Shining a light on dental hygiene instrumentation

June is such a lovely month. Summer is beginning, the days are longer, and sunshine makes everything lighter and clearer. 

Dave and I are especially excited because this month we're shining that June sunshine on something dental hygienists do every day: instrumentation. And we're gonna shine that light from every angle. (See what I did there? 😄)

Whether you're scaling around a single implant, navigating a full-arch fixed prosthesis, refining your hand instrumentation skills, or reaching for your ultrasonic insert, piezo, or magnetostrictive (BOTH solid options, no judgment here!) these conversations are about the tools, techniques, and science that help us provide better care for our patients.

We'll start with  "Implant instrumentation: Preserving the mplant while treating the patient, from single implants to full-arch fixed prostheses" with implant professional Alison Stahl. As implant technology continues to evolve, so does the complexity of maintaining these restorations.

We'll discuss instrumentation strategies, clinical decision-making, and how to balance effective biofilm disruption while protecting implant surfaces and prosthetic components. Implants are not teeth, and we need that reality to inform the way we think about how we instrument them.

Next, we're revisiting one of the foundational skills of our profession with "The art of the stroke: Hand instrumentation in dental hygiene" featuring Emily Boge, inventor, clinician, educator, and passionate advocate for instrumentation excellence. Great instrumentation is a combination of angulation, adaptation, activation, and accountability. Good instrumentation is dependent on the clinician behind the instrument, and we are here to support you. We'll explore technique, tactile sensitivity, ergonomics, and why hand instrumentation remains an essential skill in modern dental hygiene practice.

Then we have a series of episodes featuring people many of you know as the unofficial ambassadors of ultrasonics, the dynamic duo, the lovebirds of ultrasonics, Mr. and Mrs. Ultrasonic themselves: Noel and Rich Paschke.

In "The origin story: Mr. & Mrs. Ultrasonics—how the Paschkes changed the way we scale," (airing June 17) we'll hear the remarkable story behind their decades-long commitment to education, innovation, and helping clinicians understand the power of ultrasonic instrumentation. But this episode is about more than ultrasonics. It's about partnership, purpose, and not just the power of ultrasonics but the power of love. Together, Noel and Rich have influenced generations of clinicians while building a life centered on curiosity, education, and service. Their story is one I truly enjoy, and I think you will too.

We'll keep the conversation with the Paschkes going with "How ultrasonics actually work: Amplitude, frequency, and cleaning efficiency," (airing 6/24) where we move beyond the buzzwords and into the science. If you've ever wondered why certain inserts perform differently, how power settings influence treatment, or what really creates effective biofilm disruption, this episode is for you. Understanding the science behind our instruments matters. It helps us make better clinical decisions, improve outcomes, and use our technology to its fullest potential. This conversation is packed with practical insights that every clinician can apply.

Finally, we're excited to partner with Parkell for a chat focused on DuraTip technology, powered by the Paschke partnership: "Using ultrasonics well: Efficiency, ergonomics, and patient comfort" (airing 6/27). We'll discuss practical clinical applications, ways to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality, and how instrumentation choices impact both patient experience and clinician longevity. Because at the end of the day, the best instrument is you, and the tools that help us provide exceptional care while preserving our bodies and careers along the way.

And because June is all about bringing things into the light, we'd be remiss if we didn't point you toward a few past episodes that continue the instrumentation conversation.

In Episode 454, "Instrumentation for the everyday RDH" with Whitney Howerton, we discussed how to simplify your instrument selection, build efficient instrument setups, and avoid becoming overwhelmed by the seemingly endless number of options available today.

Because no matter how long we've been practicing, there's always something new to learn about the instruments we use every day.

As always, thank you for listening, learning, and growing alongside us. We never take for granted that you spend part of your day with us. Whether you're driving to work, seeing patients, teaching students, or catching up on episodes during a walk in the June sunshine, we're grateful you're part of this community.

—Jessica Atkinson, A Tale of Two Hygienists cohost