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Ho Ho Hop: Why Correlation is Not My Strong Suite

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I read “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” the summer before second grade. I’ve always been ahead of my time. This was how I learned that either Santa wasn’t real or Judy Blume was fooling generations of children. I didn’t want to believe either thing, but in the end, it was easier to swallow the Santa-shaped pill. I confronted my parents. “Is Santa real?” My mother didn’t say a word, only looked at my father, whose face showed signs of both heartbreak and resolve. He had known this would be coming; he just wasn’t prepared for the conversation in the middle of June. “Why do you ask, Panders?” “I’m reading a book, and there’s a part about how Santa isn’t real.” “What the hell kind of books are you letting her read?” He is addressing my mother. “It’s Judy Blume, Daddy!” He is unmoved by my proclamation. Daddy was probably too busy reading “Animal Farm” at my age to know anything about Judy Blume. “You taught her to read early, and now she reads above her grade level.” My mother gives him t...
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Do Lead Aprons Still Have a Place in the Dental Office?

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In September, I read a position statement from the ADA regarding the discontinuation of lead apron use. I scanned the article, thought it far-fetched, and went on my way. A couple weeks later, I was preparing to take X-rays on my patient, a radiology tech. As I reached for the lead apron, she stopped me, saying, “I don’t want it.” I turned back towards her, only mildly confused. She continued, “I’m an X-ray tech, and we no longer use lead aprons because they cause more harm than good.” Remembering the statement from the ADA, I replied enthusiastically that I was just learning how lead aprons might be a thing of the past. She told me that at least two hospital systems in our area had completely done away with lead aprons - even for pregnant women. While walking the dogs with my husband that night, I asked if he could find out if they were still using them at the hospital where he works. His response was flippant: “Won’t the answer obviously be ‘yes?’” I rolled my eyes as I told him that...
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Burnout Among Dental Professionals: Causes, Implications, and Solutions

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Burnout, by definition, is “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.” Sound familiar? If you’re a dental professional, it likely does. We know the harsh realities of burnout all too well. Statistically, healthcare professionals suffer more from occupational burnout than in other industries. Why is that? We’ll get there if you don’t already know. While we’re at it, we’ll talk about the symptoms of burnout, the implications of burnout on your dental practice, and what you can do to help prevent burnout for yourself and your team. If you are one of the lucky dental professionals who have never experienced burnout nor seen what it looks like on your staff or coworkers, you may ask, “How big of a deal is this?” According to a Deloitte survey of 1,000 full-time US professionals, 77 percent of participants reported experiencing burnout in their current position at least once. More than half of those participants reporte...
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It's me, hi, I'm the hygienist, it's me

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As the blog implies, I am an RDH (Registered Dental Hygienist) and a genius (in my own mind). But I'm also a human, which may be difficult for some to believe, given the first statement. But it's true; most of us working in a general dental practice are human. The verdict is still out on prosthodontists. If you are not a dental professional and are joining us today, WELCOME!!! This blog is for you. Yes, it's for them, too - the joke about prosthodontists probably gave that away.  But don't give up on me yet because I like writing about more than just teeth. I’m writing for People Who Appreciate Humor and I’m writing for Dental Professionals. The crossover between the two is where I find My People, and where I satisfy my itch for creativity and humor as well as my intense interest in my profession (I’m one lucky nerd!). If I can make the dental folks laugh while engaging with their profession, or the normies start flossing more because suddenly they know too much not to,...
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Location: Erie, CO, USA
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