the DPR Editorial Team

Articles

Taking a look at the articles that generated the most views this year.

The top 5 Modern Hygienist articles of 2018

	With a new year quickly approaching, here at Modern Hygienist, we thought it was a great time to take a look back at 2018.

Trending article: The 5 patients on Santa's naughty list this year

 this year, but these five articles were the ones that garnered the most attention. Our readers were interested in the worst states for dental hygienists, top injection techniques to mater, how to navigate the new periodontal classification system, the top pediatric dental trends, and ergonomics tips and tricks.

	Click through the slides read the most popular Modern Hygienist articles this year.

	The 10 worst states for dental hygienists

	The United States of America covers 3.8 million square miles, and dental hygienists are responsible for caring and educating all 323 million people within those boundaries. Some places are, of course, better locations than others for those hygienists to work. Some pay more, while others have a better professional community. Some are safer, and some really need the skills of qualifi ed dental hygienists. We compiled data from numerous sources to evaluate the states for such metrics as wages, healthcare, finance, crime rates and employment data to get stats on how each state ranks for hygienist employment. Here, we present the 10 worst states for dental hygienists, but that’s not necessarily a pejorative. In a lot of cases, it just means that those skills - and that care - are especially in demand.

	5 injection techniques you need to master

	By Katrina M. Sanders RDH, BSDH, M.Ed, RF

	Anesthesia failure, or the unsuccessful ability to achieve total and profound anesthesia, is a common occurrence in the provision of local anesthesia delivery. The frustrations experienced due to the excessive time, additional techniques and questionable looks from our patients often diminishes our confi dence in the delivery of traditional anesthetic techniques. However, there are several alternative techniques available for the dental provider that utilize minimal anatomical considerations, demonstrate greater success, or simply require easier technique modifi cations. Here are the top five alternative injection techniques you need to review or master for your anesthesia delivery.

	How to navigate the new periodontal classification system

	The proceedings of the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions was published in June 2018 and it’s a revision of a 1999 World Workshop Classifi cation. The new proceedings are a bit of a maze to navigate because they contain multiple case definition papers and consensus reports. The papers and consensus reports are a joint effort by the American Academy of Periodontology and the European Federation of Periodontology. The intent of the workshop was to base classifi cation on strongest scientifi c evidence when available; otherwise, lower levels of evidence and expert opinion were used. The new proceedings may appear confusing, but becoming familiar with them will lead to skillful dental hygiene decision-making. Here’s what you need to know.

	The top 5 pediatric dental trends of 2018

	Let’s face it: Our pediatric patients are simply the best! After all, who doesn’t enjoy switching the TV to catch the end of “Paw Patrol,” listing off polish fl avors like “birthday cake blast” or “gator grape” and talking about the sugar bugs that Mr. Thirsty will help you attack? In my humble opinion, there’s no greater reward than winning the trust of a sassy 4-year-old with a sparkly purse, jelly shoes (those are back, by the way!) and a vocabulary that only includes the word “no.” Despite the joys of working with pediatric patients, they certainly have their challenges. Here’s a refresher on products, techniques and protocols you need to know.

	7 MORE ergonomics tips that can save your career

	It’s no secret that working in a dental offi ce can take a physical toll on your body. From cramped hands and painful wrists from holding dental instruments all day to back pain from leaning over patient after patient in the chair, hygienists feel the physical effects of their career choice almost every day. Practicing proper workplace ergonomics can go a long way toward enjoying a long and healthy career. To make sure you’re well-informed when it comes to ergonomics, we compiled a list of seven ergonomics tips that we feel all dental professionals should read.

	It’s hard to believe that another year is almost over!

 brought you dozens of articles designed to help you lead your practice more efficiently. There were a few articles though that really stood out to you, our readers.

Trending article: 9 ways to increase workflow in 2019

	In 2018, our readers were interested in how to avoid an OSHA inspection, ways to be a better manager, how to make a dental office more green, and more. As we look forward to 2019, let’s take a minute to reflect on everything we learned this past year.

	Click through the slides to read the most popular DPM articles of 2018.

