Today's RDH
Today's RDH is for curious and passionate dental hygienists. We deliver the latest dental hygiene news, research, and entertainment on your phone, tablet, and computer.
Study Finds Replacement for Oral Surgery Blades
In nearly all oral surgeries, blades are common tools. But these tools cannot distinguish between diseased and healthy tissues. And that's why they may result in unnecessary damage, pain and longer recovery times.
It is also one of the reasons why a dental appointment often instills fear in most patients. Add the fear of surgery to that appointment, and most...
Test Your Selective Polishing Protocol Knowledge
Disclosure: This quiz is sponsored content from Premier Dental as part of our sponsored partner program.Test your selective polishing knowledge with this quick quiz and then enter to win 3 boxes of Enamel Pro® Prophy Paste courtesy of Premier Dental! (This giveaway ended on February 29, 2020)The only prophy paste with ACP technology for 31% more fluoride uptake1Enamel Pro® is different....
Adolescent Responsibility Toward Hygiene and Dental Care in Sweden
Children and adolescents in Sweden are given free dental care and routine cleaning and check-ups with a hygienist. Teens start to feel more and more self-sufficient as they age, and some feel a little more independent than they actually are. This attitude doesn't come as a surprise to any parent in the world. It can also lead to unintentional...
Research Looks at Tooth Brushing and Heart Disease
Lifestyle factors play a significant role in the development of heart disease. Most people realize that they can reduce their risk by maintaining a healthy weight and getting plenty of exercise, but recent research shows that oral health can also be vital. The study looked at a cohort of more than 160,000 participants in Korea to track the link between oral...
VIDEO: Dental Hygienists – The Best Kept Secret in Healthcare
This is why the profession of dental hygiene is so important and how dental hygienists don't just help with oral health, but overall health as well.
Dental Hygienists are educated dental professionals who focus on the prevention of disease in the mouth. A visit to a dental hygienist can save an individuals life, as they can help to identify disease...
A Study of Oral Practices of Medical Students: Results Aren’t Great
Oral health is an essential part of maintaining a healthy life. An infected tooth can lead to a blood infection, which can be deadly if not taken care of immediately. Routine dental visits with a dental hygienist can spot problem areas before an infection can invade. Oral and throat cancers can be spotted early and immediately referred to the...
The Great Recession and Demand for Oral Health Care
The economic troubles during the Great Recession of 2007-2009 have had a statistical impact on both dentistry and orthodontics in several different ways. The Effect of the Great Recession on the Demand for General Oral Health Care and Orthodontic Care, an article researched and written by Albert H. Guay, DMD, and Andrew Blatz, MS., is a study of how professional...
Test Your Saliva & Xerostomia Knowledge!
Disclosure: This quiz is sponsored content from 3M Oral Care as part of our sponsored partner program.Test your saliva and xerostomia knowledge with this quick quiz and then discover the prevalence, etiology and impact of xerostomia on today’s population by watching the informative webinar featuring Jo-Anne Jones, RDH!
Future of Dental Care with a “Tooth-on-a-chip” Device
As the second decade of the 21st century has ended, we are seeing an increasing number of "organ-on-a-chip" devices allowing scientists to observe and analyze organ cells using a variety of instruments. Recently, researchers have started experimenting with "tooth-on-a-chip."
"On-a-chip" devices recreate the natural physiology and mechanical forces that affect the cells in the human body. Researchers use them to...
Recent Research Illustrates the Link between Periodontal Disease and Obesity
Periodontal disease and obesity may seem unrelated, but they share one important feature. They are both extremely common in the United States. The two diseases may also have a deeper connection than anyone realized in the past. The British Dental Journal recently published a review of many studies that explores the connection between the two diseases. While their findings are not...
Test Your AAP Guidelines Knowledge!
Disclosure: This quiz is sponsored content from Cetylite as part of our sponsored partner program.Test your AAP Guidelines knowledge with this quick quiz!Thank you to Cetylite, the manufacturer of Cetacaine for sponsoring this quiz. For over 50 years, Cetacaine has been trusted by dentists and hygienists to deliver effective and rapid pain control where it is needed, and can help...
Research Reveals Good Dental Hygiene Can Improve Type 2 Diabetes
Scientists at the School of Medicine at the University of Buffalo have conducted research which appears to prove patients who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes can improve their health by taking better care of their oral hygiene. Their findings, "Benefits of Non‐Surgical Periodontal Treatment in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Periodontitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial," was...
Study Shows Smoking Can Impact Dental Pulp’s Ability to Fight Bacteria
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine have unearthed evidence that smoking can prevent dental pulp from performing its core function of combatting different diseases. The study, titled "Comparison of IL-1β, TNF-α, hBD-2, and hBD-3 Expression in the Dental Pulp of Smokers Versus Nonsmokers," was published in the Journal of Endodontics.
How Dental Pulp Helps Fight Bacteria
Dental pulp...
Understanding the Link between Oral Hygiene and Cognitive Function in Geriatric Chinese-Americans
The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society recently published a study titled, "Oral Health Symptoms and Cognitive Function Among US Community-Dwelling Chinese Older Adults," which examined how poor oral health impacts cognitive function in geriatric Chinese adults living in the United States. The studied showed that adults who report poor oral hygiene are much more likely than adults reporting good oral...
Research Shows Elevated Glucose Levels Linked to Periodontitis and Myocardial Infarctions
An estimated 10 percent of the population, or roughly 100 million Americans, have diabetes or prediabetes according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Due to this alarming trend, research institutions are making a serious effort to learn more about the chronic condition and find a cure.
Now there may be evidence that people with undetected glucose disorders run a...
QUIZ: Test Your Infection Control Knowledge
Now Listen to the Today's RDH Dental Hygiene Podcast Below:
Data Reveals Elite Athletes Tend to Have Poor Oral Health
It's not uncommon for professional athletes to treat their body like a temple. From meticulous diet plans to vigorous exercise routines, elite athletes understand what it takes to keep their bodies in optimal condition so that they are more likely to achieve their goals.
Based on the above assumptions, it was surprising to learn that this was not necessarily the...
Kara RDH Demonstrates Injection-free Dental Anesthesia Using Cetacaine Liquid
Video sponsored by Cetylite.
Kara RDH discusses and demonstrates the features, benefits and technique to use non-injectable Cetacaine Liquid (benzocaine 14%, butamben 2%, tetracaine HCl 2%) in patients, for long lasting anesthesia to the mucous membrane for soft tissue periodontal treatments. A Cetacaine Liquid 30g bottle treats up to 300 quadrants for less than $2 per dose. Anesthesia takes effect...
Research Looks at the Efficacy of Fluoride Concentration in Toothpaste
Dental caries is a ubiquitous problem around the globe for people of all ages. Cavities not only cause discomfort, though. They also consume time and money. In the US, 92% of adults have experienced the pain and expense associated with dental cavities.
After years of scientific research demonstrated the effectiveness of fluoride in preventing dental decay, fluoride-fortified toothpaste hit the American market in...