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Videos

GUM/RDH Award of Distinction
This award feels very valuable to Shelley Brown. She appreciates that her patients in public health, who sometimes go unnoticed, receive some recognition along with her.
Oct. 14, 2025
Silver Diamine Fluoride Placement INTERPROXIMAL
Have you ever tried to arrest caries by placing SDF interproximally? This video from Hygiene Edge walks you through the technique.
Oct. 10, 2025
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Annie Walters chats with Tom Oechslin about the third step in good oral care: brushing the tongue. Are dental pros overlooking this step too often?
Oct. 9, 2025
GUM/RDH Award of Distinction: Mariann Dryer
Dental hygiene education has been a large part of Marianne Dryer's life, and to be recognized for her contributions feels amazing to her.
Oct. 9, 2025

Patient Care

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probing a dental gum
Clinical attachment level versus clinical attachment loss—what’s the difference? Discover why this distinction is vital for accurate periodontal diagnosis, staging, and treatment...
Oct. 10, 2025
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Hygienists can help protect dental implant longevity.
More than three million dental implants are placed annually. Hygienists can help protect implant longevity with biofilm control, advanced air polishing, and patient-centered care...
Oct. 9, 2025
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Dental hygienists should listen closely to what patients want. Better communication can increase case acceptance.
Most patients don’t reject treatment because of cost—they say no because they don’t feel heard. Patient-centered communication can increase trust and treatment acceptance.
Oct. 9, 2025
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Dental hygienists must use discernment when coding for new products or procedures.
Desiccation therapy enhances nonsurgical periodontal treatment by destroying biofilm and promoting healing. Careful CDT coding is required to accurately document this adjunctive...
Oct. 9, 2025

Ergonomics

Dental hygienists should provide as much care as they can from the 11 to 1 o'clock position.
Twisting into awkward positions during care? Here are ergonomic clock positions that reduce pain, protect your body, and help you practice comfortably for the long haul.
Oct. 21, 2025
hand holding a dental instrument
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect up to 96% of dental hygienists, leading to pain, fatigue, and lost income. Learn how adaptive curette designs reduce pinch force, muscle...
Oct. 8, 2025
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Think about a hands-free device that’s attached to your suction and inserted into the patient's mouth.
Protect your career and health. Hands-free suction devices improve ergonomics, reduce strain, prevent injuries, and extend the careers of dental hygienists.
Sept. 12, 2025
Micro Ergo Elite Loupes from Enova
Sponsored
Join Annie Walters as she discusses these new ergonomic loupes from Enova. They meet the guidelines for keeping your head upright during treatment to prevent MSDs.
Sept. 10, 2025

Infection Control

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HuFriedy Instrument Casettes
Implementing dental instrument cassettes can elevate safety, efficiency, and patient trust. See how one hygienist’s journey shows the lasting impact on workflow and clinical excellence...
Oct. 6, 2025
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Whooping cough is on the rise in the US. Here's what health-care workers can do to prevent and treat it.
Whooping cough cases are rising sharply in the US—making prevention, vaccination, and precautions critical.
Sept. 17, 2025
September is Dental Infection Control Awareness Month.
The Association for Dental Safety launches DICAM 2025 with weekly infection prevention topics, toolkits, and Ask ADS to elevate dental safety for teams and patients.
Aug. 13, 2025
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The more you know about how to keep your ultrasonic cleaner running at its best, the better off your practice will be. Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH, outlines five must-dos to make...
Aug. 11, 2025

Pathology

Maryna Olyak / Shutterstock
Crystal structure of human collagenase-3 (MMP-13)
Collagenases link oral health to systemic disease. Explore how MMP activity drives periodontal destruction, influences cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurological conditions, ...
Oct. 6, 2025
Eikenella corrodens (Ec) if often harmless but can cause trouble when the mucosal barrier is broken, or the host’s immune system is weakened.
Eikenella corrodens is usually a quiet oral resident, but under the right conditions it shifts from harmless commensal to dangerous opportunistic pathogen.
Sept. 11, 2025
Myra Nikitas, RDH, CPHDH, left, and Mary Duquette, BS, RDH, CPHDH, are the founders of Traveling Tooth Fairies.
Traveling Tooth Fairies bring free dental care to New Hampshire schools, helping kids overcome barriers to oral health with preventive treatments and education.
Sept. 3, 2025
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Postbiotics against the pathobionts: A new chapter
As a new frontier in preventive dentistry, postbiotics are poised to become a cornerstone of functional, microbiome-focused oral care. Their safety, stability, and ability to ...
Aug. 18, 2025

Career & Profession

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The dentist ignored this hygienist's recommendations for care and the patient's health suffered.
When a hygienist’s clinical judgment is dismissed and her documentation removed, it sparks serious questions about ethics, legal responsibility, and patient neglect.
Oct. 22, 2025
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Going on a mission trip to provide dental care had a huge impact on this dental hygienist.
A week of serving in the Dominican Republic revealed to this new RDH how volunteering can sharpen clinical skills, deepen empathy, and remind us why we chose this profession.
Oct. 20, 2025
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The struggle to escape from the grip of dentists' oversight is real.
Organized dentistry’s history of undermining credentialed professions reveals systemic failures, hidden risks, and patient harm—raising urgent questions about oversight, accountability...
Oct. 9, 2025
From left: AOD awardees, Shelley Brown, Marianne Dryer, Kandice Swarthout, Letitia Hill, Sarah Hoerler, and Debora Carrier.
Each year, GUM and RDH magazine recognize outstanding dental hygienists who are making a difference in their communities, in education, and in the profession. Read the stories...
Oct. 9, 2025

Learning Resources

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Clean waterlines don’t happen by chance. If you’re guessing instead of testing, it’s time to rethink your protocols. Join our webinar to fix what’s quietly breaking down. Stop...
Sept. 26, 2025
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Sponsored
Don’t wait for a compliance shock—learn how to keep your dental unit waterlines safe and spotless in this free e-book.
Aug. 26, 2025
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Sponsored
 Your hand instruments shape your care—are they helping or holding you back? RDH magazine brings you a practical, evidence-based guide to smarter hand instrumentation...
June 16, 2025
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Download this e-book with exclusive content to help ensure your dental team is following the latest in IC best practices.
Dec. 20, 2024