The use of animal-assisted interventions in health-care settings is an evidence-based practice. There are two types of animal-assisted interventions used in health-care settings: animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and animal-assisted activities…

Cleaning and sterilization or disinfection of reusable patient care instruments and devices are crucial elements of an effective infection control protocol. Rendering dental in­struments and devices safe for reuse is a multistep process…

The use of proper ergonomics includes adjusting dental hygienists’ work environments to help them be more effective and efficient, while minimizing the risk of injury. New technology has entered the dental operatory that may provide…

Asthma ordinarily begins in childhood/adolescence, and—once established—the ongoing inflammatory process leads to underdevelopment of the lungs, further impeding their function. More than 6 million United States children under the age of 18…

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) injections are used with increasing frequency to treat a variety of medical conditions.

Advances in technology, demand for decreased consumer costs, and lack of access to care for underserved populations have changed the way dental care is delivered.

The management of patients with cancer before, during, and after treatment presents challenges for oral health professionals. Patients usually present with findings that are either directly related to their cancer (such as leukemia-induced…

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a multifactorial disease with etiological factors being enamel hypoplasia, elevated levels of cariogenic bacteria, and the metabolism of fermentable carbohydrates, which produce acid to demineralize teeth.

When envisioning the future of the dental therapy profession, all of its moving parts need to be considered. Significant changes to the United States’ dental health care delivery system are on the horizon.

Many respiratory infections have been linked to the microbial inhabitants of the oral cavity. Dental procedures that use low- and high-speed handpieces, laser or electrosurgery units, ultrasonic scalers, air polishers, prophy angles, hand…