Ask the Expert

I am about to graduate from dental hygiene school. I was taught that the current standard of care is to avoid creating glassy, smooth surfaces. However, one instructor in the clinic suggested that all surfaces should be glassy and smooth.…

One of my patients underwent replacement of occlusal amalgams on #3 and #4 with recurrent decay using a resin restorative material. The patient complained of swelling and bruising the length of her mandible that lasted about 2 weeks, along…

Knowing when it’s time to replace ultrasonic inserts/tips is integral to successful instrumentation.

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.