	5 surefire ways to get an OSHA inspection

	Does the mere mention of the name “OSHA” send a shiver down your spine? You’re not alone. OSHA violations can have a detrimental effect on your reputation in the community as well as your bottom line.

	OSHA complaints are typically reported by phone or online directly to OSHA and can be made by current employees, former employees or someone outside of the practice. Once a complaint has been made, it’s OSHA’s responsibility to follow up.

	Despite your best efforts, OSHA complaints may still be reported, resulting in violations and various penalties. For that reason, it’s a good idea to stay up to date on best practices and evaluate the systems and processes within your practice. Here are five areas where you could go wrong when trying to avoid an OSHA inspection.

	There’s a lot you can’t control in your practice. You can’t make customers walk in the door, you can’t keep your data absolutely safe, you can’t make everyone in your office the perfect employee. You can’t do any of these things, but you can set up policies that help to influence them. You can create a great marketing plan to help advertise your practice, and you can invest in the latest tech to keep your data as safe as possible. With employees, it’s the same thing. Invest in training that will help you to be a better manager. Make your work environment the best it can be. Pay attention to how you and employees interact.

	It’s easier said than done though, so here are five tips to help you better manage what could be your dental practice’s greatest asset: employees. From front office staff to hygenists, a wellperforming staff is vital. Do you have the tools to make that happen?

	4 ways to make your office more green - and more profitable

	Going green isn’t anything new. You’ve definitely heard about, and maybe even thought about, how you can make your dental practice more green - maybe you’ve even already done it.

	There’s no better time than now to re-evaluate just what going green could mean for your practice and how you can do it. For many, however, the anticipated costs and problems associated with making their offices more environmentally friendly are just too much. Won’t installing all of these energy-saving devices cost a lot of money? Won’t my patients and employees be annoyed with low-flow toilets? Disposable plastic tools are way more convenient than reusable ones!

	All of these are valid concerns, and no one should pretend that going green isn’t going to take some extra work. But if you’re committed to lowering your environmental footprint, it’s worth it. And if that doesn’t convince you, then maybe this will: Going green can also save you a lot of, well, green.

	These four tips show that, while it might take some extra work or some time to get used to, making your offi ce more environmentally friendly might just be the best thing you can do for the earth and for your practice’s budget.

	The business of dentistry, like so many industries, is different than it was 20 or 30 years ago. That change can be chalked up to such infl uences as the economy, technology and our culture. Dental service organizations (DSOs) are becoming much more prevalent and, given the current climate, may overtake solo practices in the coming years.

	So, it begs the question: Is the solo practice dead?

	The short answer is “It depends.” But what exactly does that mean for the future of your practice? Does one size really fit all?

	3 reasons dental membership plans will save your practice

	One of the most important trends to emerge in dental offi ce management over the past few years has been dental membership plans. The concept isn’t new, but the impact on the operation and financial performance of a practice can be tremendous.

	More and more practices are embracing dental membership plans for a multitude of expected and unexpected reasons. Simplicity and a pent-up demand from uninsured patients are just two of the reasons why practices are converting to a subscription-based dentistry model. Why? The subscription-based economy is hot and it’s impacting consumers and businesses at all levels of the American economy.

	Dental membership plans enable dental practices to take back control and tilt the fi nancial playing fi eld in favor of the very people most invested in delivering quality dental care. That’s you and your staff! To understand the transformational benefi ts of a dental membership plan, consider these three broad categories of financial impact.

The most-read practice management articles from the last year.

The top 5 Dental Practice Management articles of 2018

Showcasing this year's winning products and the impact they're making on the industry.

Introducing the 2018 Cellerant ‘Best of Class’ Technology Award winners

	Each year, a team of dental experts meets to determine that year’s winners of the Cellerant Best of Class Technology Award. Every member who votes carefully considers each product, weighing its pros and cons as well as its usefulness for both the clinician and the patient. The final list of winners includes products that truly blew away the voting panel and are changing the way the dental industry operates and provides care.

