Digital x-rays are the biggest and best improvement. We use EagleSoft and the tool bar for the x-rays are the best . I just learned how to zoom in on a Panorex and it was clear enough to detect inter proximal decay.

I think loupe glasses keep your posture correct. I also recommend a 30 to 50 min walk on your lunch hour. You may have to just eat light before or after the walk but it will give you a strong lower back and will save you money by not needing a massage

Tooth and Gum Tonic makes a toothpaste that is all natural . I haven’t tried the toothpaste but our patients like the tooth and gum tonic. They will send you some samples to try.

We do at my office offer to our patients Prevident, Whitening for Life, MI Paste,Sonicare Toothbrushes and Tooth and Gum Tonic. We are soon to have Waterpiks . I feel half of the patients like the convenience and half find that we turned into a selling type of practice. It does go towards our production which gets checked by the doctor every night.

Sometimes when you are a temp you have to try to adapt to the ways of the office unless there are true violations or conditions you know you can not work under and in that case you should voice your problem. Most offices are willing to help make you comfortable and may even have some sterilization bags you could use while you are filling in!

I would just tell the patient she is due for a periodontal evaluation and let her hear the probing depths . Follow up with a full set of X-rays and consult with the doctor if she is due and explain what you are finding. I sometimes let the patient try some home care techniques for a few months and then recheck her periodontal health in a few months and then explain how you want to treat her problem. Most people are open to treatment just as they would be with a new area of decay.

I don’t recommend any fluoride other than what they get from water supply or fluoride tablets if not in their water until the parents say they always spit out the toothpaste so that is usually around 5 or 6. When they don’t swallow I recommend fluoride toothpaste . We do use topical varnish as early as their first dental appointment because we can be sure they don’t swallow by using a saliva ejector !

I decide by what I see looking in the child’s mouth. I recommend a Panorex if under 5 years old with clinical decay starting or missing teeth. I will wait until the child seems ready to handle the sensor so I don’t cause discomfort. If they have decay you want to view they should also be ready to start restorative work . Most children that look pretty healthy can wait until around 5 to 6 to have a good positive experience with a digital traditional sensor to give us the information we need at a reasonable age .

I don’t feel any hygienist can do the job we were taught to do in 30 minutes without other help. You would have to skip important steps like reviewing medical histories or patient home care . Patients will return for good quality care, but not for a job not done well:)

We listened and decided it was also a lot of work that as hygienists we don’t have time for. We charge a pretty reasonable cost per site for Arestin and include it with our non surgical perio program. We have also seen some great results.