Oral health professionals are exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted to and from clinicians and patients. Fortunately, there are myriad strategies to maintain a safe environment—from effective surface disinfection to donning…

Dental hygienists need to understand the role dental implant fixtures play in the overall health and quality of life for patients.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in six children has one or more neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or an…

The quality of a mother’s prenatal oral health has been shown to not only affect fetal growth and development, but also her child’s health through infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. This mother-infant relationship is complex…

Lyme disease—which is spread via tick bite—is the most common vector-borne disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi in the United States.

Safety in the workplace is critical for oral health professionals and patients in the provision of care.

Dental topical anesthetics are among the most common drugs used in patient care, but their risks and adverse reactions are not always well known; in addition, many practitioners are not well versed in United States Food and Drug…

Over the past decade, legislatures across the United States have grappled with scope of practice issues for health professions, including dental hygiene.

Proper ergonomics may be optimally maintained through the utilization of magnification, correct positioning of the patient and operator, and the use of an ergonomically correct chair, such as a saddle style or exercise ball.

According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, 3 million people in the United States have implants. This number is expected to grow by 500,000 each year. As the number of patients with implants continues to rise, so does the risk…