In this episode, I have a conversation with one of my very own NHTI senior dental hygiene students Zack. He shares the journey that brought him to dental hygiene school, some of the challenges and obstacles he has faced, and some of the triumphs that have occurred on his journey. Zack shares his poem from Oral Anatomy 1 and so much more about life as a dental hygiene student. Additional resources:  Study Sheets: https://thehappyflosserrdh.etsy.com/  Other Podcasts: blog.feedspot.com/dental_hygiene_podcasts/   Take a look at a recent product I have tried and recommend. bit.l ..read more

Tobacco cessation is one of the toughest things our patients face and can be one of the most challenging conversations for us to have as oral health therapists. In this episode I speak about some of the effective ways you can lead a conversation with your patient to walk them down the path to being tobacco free. Additional resources:  Study Sheets: https://thehappyflosserrdh.etsy.com/  Other Podcasts: blog.feedspot.com/dental_hygiene_podcasts/   Take a look at a recent product I have tried and recommend. bit.ly/thehappyflosser promo code: HAPPYFLOSSER   Send Messa ..read more

In this episode, we will build on the information centered around motivation for our patients. The social cognitive theory and stages of change will be discussed. This can apply to the individual in the clinical setting, or population beliefs when designing a program to shift perspectives among a population. Additional resources:  Study Sheets: https://thehappyflosserrdh.etsy.com/  Other Podcasts: blog.feedspot.com/dental_hygiene_podcasts/   Take a look at a recent product I have tried and recommend. bit.ly/thehappyflosser promo code: HAPPYFLOSSER   Send Messages ..read more

Whenever we are taking on a new challenge or embarking on a journey into the unknown it can be scary. Often times as we approach the high stakes leg of an important journey things can get really tough. In those moments where we are challenges to stretch ourselves and grow we may need to have a gentle reminder that we are capable of many things and that we have what we need to be successful. Additional resources:  Study Sheets: https://thehappyflosserrdh.etsy.com/  Other Podcasts: blog.feedspot.com/dental_hygiene_podcasts/   Take a look at a recent product I have tried and r ..read more

Whenever we are taking on a new challenge or embarking on a journey into the unknown it can be scary. Often times as we approach the high stakes leg of an important journey things can get really tough. In those moments where we are challenges to stretch ourselves and grow we may need to have a gentle reminder that we are capable of many things and that we have what we need to be successful. Additional resources:  Study Sheets: https://thehappyflosserrdh.etsy.com/  Other Podcasts: blog.feedspot.com/dental_hygiene_podcasts/   Take a look at a recent product I have tried and r ..read more

The dental hygiene student is challenged with developing an understanding of how to do a successful appraisal of research. We deliver care based on the most current research and are evidence based in all we do for our patients. In this episode we will discuss evidence based research and the PICO question. The basics of research development and the process of assessing research that is currently available. Additional resources:  Study Sheets: https://thehappyflosserrdh.etsy.com/  Other Podcasts: blog.feedspot.com/dental_hygiene_podcasts/   Take a look at a recent product I h ..read more

In dental hygiene school, you have to take pharmacology. Drugs are an important component of the medical history and are used to support patients with a variety of conditions. It is important for the dental hygiene student to understand drug pharmacological effects, adverse reactions, side effects, and dental considerations. As providers, we should have an understanding of drug uses and precautions. In this episode, I speak with Rachel Leo Flagg about barbiturates and benzodiazepines similarities and differences. Rachel helps create an understanding of how to remember important information and ..read more

Taking exams can be one of the toughest aspects of dental hygiene school. The entire program is an ongoing accumulation of knowledge building with a continuous expectation of clinical application of theory to practice. It is an essential skill-building component of being a successful student. Taking tests and learning the right way to study can take some practice. In this episode, we will discuss some of the ways for you to flex your test-taking muscles and improve your results. Keep in mind, that you have to take a national board exam at the end of your program. You may as well learn the stra ..read more

The first time you have a patient in your chair who has bone loss on the radiographs and presents with active infection may cause you additional stress. You have all of the knowledge you need in order to perform a complete assessment on this type of patient. You will need to use all that you have learned to be comprehensive in your assessment. You can do this! Additional resources:  Study Sheets: https://thehappyflosserrdh.etsy.com/  Other Podcasts: blog.feedspot.com/dental_hygiene_podcasts/   Take a look at a recent product I have tried and recommend. bit.ly/thehappyflosse ..read more

As a dental hygienist, you can support your patient's nutritional needs by providing them with education and supporting their efforts to make meaningful changes in their lives. Improving our patients' food choices and habits will go beyond meeting the oral health needs of our patients. It will strengthen the ability of our patients to defend against chronic diseases and lower the risk of systemic deficiencies. Resources: Diet and Nutrition in Oral Health 3rd edition Palmer C, Boyd L. (2016) Additional resources:  Study Sheets: https://thehappyflosserrdh.etsy.com/  Other Podcasts: blo ..read more