Director's recap: The following submission is in response to the September RDH eVillage article: "Ten Bad Habits To Break as a Dental Hygienist" by Maggie Vivoda, RDH rdh.pennnet.com.
Dear RDH eVillage:
Hmmm. #8 cannot be held as a hard and fast rule. If the patient is stuck in a traffic jam because of an accident on the freeway that occurs as he is traveling to the appointment, how do you turn him away graciously? It is certainly not the patient's fault in instances like this, and it would be foolish not to acknowledge a valiant effort to make it to the appointment despite such obstacles. You might not be able to complete the service, but that should be mentioned before the appointment begins. An apology for this at the beginning of the appointment would be appropriate. But to refuse to see him? I think not.
L. Cusenza, RDH
Director's recap: This zealous response relates to the September issue's Unique ePerspective question. What interdental devices can be "mentioned in the same breath" as flossing?
Dear RDH eVillage:
Although I don't know where the research regarding this is, I attended a CE course here in Seattle at least 20 years ago where the speaker claimed that a study showed that using Stimudents were as effective as flossing.
Since that time, I have been encouraging clients who floss effectively to continue, but I teach others who do not to use Stimudents. They have great success at getting gums much healthier and stopping the formation of subgingival calculus.
One of the arguments that I have heard from hygienist friends is that they find subgingival calculus after the person has been flossing. I don't, and I think the problem may be with showing the client how to use them correctly and informing them that the goal is not food removal, (although they also do that), but to stimulate the interdental papillae to increase blood flow to that area, and bring healing agents in to keep the gums healthy.The other use is to remove supragingival plaque before it can travel subgingivally.
The second argument is that Stimudent use blunts the papillae. I just point out that, as the tissue gets healthier, it conforms to the height of the bone, which was already at a lower level. Most of my clients maintain the pointed shape of their gingivae after years of Stimudent use.
I show all my clients how to properly use dental floss first, and then show them how to use the Stimudents, pointing out that, though the technique is different, the result will be the same. So many of them are delighted to hear that there is an effective alternative to flossing, and are compliant because it is so easy and their results are great.
If I had my own practice, I would recommend Stimudent use over the use of floss for all my clients. Thanks for a chance to sound off on my favorite home-care product.
Sandi McQuirk-Linus, RDH, BA
Director's recap: This tongue-in-cheek response was sent in because of the study that was cited in response to the questions.
Dear RDH eVillage:
Am I missing something? Since when is the facial considered an interdental surface? Talk to me about devices that are as effective on the mesial and distal please. I don't know of anyone who can effectively floss a facial or a lingual.
Sherri Collis, RDH, COA
Director's recap: The subsequent reply and follow-up question originated from the September's Unique ePersepctive question: "What are the pay rates in Buffalo, N.Y.?"
Dear RDH eVillage:
After reading your information on the salaries in the Buffalo area and the many benefits mentioned, how many of RDH's receive such benefits?
Joyce Jones
Dianne Glasscoe, RDH, was gracious enough to respond:
Hi Joyce
I have no way of knowing benefits for specific areas, but the salary and benefits guide that RDH publishes each year can give you an idea. (The latest survey was in the Aug. 2005 issue, with results to be in the January 2006 issue.) Across the country, I find many different benefit packages. Seems to me that a lot depends on the size of the practice. The larger (group) practices often offer more in the way of benefits. However, the trend in business in general over the past five to eight years has been to cut benefits in an effort to hold overhead costs down.
Dianne Glasscoe
But a final word from Justine Fausak: When I left Buffalo, in January 2004, I was making $23 an hour.
