Continuing Ed

I met a former hygienist who is now in her 80's. She said that the whole time she was practicing hygiene she never took a course to update her skills or knowledge of periodontal disease. She said at the time, it wasn't required. She prided herself on practicing the exact same way for over 30 years. How sad. If this isn't a vote for continuing ed requirements, I don't know what is.



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Amazing

I had this patient who really wanted to whiten her teeth. She did not have the fiances to do in office whitening, or even the home disposable whitening trays. She was very determined. This is something she really wanted to do. As life happens, I did not see her for about two years. When she came in again, her teeth were dazzeling. I could not help but ask her what she used. She said she used a whitening tooth paste every morning and night for about two years, and it worked. She said she was VERY faithful. It too about two months for her to notice a huge difference. I was amazed not only at her dedication, but at her amazing results.

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Third Molars

I don't know about you, but I really have a hard time cleaning the distal of third molars. Even when patients have good hygiene and have room for them, the distal is still tough for them to clean. Power brushes and junior toothbrushes help, but cleaning 3Rd's is a constant battle for the patient as well. They really have to stay focused. I think in all the years I have been practicing, I can count on one hand the patients who I felt did a good job of cleaning the distal of thirds.

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Front Desk

To be front desk personal, I am convinced you have to learn to work with your hands, mouth, and head all at the same time. That is the way it seems with Pam. She is constantly on the phone with patients, looking up information for them, and in general doing a dozen things at once. I heard her handle a patient who was in a tirade because his statement was $1.50 more than he thought he should pay. She kept her cool. Good for her. I don't know about you, but please hand me my scaler.


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What's love got to do with it?

I have this patient named Rodger. He has no front teeth. He is a man about 55 years old. For years I have been telling him to get some front teeth. He can easily afford it. For some reason it just didn't happen. Rodger's 80 year old mother would ask me to talk to Rodger about his missing front teeth. I assured her that I was trying my best.

On one appointment, Rodger came in and ASKED ME about getting his front teeth replaced. I just about fell down on the floor. Rodger said that he now has a girl friend and she has refused to go out with him until he gets some front teeth.
What's love got to do with it? Plenty.


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School Presentation

If you have never gone to a pre-school or an elementary school to do a presentation on brushing teeth, you haven't lived. It is so much fun and you will have so many laughs. Kids are so funny. Keep it short and have them brush their teeth for you. If you can give some give aways great. If not, bring a picture of a large tooth and have them draw a healthy tooth with no sugar bugs and a sick tooth, with lots of sugar bugs. Bring some new crayons if you can. Two or three crayons per child is enough. I don't know what it is about new crayons, but it is a turn on. Try it and let me know how it went.


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Brothers

When I can, I take two or three young children into the treatment room. It is called modeling. I learned it in school. It helps the younger children to be less fearful of the what will happen to them during their appointment time. It works. Sometimes the younger one can't wait to get into the dental chair to get his "turn'.

I had two boys, one five and one three. I started with the five year old. I asked him what his name was and he told me Chris. I asked him what his brother's name was and he told me he didn't know. I was shocked. I guess in the three years his brother has been living, it has never come up. Strange.


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Fred

Every hygienist should have a patient they look forward to seeing every 6 months. For me that is Fred. He is so happy all the time. He is always doing funny things and sharing his experiences with me. He is the kind of person who just lets life happen. I really could learn from him. His hygiene is A1. He is really concerned about his teeth. He sees them as his best asset. It is so much fun to have these happy people on your book. Fred always comes after work, so throughout the day it gives you something to look forward to. Are you that lucky to have a Fred?


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Gold Star on my Forehead

I have a few senior patients who tell me that the strong taste of mint in toothpaste is too strong for them and sometimes it irritates the tissues in their mouth. I actually tasted 5 different kinds of toothpaste and picked one that I thought was very mild in mint flavor. I told them to try that one because I thought the mint flavoring was very mild. Do I deserve a star on my forehead for extra effort or what?

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Tween Patients

I love Tween Patients. They are so fun and impressionable. I just love the way out hair styles, clothes and make-up. This is the best time to use their teen crushes to focus them on good hygiene. I admit, I have no limits. I don't know Justin Bierber, but I will say to my tween patients that I heard Justin Bierber takes great care of his teeth. He loves a beautiful smile. To this they reply, REALLY. Then, they take what I am saying a little more seriously. If it is good for Justin, it is good for them. Who knows maybe he really does love a beautiful smile.

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Be nice to temps

Today we had a temp in our office. She was filling in for a hygienist on vacation. I don't think I realised how difficult temping was. I think if we are employed in the same office daily, we all focus on our routine. Usually we have to learn only one office protocol. Temps need to learn many. Some temps are very organized. They have to be to keep up. Some temps, especially if they are new can be easily overwhelmed.
When we realise that they are there to make our day go smoother, it pays to take a minute to give them whatever help they need.

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My gums bleed when I floss

If just one more patient tells me that their gums bleed when they floss, I am going to walk into the sunset. You would think that with all the hygienists in the country doing patient ed, we would be making some head way in making patient realise that not flossing is what is making their gums bleed. Roll up your sleeves fellow hygienists we have more work to do. We will meet this plaque enemy head on. We have just begun to fight!


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May, September Romance

This is a funny story. I teach part time in the hygiene department at the community college near by. I am a clinical instructor. We had this one student who was 19 who was treating this 76 year old man. He was a heavy calculus patient and he required several appointments. He would bring her flowers from his garden . He would stop by the bakery on his way in and bring her cookies fresh from the oven. He would always come early for his appointments and didn't seem to mind the long appointments or on occasion the long wait for a quad check. We all thought he was so very nice. Then one day he asked for her phone number. Love knows no boundaries.

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Remember the Day

I just had the best day. I was booked all day. All of my patients showed up on time. I am really getting someplace with some of them. My patient ed efforts are paying off. Their BUP scores have gone down. They are actually flossing or using dental aides on a regular basis, and I actually feel like I am doing somebody some good.

This is the type of day I want to remember when the wheels come off, and I feel as though there are no good days left.

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