Contents

Ensure Career Longevity With Eye Health

As dental hygienists rely on their visual acuity to effectively treat patients, promoting eye health is important. By Kimberly Lintag-Nguyen, EdD, MSDH, RDH, Tracee Dahm, BSDH, MS, RDH

Extend Your Reach During Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy

Focusing on deep periodontal pocket topography can aid dental hygienists in selecting appropriate hand instruments and providing effective treatment. By Kathleen O. Hodges, RDH, MS

Improving Oral Health One Tea at a Time

The extracts contained within green, black, and oolong teas provide significant oral health benefits. By Xinyun A. Zhao, RDH, BSDH, Jana Kay Mannen, RDH, MSDH, Giang Nguyen, BSDH, RDH

Recognize the Manifestations of Autoimmune Diseases

Oral health professionals can play a vital role in ensuring patients demonstrating signs or risk factors for these serious conditions get an appropriate referral. By Denise Kissell, BSDH, EFDA, MPH

Role of Antimicrobial Peptides in the Fight Against Infection

This class of therapeutics may offer an effective treatment for oral infections, such as dental caries, periodontal diseases, oral mucosal diseases, and oral cancer. By Annette Huynh, RDH, BS, Olga Gnatovych, RDH, MEd, Dianne L. Sefo, MEd, RDH

Oral Health Consequences of Khat Use

Cultural competency training will help oral health professionals provide appropriate care and referrals when treating patients who use khat. By Tamadur Mahmoud Falah, MSDH, Tara L. Newcomb, RDH, MS, Amber W. Hunt, BSDH, MS, RDH, Abdullah Al-Taiar, MD, DC, MSC, PhD

It’s Time to Imagine License Portability

License portability is a key issue in dental hygiene. I have personally experienced the challenges associated with moving from one state to another as have many of my colleagues. By Jill Rethman, RDH, BA

Create an Instrument Processing Protocol

What sterilization protocol do you suggest to ensure our instruments are truly sterilized but will be simple for all dental team members to follow? By Kandis V. Garland, RDH, MS

Maximize the Effectiveness of Your Surface Disinfection Strategy

Kerr TotalCare’s CaviWipes 2.0 offer high material compatibility, efficacy against a broad spectrum of pathogens, and ease of use. By The Editors

Optimize Patient Outcomes With Simplified Aligner Care

EverSmile WhiteFoam, AlignerFresh, and OrthoChews increase compliance while eliminating bacteria. By The Editors

October 2021 Digital Agenda

Digital Agenda covers all that’s happening under Dimensions’ social media platforms. By The Editors

Low Rates of Fluoride Varnish Use Found Among Pediatric Practitioners

A University of Massachusetts Amherst study has determined that fewer than 5% of well-child visits for children ages 1 to 5 included the application of fluoride varnish to prevent caries. By The Editors

October 2021 Social Commentary

Like Dimensions of Dental Hygiene’s Facebook page to share your thoughts on posted questions. By The Editors

Spotlight on Clinicians: A Passion for Healing

One day while doing a preliminary oral tissue exam, I felt a lump the size of a lima bean underneath a patient’s tongue. By Debra Zafiropoulos, EFDA, RDH, BA

ODU Dental Hygiene Professors Receive Accolades

Two professors at the Old Dominion University (ODU) Gene W. Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene in Norfolk, Virginia, recently received awards. By The Editors

NC Educator Leaves Academia to Work on Access-to-Care Issues

Crystal Adams, MA, CDA, RDH, former director of the Dental Hygiene Program at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, North Carolina, has left academia to become the associate director of the North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative. By The Editors