Dentistry is a people-focused profession, in which good communication skills are essential. Patient care requires effective communication to assess and accurately address a patient’s chief complaint, triage emergencies, establish a common…

Today’s oral health professionals work with a variety of rapidly changing technologies during the delivery of patient care. Understanding how to manage technology in the dental setting requires knowledge and application of infection control…

Administering effective pain management to patients is key to successful dental treatment.

Prescription drug misuse—taking medication originally intended for therapeutic use in a manner other than prescribed—commonly takes the form of opioid, stimulant, and central nervous system depressant misuse. For decades, prescription…

Dental practice acts vary among jurisdictions, as do the scopes of practice. While the dental hygienist may not be able to make a legal diagnosis regarding endodontic disease, he or she can perform endodontic diagnostic testing for review…

The polishing of natural teeth and restorations is integral to the standard prophylaxis performed by dental hygienists. While the factors involved in stain accumulation have changed, patients still desire the clean, smooth feeling provided…

Root coverage surgery is usually used in lieu of restorative cervical bonding of teeth with noncarious cervical lesions and shallow cervical caries. When a tooth needs root coverage and restorative treatment, restorative procedures should…

Smoking is a global and national health problem and is one of the most significant health risks that impacts all age groups. Much research has been conducted on the association between dental caries and smoking. A growing number of studies…

The body requires care and main­tenance to effectively function. Although every body features the same anatomy, an individual’s degree of physical fitness, response to muscular movements, and ability to recover from physical strain and…

Demineralization occurs when mineral ions are compromised and removed from dental enamel. The process progresses due to low pH in the saliva and when the oral environment is deprived of minerals in relation to the tooth’s overall mineral…