5 Tips for a Smooth Pedo Appointment

We have all had those days. Lots of pedo patients scheduled with definitely not enough time to see them all. Then, if they are nervous, it can take even longer and be a little overwhelming as a clinician. This video gives 5 easy and quick tips to help make your pedo appointments run just a little bit smoother, and hopefully help you keep on schedule!

Happy National Children's Dental Health Month!

Happy Love Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from us at Hygiene Edge! We love you for following our journey, asking the best questions, and for us to grow together into the dental hygienists!

Love: Melia, Shelley, Candi, and Jessica

Stuff Your Patients Are Talking About: The Brushies

One night as I was pursing Instagram, the cutest photo of little ones brushing their teeth with bright brushes caught my eye. Turns out the brushes in the photo weren’t just brushes but finger puppets to make brushing fun called The Brushies. Having a 2 year old, I definitely wanted to try them out on her and know a little bit more about the company and product.

The Brushies were created by two mom doctors, a dentist and a psychologist, that had a hard time getting their own kids to brush, let alone their patients. So, have a fun and interactive way to brush was a must and The Brushies were born. They are made of 100% food grade silicone that is all natural and BPA and phthalate free and can be put in the dishwasher to be cleaned (my favorite feature).  The set also some with a book to read along and get to know the 4 different Brushies characters to make the brushing experience more interactive and fun.

I tried them on my daughter and she loves them! I wish I had them earlier in her life when she fought brushing more than she does now. She loves reading the book and playing along with the Brushies finger puppets. The only thing I noticed was they were a tad large since they cover an adult finger, which may be hard to use on a 6 month old. However, the gift pack is a perfect shower gift for any new mom.

If you want to purchase one for yourself or learn more about them, check out Amazon  or their website. 

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*Congrats to Katrina Bennon for winning our Brushies giveaway! Please email hygieneedge@gmail.com with your contact information.*

How To Position Your Pediatric Patients

Don't let your economics suffer while working on those pediatric patients. Take the time to get them where you need them for the best treatment. 

5 Tips To Keeping Busy During Downtime

I have worked in the Dental office for over 15 years. There have been days where I didn’t even have time to relieve my bladder and days where it felt so slow the day I thought it would never end. Have you ever found yourself in the situation where a patient has cancelled, you have some downtime and you can’t remember what you were going to do when you finally had time to do it? I also realize many of you feel like you never have downtime and I hear you! Even for those situations I have experienced greater productivity when I have a list of to-dos just in case I don’t need to use the bathroom when I have that 5 extra minutes.  Here are a few ideas to help you get started on your go-to list when you have some precious downtime.

#1-STRETCH

Take time to take care of YOU.  Due to the repetitive nature of our job it is important for us to take time to engage in movement that balances our working muscles. Check out our video on functional movements for the dental hygienist HERE.

#2- SHARPEN

This is another use of time that will extend your dental hygiene career and also help provide your patient with a better more comfortable cleaning. See below for help on sharpening HERE.

#3- STOCK

Taking the downtime that happens sporadically during the day to re-stock your room or order new supplies helps you have the things you need on hand during the day and get out of work on time. Check out our hygiene hack on how to create a patient cover packet for set up HERE.

#4 RECARE

The best cure for downtime is to find a patient instead! Recare is an important use of downtime. Work with your office manager to create an effective recare program to help you keep a full and fulfilling schedule. Read up more on how to do recare HERE.

#5 ASK THE TEAM

Working in a Dental Office is a TEAM job. After I have made sure my operatory is in order, I make sure I have asked the assistants and front office to see if they need any assistance with their duties.

What are some things that you do during your downtime that make you a valuable team member? We’d love to hear about what goes on your to-do lists that help you be the most productive in the time you have.

Hygiene Hack: Floss Circle Technique

Have any of you ever tried this? Another hygienist mentioned that they do this all the time in practice and even tell patients to do it this way for their home care. Give it a try and see what you think. 

