are some dental companies that allow actively licensed hygienist clinicians to make an account to purchase instruments and supplies:

How My "Clear Aligner" Journey Helped Me Help My Patients

tina@teachertinardh.com (Tina Clarke, RDH, MEd) — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 20:49:33 GMT

A few months ago, I finished my clear aligner journey. This experience helped me better understand what my patients may encounter, how to advise them on their journey, and which questions to ask them. It also helped me discover fantastic ways to improve comfort and oral care during treatment!

The Surprising Reason for the Invention of Infection Control Gloves

marketing@ydnt.com (Young Dental) — Wed, 25 May 2022 22:09:40 GMT

Glove manufacturers have had to ship a lot more product during the pandemic, and here at Young we've seen an increase in demand. Gloves come in many varieties, flavored, nitrile, neoprene, latex, chloroprene and more.They're such a common part of the medical and dental world that it might surprise you to discover the unusual reasons why surgical gloves and medical gloves were first put to use.
Did you know that protective gloves were invented to shield neither patients nor physicians / nurses from pathogens or infection? Although now in use for over 100 years specifically for hygiene and health, they were first adopted starting at the renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore because its first professor of surgery and surgeon-in-chief was in love. The Washington Post recounts the intriguing history as to how gloves became a medical standard:

Foam or Varnish: How These Fluoride Methods Stack Up

Katie Melko, RDH, MSDH — Fri, 13 May 2022 17:53:28 GMT

Fluoride is a hot topic and can be quite controversial. Dental professionals often struggle just to get parents and patients to accept a fluoride treatment, never mind then having to decide which type of fluoride is best for that patient.

Let’s talk about fluoride foams and gels versus fluoride varnish and see what makes the most sense for certain clientele. If you’re at one of the many practices that still primarily uses foams and gels, then this article is definitely for you!

So what exactly is fluoride?
According to Mouth Healthy.org, the definition is pretty straightforward:

Fluoride, a naturally-occurring mineral, helps prevent cavities in children and adults by making the outer surface of your teeth (enamel) more resistant to the acid attacks that cause tooth decay.

Fluoride comes in many forms for patients to use over the counter, as well as many forms for professionals to use in the op, including toothpaste, mouthwash, pills, foams, gels and varnish.

Still, I don’t know how many times I’ve heard the following: it’s a toxin, it’s a harsh chemical, it’s unnatural or it causes cancer and brain issues.

When it comes to foams and varnish, how do these two fluoride methods stack up?

The varnish low-down
Varnish is a topical application that’s painted onto the tooth surface with a brush. It takes very little time to apply – about 30 seconds to apply a coating to each tooth surface.. Many varnish formulas adhere to saliva, so teeth don’t need to be dried prior to application. American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs states that fluoride-containing varnishes typically contain 5% NaF, which is equivalent to 2.26% or 22,600 ppm fluoride ion. Some varnishes require patients to wait a few hours before eating hard foods and drinking hot beverages after application, but it depends on the brand.

Once varnish is applied, the tooth absorbs the fluoride it needs during the uptake period, which can last several hours (in some cases up to 24 hours). Fluoride varnish isn’t harmful if swallowed because any unused fluoride is secreted through urine.

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ HealthyChildren.org endorses the use of fluoride varnish, telling parents directly:

Fluoride varnish is a dental treatment that can help prevent tooth decay, slow it down, or stop it from getting worse.

Fluoride varnish is safe and used by dentists and doctors all over the world to help prevent tooth decay in children. Only a small amount is used, and hardly any fluoride is swallowed.
Fluoride foams and gels
Foam and gel fluoride applications are put in a foam tray and then the patient will have the fluoride sit on their teeth for 4 minutes. “Commonly used fluoride gels include acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF), which contain 1.23 percent or 12,300 parts per million (ppm) fluoride ion, and 2 percent sodium fluoride (NaF), which contain 0.90 percent or 9,050 ppm fluoride ion.” (NCBI) The patients again are instructed to not eat or drink for at least 30 minutes.

The fluoride uptake has stopped at this point, and fluoride is only being absorbed into the tooth while the tray is on. This product is harmful if swallowed and can cause vomiting and upset stomach. It can only be applied by a trained professional, it comes in many flavors and in gel or foam consistency.

What to choose

Fluoride is a crucial treatment needed for children and adults to help reduce decay and maintain a healthy mouth. We all know that our mouths are connected to our bodies, this treatment has been proven to reduce bacteria. “Beyond the benefit of enhanced remineralization with varnish, it is also ten times as effective at lessening the amount of cariogenic bacteria, S. mutans. Fluoride foam, on the other hand, is less effective at fighting S. mutans than a simple chlorhexidine mouthwash," according to Today’s RDH.

Many offices still use foam or gel simply because the upfront cost compared to varnish is less. But something to consider is the time a clinician saves with the fast applications of varnish. And since gels and foams are packaged in a large bottle it’s easy to use more than you need and have unnecessary waste negating any savings.

Allergies can be a concern when it comes to choosing varnish. Thankfully manufacturers have listened and many varnishes are using synthetic or non-allergenic ingredients in their product. However, it’s always important to check your patient’s medical history and your product information.

“Another potential benefit is the higher concentration of fluoride that varnishes contain when compared to foams,” according to Today’s RDH. All while providing longer protection to the teeth well after their visit. Varnish is less messy and better for gag reflux patients, it is also great for sealing dental tubules for patients with recession, therefore reducing their sensitivity and helping to protect the teeth from root caries.

There is overwhelming evidence that the benefits fluoride offers outweigh foam/gel fluoride treatments. Time management, patient satisfaction, healthier options for patients and ease of use for hygienists are all great reasons to use varnish in your office.