Dimensions Articles

By Karla Lugo, RDH, BSDH, Isabella Trinh, RDH, BSDH, Giavonni Gonzales, RDH, BSDH, Faizan Kabani, PhD, MBA, MHA, RDH, FAADH, Lisa Mallonee, MPH, RDH, RD, LD, Maureen Brown, RDH, MS-HIED According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 66.2% of women in the United States visited the dental office in 2016.1 Additionally, 64.9% of the 72.2 million women ages 15 to...

By Sandra Castellanos, AAS, RDH, BS, MA, CHES Professional dental hygiene practice is no longer defined only by the provision of oral healthcare. The dental hygienist is an educated and licensed primary dental healthcare provider who fills numerous roles.1,2 Education, promotion, and prevention are essential components of the dental hygiene practice as patients’ health cannot be improved if they...

By y Iwonka Eagle, RDH, MS Childhood and adolescent caries continues to be one of the most common chronic diseases, impacting youth around the world.1 In light of the myriad health challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, discussion of caries prevention and management is not front and center. However, educating families and patients about how this disease can be prevented...

By Joan Beleno Sanchez, RDH, BSDH, BAS, Michaela Nguyen, RDH, BSDH, MS Successful nonsurgical periodontal therapy depends on eliminating biofilm and calculus to prevent the progression of periodontal diseases.1 Incomplete removal of these deposits enables biofilm to accumulate, causing inflammation that may lead to the destruction of surrounding tissue and bone. This is especially true for difficult-to-reach tooth surfaces with...

By Shannon C. Thomason, CDA, RDH, MSDH, Jessica Suedbeck, RDH, MSDH, Susan Lynn Tolle, BSDH, MS Workplace musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common cause of limited or lost work time.1 According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, approximately 30% of work-related injuries are attributed to MSDs.2 As dental hygienists are at high risk of MSDs—impacting both career longevity...

By  Rebecca P. Henderson, RDH, MS, Bridget Wright, RDH, MACPR Tooth sensitivity is a common complaint, especially following periodontal debridement, a key component of nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT). Instrumentation during NSPT may inadvertently lead to exposed dentin, open dentinal tubules, and root sensitivity. This article will discuss the diagnosis and treatment of sensitivity following NSPT. * References can be...

By Olivia Morzenti, RDH, BS, CDHC, Leciel Bono, RDH-ER, MS Despite advancements in prevention and health promotion programs, oral diseases and oral health disparities remain significant problems among vulnerable communities in the United States.1,2 Vulnerable populations include low-income individuals, ethnic and racial minorities, children, older adults, people experiencing homelessness, incarcerated individuals, those with disabilities or chronic medical conditions, and socially...

By  Michelle Wood, RDH, MS, JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AFAAOM Since February 2020, United States oral health professionals and patients have been addressing the health implications of SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus that manifests as COVID-19 disease. As of this writing, COVID-19 has infected more than 20 million Americans and killed more than 350,000.1 * References can be found...

By  Anna Matthews, RDH, MS Comprising a large and fast-growing group of medications with diverse therapeutic targets, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have a wide-ranging variety of current and potential therapeutic applications. The first mAb was generated in 1975, and the first mAb muromonab-CD3, a mouse antibody used to prevent kidney transplant rejection, was approved by the United States Food...

By Maria Mirakhmedov, RDh, BSDH, Sarah Laredo, RDH, BSDH, Anh Nguyen, RDH, BSDH, Faizan Kabani, RDH, MHA, MBA, PhD, Lisa Mallonee, RDH, MPH, RD, LD, Maureen Brown, RDH, MS-HIED Oral health professionals recommend many methods, such as toothbrushing, flossing, and mouthrinses, to maintain oral health. Patients who are unable to implement proper oral hygiene care are at higher risk for infections such as...