2026-01-19 – Weekly Dental Hygienist News : Time-saving tweak for prophy

Last week in the forum, members engaged in vibrant discussions about practical techniques and materials that could streamline their work and improve patient outcomes. A recurring theme was the comparison of various air polishing agents, with clinicians sharing their preferences and experiences. The community also explored the effectiveness of fluoride in different applications, debated the benefits of school sealant programs, and shared time-saving tips for daily procedures. These conversations highlighted the collective effort to enhance dental hygiene practices and patient care.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Erythritol vs glycine in air polishing
This discussion dives into the pros and cons of using erythritol and glycine in air polishing. It’s a must-read if you’re considering switching your polishing routine.

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Fluoride ppm: toothpaste vs varnish
Members are weighing in on the fluoride content in toothpaste compared to varnish—what’s most effective for patients?

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What works at school sealant days
A thread full of tips and strategies for making school sealant days successful and less stressful.

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Which tweak saves 3 minutes per prophy
A practical discussion on small adjustments that can lead to big time savings during prophylaxis appointments.

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Fun stat about sealants
Discover an interesting statistic about sealants that could surprise your colleagues.

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When the intraoral camera judges you
A light-hearted discussion about the quirks and challenges of using intraoral cameras in practice.

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Chairside evidence handouts for perio and caries
Sharing resources for patient education that can be used chairside to explain periodontal and caries risk.

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City vote on fluoridation next week
An important notice about an upcoming vote on water fluoridation that could impact local practices.

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Thin-layer varnish to curb sensitivity
A look at how thin-layer varnishes are being used to manage patient sensitivity effectively.

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Best CE for kiddo behavior guidance
Colleagues are sharing their picks for the best continuing education courses focused on managing child behavior in the dental chair.

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Looking forward to another week of valuable exchanges. Keep sharing your experiences and questions—it truly enriches our collective practice.

I switched to erythritol for maintenance and drop the pressure to about 2.3 bar with strong HVE — biofilm vanishes fast, less splatter than bicarbonate, and it glides like butter. Caveat: I keep glycine for implants and skip powders on inflamed tissue; @MeganRDH’s “finish with fluoride varnish” holds — I apply 5% NaF after air polish for sensitivity.

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I pre-disclose with a cotton swab so I only air polish what lights up; it trims a couple minutes and keeps splatter down. @jmarshall58 I’m with you on lower pressure, but I drop to about 2.0 bar on exposed root surfaces to avoid that zing — then bump back up for enamel. That been your experience too?

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