Ask the Expert

What do you recommend to patients who want to maintain their oral health but abstain from fluoride?

I recently had a patient ask about the oral health benefits of using charcoal toothpaste. Are there any or is it just another fad?

Are plaque-disclosing agents useful tools when educating pediatric patients and their parents/caregivers about oral disease prevention and the importance of good oral hygiene?

Is the use of soft tissue diode lasers by dental hygienists considered the standard of care in the treatment of periodontally involved patients (eg, to reduce the number of colony-forming units of pathogenic bacteria in pockets)?

I do not wear latex gloves but still have contact dermatitis. What should I do to relieve itchy/pain and how do I prevent it?

How long does your office wait after completion of four quadrants of scaling and root planing for reevaluation, and what do you do at that appointment?

I am a recent graduate and am wondering what type of insurance I should purchase before starting practice.

What are the most important things to look for when I’m selecting a new pair of loupes?

The new owner of the practice I work in has made some changes regarding the way dental hygienists are paid. The dentist has asked that we decrease our hours if the schedule has openings either at the start or finish of the day, or following…

Do you think it is appropriate for a dentist to tell a patient that the swelling is a direct result of the dental hygienist not cleaning to the base of the pocket?