Trending article: The state of dental technology in 2018

	Over the next few pages, discover the 2018 award-winning products. Take a look at this year’s winners and get familiar with these products that are transforming the industry. You can also see the winning products in-person at the 

	Click through the slides to see the award-winning products.

• The NextDent™ 5100 high-speed 3D printer is said to address the broadest range of indications.
	• The printer reportedly redefines the dental workflow for improved accuracy (within 50 μm), repeatability and productivity with lower total cost of operation.
	• New Best of Class winner

	• The new 3Shape TRIOS MOVE is said to be the ultimate patient/dentist communication tool.
	• Clinicians can show patients their digital scans and dynamic treatment information close-up and create greater opportunities for treatment dialogue and joint decision-making.
	• The ergonomic and lightweight design is engineered to allow dentists to always position the screen in the right place.
	• Six-time Best of Class winner

	AdDent Calset Composite Warmer and CoMax Composite Dispenser

• The Calset warmer is designed to increase composite flowability, improve polymerization and decrease stress, providing a better restoration.
	• The CoMax dispener is engineered to minimize dispensing force needed with heavily filled composite.
	• New Best of Class winner

	• Built directly into the dental unit, the iOptima INT system can be controlled either using an iPod touch or an iPad mini.
	• The electric system is said to enable clinicians to perform all of their dental operations from endodontics (including WaveOne

) to restoration to oral surgery to implantology and scaling.
	• Five-time Best of Class winner

• Thanks to the reduced size of its head, the TORNADOS is said to offer improved visibility.
	• Particularly useful for precision work, the small size reportedly offers big benefits by increasing both accessibility and patient comfort.
	• The handpiece utilizes Bien-Air’s SteadyTorque technology, resulting in power output that’s said to be exceptional.
	• Two-time Best of Class winner

	• DDS Rescue features a complete HIPAA Security Program designed to help dental offices become HIPAA compliant.
	• DDS Rescue is currently offering a free HIPAA Security Assessment to every dentist.
	• Five-time Best of Class winner

• Dentrix, from Henry Schein One, is said to provide award-winning clinical tools and connected revenue, marketing and patient engagement solutions to improve the patient experience and grow profits.
	• New Best of Class winner

	• FS Ergo reportedly combines newly developed flexible sensor technology with a soft housing to “give” as X-rays are captured.
	• The sensor is said to provide unparallelled patient comfort.
	• New Best of Class winner

• DEXvoice, developed by DEXIS and Simplifeye, is a voice-activated system that uses Amazon Alexa-enabled devices to provide hands-free image capture and viewing within DEXIS imaging software.
	• Emerging award winner

	• The new LUM G2 is said to provide instant caries visualization and documentation.
	• The tool features unique light positioning, with the light traveling perpendicular through the tooth, resulting in near X-ray-like images.
	• New Best of Class winner

 3D Fusion™ Sectional Matrix is engineered to successfully complete a wider variety of Class II composite restorations.
	• The matrix is indicated for use in posterior Class II MO/DO, MOD and wide preparation restorations.
	• New Best of Class winner

	Garrison Dental Solutions
	888-437-0032 |  

	• MMG ChairFill is a marketing software that’s designed to automatically fill schedules with the right kind of patients at the right time.
	• It’s engineered to monitor open chair time and search existing patient records 24/7, proactively selecting, contacting and appointing the right patients without interaction from staff.
	• Three-time Best of Class winner

• The EyeZoom is reportedly the first and only adjustable magnification loupe, offering three magnification levels ranging from 3x to 5x.
	• Developed to help healthcare professionals view an operating site from multiple perspectives, the loupe is designed to conform to each user’s individual preference.
	• The lightweight magnesium bezel is said to deliver comfort and an esthetically pleasing design.
	• New Best of Class winner

	• The Spark is a self-contained cordless headlight that’s designed to integrate with virtually any loupe or eyewear frame style.
	• Featuring an innovative, patent-pending design, the Spark is engineered to dispense weight evenly across the bridge of the frame, minimizing concentrated nasal pressure.
	• The beam of light is designed to create a uniform round spot, providing enhanced visibility.
	• Three-time Best of Class winner

