Last week in our community, discussions ranged from practical advice to humorous experiences. Members shared valuable insights on essential skills that every dental hygienist should develop, sparking a lively exchange of professional experiences and tips. There was also an engaging thread about the history of dental hygiene, reminding us how far the field has come. Light-hearted topics, like funny patient reactions, added a touch of humor to the conversations.
This Week’s Hot Topics
FAQ/Guidelines
Getting familiar with the forum’s rules and guidelines ensures everyone has a smooth experience here. Read more here
Admin Guide: Getting Started
This guide is perfect for newcomers looking to navigate the forum’s features effectively. Read more here
Top Skills Every Dental Hygienist Should Develop
A must-read thread for anyone looking to enhance their professional toolset with practical skills. Read more here
Interesting Facts About Dental Cleaning Tools
Discover some surprising facts about the tools we use every day in our profession. Read more here
History of Dental Hygiene as a Profession
Explore the fascinating journey of dental hygiene from its beginnings to the present day. Read more here
Unusual Dental Conditions You’ve Encountered
Share your experiences and learn from others about rare dental conditions. Read more here
Funny Patient Reactions During Cleanings
A light-hearted thread sharing amusing anecdotes from the chair. Read more here
You Know You’re a Dental Hygienist When…
A fun discussion highlighting the quirks and unique moments of our profession. Read more here
Misheard Instructions from Patients
A humorous look at common misunderstandings between patients and hygienists. Read more here
Dental Conferences and Workshops Worth Attending
Find out which upcoming events could benefit your ongoing professional development. Read more here
Looking forward to seeing more of your contributions and experiences shared in the forum. Have a great week ahead!
When end-of-day remakes pop up, I run a 60‑second checklist with the doc and ping @labteam: snap an occlusion photo with articulating paper marks, a shade‑tab pic under neutral light, and note if they want a specific ISO 22674 alloy type. It’s cut our late-night redos in half; small caveat is it adds a minute, but that beats asking the autoclave to sprint.
I snap one intraoral photo before scaling and one after, then show a quick side‑by‑side — cue the ‘I swear I floss’ laugh and better home‑care buy‑in. Building on @charlotte_jones92’s history angle, it also shows how far our tools have come; just get photo consent or use a hand mirror if cameras make them shy.
I keep a laminated arch template and mark bleeding sites with a dry-erase, then show patients their “red zone” and how to target it, @carl_taylor72. If someone’s anxious or we’re slammed, I skip the visuals and give one clear next step instead.