Landing a Job

Cathy Stewart, RDH, BS, manager for professional education at Philips Oral Healthcare, explains why it’s essential dental hygienists become familiar with dental insurance codes.   There is a special “language” that is required to submit dental insurance claims: The American Dental Association’s (ADA) Current Dental Terminology (CDT)1 system was designed to provide standardized codes and descriptors to report dental...

Danette Ocegueda, RDH, MS, Western Region manager of Professional Education for Philips Oral Healthcare, gives an inside look at the industry side of the profession to help you make the decision whether to make the leap into a corporate position.  Much like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz following the yellow brick road, navigating the job titles for...

Jieun Song, RDH, BA, and Ivianie Exinor, RDH, MPH,  provide a brief overview of the Health Belief Model and explain how they’ve applied the method in their daily practice.  As dental hygienists, we understand the frustration that comes with trying to convince patients to adhere to a flossing regimen. But with a little creativity and a lot of...

Dimensions’ Brand Ambassador Susan Buchenberger, MEd, BSDH, RDH, an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of  Comprehensive Oral Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry, offers ideas on where and how to find a mentor.  In my last post, “Why You Need A Mentor,” I addressed all of the reasons why...

Merri Jones, RDH, MSDH, associate professor in the Department of Dental Hygiene at Eastern Washington University Riverpoint campus in Spokane, and a member of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene’s Peer Review Panel, tells dental hygiene students all they need to know about getting a jumpstart to their career in higher education.  Just as there are many roads to becoming...

Dimensions’ Brand Ambassador Susan Buchenberger, RDH, BSDH, MEd, an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Comprehensive Oral Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry, discusses the importance of mentors and why you should take the time to find one.  You are a recent graduate. You have passed all the board exams and...

Mistakes happen even to the most experienced hygienist, but it’s how you handle errors that matter. Meghan A. McGuinness, RDH, MA, EdD, a professor and third-semester clinical coordinator in the Dental Hygiene Department at State University of New York Broome Community College in Binghamton offers advice on what to do when you make a mistake at work—or in...

Elizabeth C. Kornegay, MS, CDA, RDH, and Roxanne M. Dsouza, MS, RDH—educators at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry—breakdown what new grads should consider before starting their job search.  Beginning a new career as a clinical dental hygienist can be intimidating considering the variety in practice types, differences across potential employers, and no longer being under the oversight of...

Piercings and tattoos are more mainstream these days as tattoos are seen on healthcare workers, teachers, and other working professionals. But can inked skin be a turnoff to hiring managers? Job seekers can take the following steps when deciding whether to conceal tattoos.  Consider the office. Take some time prior to your interview to find out more about...

While most dental hygienists work in private clinical practice, myriad career opportunities exist for those who wish to try something different. Working in industry is one of those options, and it is perfect for clinicians who enjoy educating others. A corporate educator typically instructs oral health professionals on his or her company’s product line and the research supporting...