Hygiene Hack: Patient Packets

Try this little trick to save time and lose less supplies since they won't fall on the floor as trays are transferred.

Do you do this in office? What other tricks do you use in office before a patient arrives?

The Diary of a Pregnant Hygienist- The First "Trial"mester

I wouldn’t call myself a pro at pregnancy, but with this being my third you could say that I have learned a thing or two about the balancing act of being pregnant and practicing hygiene. Being pregnant and working hygiene is no walk in the park. The body is going through many transformations which can be VERY challenging to work through.  Let's start at the beginning.

You have just read that little stick saying that you are pregnant. The first big work decision is how and when to tell your office that you are pregnant. One thing to note is that pregnant women shouldn’t use nitrous (see THIS RDH Magazine article) If you or your dentist needs to use nitrous on the patient then you shouldn’t be the one to administer any treatment to that patient while on nitrous. Better safe than sorry. You may decide not to tell the whole office for now but at least consider the dentist so they understand why you are refusing to treat some patients.

The nice thing about scrubs is that your growing belly will be kept hidden for several months if you want to keep it a secret a little longer. However, if you are sick pretty soon your coworkers are going to notice. Go ahead, let them in on the good news so you can get a little sympathy because those first few months can be really tough without some help.

Honestly, I have worried about telling my boss that I was pregnant for fear that I would get replaced or not advanced. According the United States Department of Labor Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 an employer with 15 or more employees can not fire you because you are pregnant, and must permit you to continue working as long as you are able. Some states have laws that cover employers with less than 15 employees. If you work for an employer with less than 15 employees, check with your regional Women's Bureau Office to see if your state has an agency that can help you.

If it is your full intent to stay once the baby comes, make sure your employer knows. I planned to return after my babies and my conversation went as such:

“I wanted to let you know that I am 8 weeks pregnant. I have been feeling pretty ill but have been managing it with food and medication. I intend on returning once the baby is born. I will find, and help train an awesome temp while I am on a brief maternity leave. You can count on me to be here and ready to work as usual.”

I like to give them confidence that I can still properly treat patients and minimize the fact that I will be taking time off. I always figure that I could get into an accident and break my working arm at anytime and they would have to manage for a few weeks until I recover so they can handle a planned time off.

I get asked often how I managed to work through my “morning sickness.” If you are one of the lucky ones who doesn't get sick while pregnant then I invite you to produce away, and count your blessings. For the larger percentage of us who experience pregnancy sickness, this is where it gets difficult. There have been a many a time when I have had to puke between patients or excuse myself in the middle of an appointment to loose my lunch. If I need to leave mid-appointment I find some excuse, for example, “I am going to get a specific instrument, or let the dentist know they can come in when they are ready.” Then I rush to the ladies room, do my business, splash my face with water, and return. I apologize for any extra time delay, and if needed explain that I am newly pregnant but all is well, and I will deliver them the best care. If available, you could always ask the assistant to help out for a minute while you recover.

There are things you can to do combat pregnancy sickness. Check with your physician for a potential nausea reducing medications or keep some type of food close by that you can snack on between patients. Mine was Cheez-its and gatorade. (The crap your teeth go through while pregnant, I will save for another day.)

Thankfully I am finally to the end of my morning sickness with baby #3 and the baby bump is coming along nicely. Stay tuned for next time when I discuss the challenges of working with extra weight and an ever growing belly. I will also discuss the ins and outs of working as a nursing mom.

Hygiene Hack: Lip Product Application

Looking for a new idea to treat your patients even a little better than you already do?

2017

2017 is here! 

I love the fresh feeling of a new year- excitement and new possibilities. Plus, the stresses of the holidays are over and we can again focus on goals. Are you feeling a little blah about your current practice or career? We have made up a simple list of things to work on over the year to help restart your love of dental hygiene. We know that if you try them, you'll have a different outlook on our profession.

Download a printable version of the checklist to keep in your op.

Have you set career goals for yourself? Let's talk about them! Let us know below!