•The EyeSpecial C-III digital dental camera is designed exclusively for dentistry.
	• The camera is said to feature an ultra-lightweight body, eight shooting modes, auto-cropping functionality, smart focus and zoom.
	• Four-time Best of Class winner

	Shofu Dental Corporation
	800-827-4638  |  

	• Amplify is a service that’s designed to make dental practice websites interactive by converting website visitors into new patients and making patients more likely to engage with the practice.
	• Emerging award winner

	Ultradent Gemini™ 810 & 980 Diode Laser

	The saying “In one ear and out the other” is quite applicable to dentistry. While your patients usually know what’s best for their oral health, they’re often not willing to listen to or practice the advice given to them.

Your hygienists are often the ones delivering this advice and information to your patients. Since hygienists spend a large amount of one-on-one time with patients, it’s no surprise that there are many things they wish they could tell them.

Read more: 7 reasons to respect a hygienist

 to find out five things hygienists wish their patients knew. Their answers ran the gamut from common misconceptions about clinical hygiene to oral health tips.

	Click through the slides to find out what they had to say!

For years, hygienists have gotten a bad rep for nagging about 

. While flossing is one type of interdental cleaning device, there are so many options on the market.

Trending article: What dentists need to know about the opioid epidemic

	Many hygienists are willing to talk to you about your goals and find the products that are right for YOU. That may include water flossing, rubber bristle brushes, rubber tips, traditional floss and more. Products change often and we'd love to help you understand them all.

What I want every patient to know is truly how much we care. We became health professionals because we wanted to make an impact in our patients' lives and to bring them health and well-being.

Read more: 5 hygiene topics that spark debate

	Working as an oral health care professional gives us that opportunity. That's the reason why we provide them with the instructions that we do. All of the education we received was all for their benefit. When we talk to them about services and products, it's all so that they can have the most optimum and healthy life that they deserve.

 providing care for those in need, doing triage work, being an advocate for patients and going out of their way to assure the patient's needs are truly met.
	
	

 found that never brushing at night raised mortality risk by 25 percent versus nightly brushing.

Related reading: Study shows toothpaste alone doesn't protect enamel

	Since your mouth produces less saliva to wash your teeth and gums when you’re sleeping, it’s particularly crucial to floss and 

 thoroughly before bed. We recommend using a sonic toothbrush for best results.
	 

	4. Each appointment is a unique patient experience

Your dental hygienist considers each dental appointment a unique patient experience.  We want you to feel comfortable in the chair, we want you to be involved in your dental needs and we want you to have an enjoyable experience. 

Read more from Katrina: A day in the life of a hygienist

	When you run late to your appointment, this limits the time we have to actively address the inflammation or disease in your mouth. While the front desk may allude to it being perfectly okay to still see you today, it means we have to modify our care experience and potentially run late for the patients scheduled after you. 

	We absolutely want you to be comfortable during your patient experience, but please remember that we spend entire days hunched over patients, and we don’t tip you back in the chair simply to empty the change from your pockets, but rather because it helps to reduce 

	5. Hygienists are licensed healthcare providers

I want my adult patients to know that dental hygienists are licensed healthcare providers. It bothers me that in some dental practices, hygienists are referred to as team members and here’s why. Dentists are sometimes distinguished as “doctors” in these team practices and some practice management consultants lump the rest of us together as part of a “team” with the “doctor” at the helm. Even in the Deep South where I live, I’ve heard hygienists referred to as one of the “girls.” This old school and unprofessional thinking used to apply to the cottage industry when a single dentist owned the dental practice. Dentistry has since evolved from a cottage industry to an integral part of the healthcare system. These changes include a major shift in the mix and number of dental care providers, including dental hygienists. 

 have successfully penetrated the market as have dental firms with 20 or more employees. The stereotypes of the omnipotent dentist as “doctor” and the subservient dental hygienist as a “team player” has ended, and we are obligated to work together synergistically.

