So You Want to Be a Dental Hygienist

Posted on October 24, 2025October 16, 2025 by Lisa Nitkowski, RDH

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...

Camp Hygiene: A Day of Learning, Inspiration, and Connection

Posted on October 3, 2025October 3, 2025 by Julia Dent, RDH

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...

Dental Hygiene: Looking Beyond

Posted on November 4, 2022November 2, 2022 by Barbara Tritz RDH

Dental health has never been more important. We know the mouth plays a critical role in systemic health. It is a bellwether for what is really happening deep within the body. The mouth is the proverbial “canary in the coal mine.” The infections we see clinically are symptoms of bigger problems, and vice versa; inflammation in the mouth affects the entire body. We know: 50% of the US population has some level of gum disease.1 Dementia affects 55 million people worldwide, and this n...

Are you tired of the “Are you flossing?” song and dance? Find the Root Cause Instead: An Interview with Angie Bays

Posted on October 20, 2017May 19, 2021 by Angie Bays, RDH

Dr. McGlennen: What are the biggest benefits to using salivary diagnostics? Angie RDH: The biggest benefit with offering MyPerioPath® is it gives the clinician another platform for educating the patient. I know patients are fed up of hearing about brushing and flossing, just as much as hygienists are weary of saying it. Don’t get me wrong brushing and flossing are important but OralDNA® takes care to another level. We can now show the patient the root cause of the infection, maybe even ti...

Saving Patient’s Time and Money: An Interview with Lori Appehans

Posted on October 6, 2017May 19, 2021 by Lori Appelhans, RDH

In many, if not most dental offices, the dental hygienists are the engine that makes the practice go. Clinicians like Lori Appehans are providing optimal treatment by choosing to utilize salivary diagnostic technology. It is my sincere hope that her patients understand how well they are being taken care of. It was certainly my pleasure to discuss the impact of salivary testing with Lori. Dr. Nagelberg: Tell me why you started to use OralDNA salivary diagnostics. Lori, RDH: We were frus...