So You Want to Be a Dental Hygienist

I have always referred to the dental hygiene profession as a hidden gem. Most people don’t truly understand what it means to be a dental hygienist — how special this profession is, not just for those of us who practice it, but for everyone we encounter along the way; whether they are our patients, teammates, or professional colleagues.  When I entered dentistry twenty years ago as a dental assistant with no experience and no family background in healthcare, other than regular visits to my den...
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Camp Hygiene: A Day of Learning, Inspiration, and Connection

We're thrilled to share a continuing education event designed for your entire dental team: Camp Hygiene, hosted by Fortune Management in partnership with Patterson Dental. If you're a dental professional passionate about elevating your practice, mark your calendar for Camp Hygiene on Friday, October 17, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the UCI Research Park in Irvine, California.  Why Attend? Hygiene is the lifeblood of any general dental practice, and Camp Hygiene provides a playbook f...
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“Dental Hygienist Pay Up 20% Since 2020”: What That Really Means for Your Practice

Why This Should Concern Every Dentist and Hygienist Hygienist pay has risen 20% since 2020. That sounds great—until you realize that hygiene collectible production (not projected, not on paper, but truly collectible) must also rise by 20% just to keep pace. If reimbursements and fees haven’t increased by that much—and let’s be honest, they haven’t—then hygiene risks becoming a loss leader rather than a profit center. And if hygiene isn’t profitable, opportunities for growth—for both den...
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