Christine Colfer, RDH
Christine Colfer, RDH, is a practicing clinician in Paoli, Pennsylvania. She is passionate about improving the oral health of all her patients through education and personalized care built on long-term relationships. Christine believes in treating patients as a whole by taking into consideration their overall health both physically and psychologically.
When not in the operatory, Christine enjoys spending as much time as possible with her husband and daughter. Among other things she loves reading, cooking, trips to Disney World and trivia games.
When not in the operatory, Christine enjoys spending as much time as possible with her husband and daughter. Among other things she loves reading, cooking, trips to Disney World and trivia games.
Beating the Dental Hygiene Blahs
I can still remember how it felt in those first few months out of hygiene school. The anxiety over finding a job, the thrill of landing one, and the excitement of finally being able to practice Dental Hygiene as a clinician in private practice. It was all so new and exhilarating, like setting off on an adventure into my...
Cutting through the Premedication Confusion
To premedicate or not to premedicate, that is the question, and it has become an increasingly difficult question to answer. New clinical research and recommendations are colliding with long-held, but outdated, protocols to create the perfect storm of confusion for clinicians. Add to that the controversy regarding the overuse of antibiotics, and it becomes apparent that this issue is...
Meeting the Dental Hygiene Needs of Geriatric Patients
According to the United States Census Bureau, by the year 2030, every baby boomer in the United States will be over the age of 651. Why is that fact important to us as Dental Hygienists? It is extremely significant, considering a ballooning geriatric population, 78 million by the year 2035 to be exact, will make up a significant portion...
What is CRISPR and How Could it Change Dentistry?
I’m sure we can all agree that the 21st century has already yielded extraordinary technological advances. What if I told you that there is something on the horizon that may prove to be the most transformative so far? It could potentially change our lives and society more than even the smartphone. It’s called CRISPR, and, as members of the...
Is Teeth Whitening Really Safe?
In dentistry, there are few topics that come up more in conversation with our patients than whitening. Most hygienists will answer questions regarding teeth whitening treatments more times than they can count, but is the information we are giving our patients correct?
This past week I was discussing this very subject with a long-time patient. He informed me he had...
How Appropriate is Botox in the Dental Office?
There is a new treatment option making its way into dental offices around the country. It’s a little bit controversial but enormously innovative. The dental professionals that choose to offer this treatment and embrace its potential in the dental field will need to get past some preconceived notions first though. That is because this innovative new treatment is Botox...
The Anti-Fluoride Revival
There are few breakthroughs in dental medicine that can compare to the effectiveness and poetically simple discovery of fluoride for the use of caries prevention. We know through education and experience that fluoride is an indispensable component of our fight against tooth decay. As dental professionals, it can be easy to take for granted this ally in dental health...
5 Patients That Drive Dental Hygienists Crazy
All dental hygienists can appreciate that sometimes there are those patients who can make clinical life a little more difficult. The following is a list of five patient types that can test our patience and some strategies to better manage the challenges they present.
The Self-Proclaimed Expert
We all know them, they have proudly consulted social media to brush up on...
The Action for Dental Health Act: New Federal Funding for Dental Health Needs
It is no secret our nation has some controversial and serious concerns regarding healthcare, and oral healthcare is no exception. In fact, oral health is often overlooked completely, as leadership struggles to address healthcare issues. That may be changing, though, as a victory for dental health advocates was recently accomplished in the form of the Action for Dental Health...
Local Anesthesia Without the Needles?
If there’s one thing dental patients hate more than fillings and root canals, it’s needles. The anxiety associated with receiving a shot at their dental appointment is one of the most common reasons patients cite for their fear of the dentist.
Unfortunately, there have not been many options for providing local anesthesia that did not require a shot in the...
Dental Hygienists and the Business of Dentistry
As dental hygienists we see ourselves as clinicians, educators, patient advocates, sometimes we might even feel like therapists, but there is one aspect of our role in the operatory many of us shy away from, the business of dentistry. Yes, dentistry is a medical service, and it exists to provide valuable care to its patients, but it also exists...