Read more from Lynne: Making a case for powered toothbrushes

	Sometimes I discover that patients and staff refer to dental hygienists as the person who “cleans teeth,”  not the cleaning lady (which would be even more demeaning). It’s an image I correct immediately. In talking to a hygienist/friend tonight on the phone, she was telling me about a patient who asked her if she was going to brush his teeth after she had finished air polishing. She immediately educated him about the air polishing procedure and the patient was satisfied. Often, hygienists drive this image and it’s important that our patients know a lot about our educational background as to distinguish us from being someone who brushes teeth. When I used to teach, the message I kept repeating to my students was that there are two types of hygienists: technicians and professionals. Technicians are more interested in a paycheck and getting through the day than they are in continuing the specialized knowledge and intensive academic preparation that’s required of true professionals.
	
	

5 things hygienists wish patients knew

Hygienists share what they wish they could tell their patients during an appointment.


Scrubs are a great way to showcase your personality - and maybe even get your patients to smile while they're at the dentist.

20 scrub tops your patients will love

	Are you bored with wearing scrubs to the office every day? Is your closet a sea of white, black and navy scrub tops?

While wearing scrubs every day can be monotonous, it can also be a great way to express your personality and individuality. Have a favorite cartoon? There's a scrub top for that. Want to show support for your hometown sports team? There's a scrub top for that too. Do you want to coordinate your outfit with the season? You guessed it - there's a scrub top for that!

Trending article: A day in the life of a dental hygienist

	In addition to showcasing your personality, fun scrub tops are sure to delight your patients (especially your pediatric ones) and can make laying back in the dental chair a little less scary.

	We scoured the internet to find 20 scrub tops that you - and your patients - are sure to love.

	Click through the slides to check them out!

	Now that summer has unofficially started, the Fourth of July is right around the corner. Show off your patriotic spirit on July 4 - or all year - with this red, white and blue scrub top.

	Your patients won't help but be able to smile when they see this Finding Dory-inspired scrub top.

	Raise your hand if you've lost track of the number of times a day you remind your patients to brush and floss their teeth. One more reminder with this shirt can't hurt, right?

	Sometimes a dental office can feel like being at Disney World: the complaining, the whining, the queues of adults and kids waiting in line ... you get the picture. Channel the nicer - and less chaotic! - side of Disney with this Mickey and Minnie Mouse scrub top.

	Most kids are intrigued by the legend of the tooth fairy (while others are just happy to get a little extra cash under their pillows). Enchant your younger patients with your own tales of the tooth fairy while sporting this top and their dental cleaning will be over before they know it!

	We've all heard of Dia de los Muertos, but check out this Dia de los Gatos scrub top! Showcase your love for all things spooky this fall with these scrubs.

	Do you sometimes feel like your dental office is one big Mad Tea Party? If so, then this Alice in Wonderland scrub top is a perfect choice!

	Share the love with this vibrant patterned heart scrub top. These scrubs are perfect for Valentine's Day, Sweetest Day or any day you're feeling extra lovey dovey.

	Do you consider yourself a Potterhead? Do you argue with your friends over which Hogwarts House is supreme? If this sounds familiar, then check out this Harry Potter-inspired scrub top.

	Disney·Pixar is (finally) releasing Incredibles 2 this summer. Can't wait for the film to hit the big screen? Get in on the action with this colorful top.   

	Would you rather be feasting on roasted turkey and mashed potatoes instead of feasting your eyes on the layers of plaque on your patients' teeth? This Thanksgiving-inspired scrub top will remind you of feasts yet to come and also serve as a reminder to be grateful - even if you're currently dealing with your fifth patient today who doesn't understand the concept of floss!

	Spread the peace and love with this '60s-inspired scrub top. This funky shirt is a great way to channel your inner flower child at the office.

	Everyone needs at least one monogrammed piece of clothing in their closet. This personalized scrub jacket will show off your individuality - and keep you warm!

	Do you spend your summer days at the office wishing you were at the beach or cruising around town in a convertible? Bring a little bit of summer into the office with this patterned aviator top.

	Can you just not get enough of that holiday spirit? Do your coworkers catch you singing Christmas carols at the office in July? If so, then this Fa La La Llama scrub top was made for you!