By promoting healthy behaviors and encouraging prevention, dental hygienists can make a difference in both the oral and systemic health of this patient population.

Many treatment options are available for patients who want to improve the esthetics of their smile while reducing excess gingival display.

Dental hygienists play an important role in recognizing the signs of antiresorptive agent-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Head and neck cancers associated with human papillomavirus affect many patients who don’t present with the traditional risk factors for oral cancer.

While the incidence of hepatitis B infection is declining, the health risks associated with this “silent killer” remain significant.

As the number of older adults in the United States continues to grow, dental hygienists should be prepared to manage the risk of tooth decay with this population.

Patients at risk of tooth decay can sway the caries balance toward remineralization with these simple strategies.

While the research on tooth polishing is not robust, available evidence suggests that a conservative approach is most effective.

This technique may help patients implement behavior change to improve both their oral and systemic health.

The use of nonsurgical periodontal therapy to treat chronic periodontitis is standard in oral health care, and new developments may improve its efficacy in the future.