Dental Hygiene: A Great Career

The dental hygienist is an important part of the dental team. Aside from maintaining patients' oral health by cleaning teeth, instructing oral hygiene, and performing periodontal procedures, the dental hygienist can play an important role in educating people about modern dentistry. Teeth whitening, braces and orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, veneers and Lumineers, and Invisalign are all topics that the hygienist can discuss with an interested public. Schools of Dental Hygiene are typically two years, and can involve the awarding of Bachelors' degrees. Salaries for Dental Hygienists can also be quite lucrative, particularly in areas where shortages of hygienists exist. It would be helpful for the dental profession to support the creation of more dental hygienists to help serve the needs of our patients.

Gum Disease and Diabetes

From the American Academy of Periodontology:

People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes....... read more here

LANAP in the Los Angeles Business Journal

The Los Angeles Business Journal is featuring an article about Laser Periodontal Therapy (LANAP) in the June 23, 2008 edition. One of my patients and I was interviewed for the article. It can be found here.

The Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry

The Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry is a nationally recognized lecture and clinical training continuing education (CE) organization dedicated to research, practice and teach advanced laser dentistry therapies. Formed in 1999 by dentists Robert H. Gregg and Delwin McCarthy, the IALD offers both actual and practical live-patient clinical training to dental practitioners in the use of dental lasers, supported with pertinent documentation and content. Today there are over 25 calibrated and standardized Certified Instructors through IALD that teach advanced laser therapies, including LANAP™, or the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure for treatment of periodontal disease. The IALD is both ADA CERP and AGD PACE accredited. For more information see: http://www.theiald.com

Dr Johnson's comments: After 22 years of dental practice, I have never encountered a more dedicated group than the IALD. The educational experience, presentaton of subject matter, and camaraderie is second to none in dentistry. I am proud to be associated with the IALD as a Certified Instructor.

Study Shows Bad Teeth May Increase Heart Disease in Younger Men

Here is a another study showing the correlation between good health, and a healthy mouth. To read more click here

"This is the first study to find a significant association between chronic periodontitis and the risk of coronary heart disease, even after adjusting for important confounding factors," says Thomas Dietrich, MD, DMD, MPH, associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Health Services Research at Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine and one of the studies authors.

LANAP in US News and World Report

This article appeared earlier this year on LANAP, (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) in US News and World Report. Read the article here

LANAP is an alternative to osseous surgery for patients with periodontal disease. It is a patient friendly, minimally invasive procedure using a laser to regenerate the periodontal attachment.

Oral Sedation Dentistry

I found this interesting article from the Wall Street Journal, it gives a good overview of oral sedation dentistry. Read here: http://webreprints.djreprints.com/1735970514909.pdf