The Purple Guide: Developing Your Clinical Dental Hygiene Career

Why This Book?.............................................ix
Acknowledgements ..........................................xi
1. Preparing for Your New Career............................1

1. Putting "You" into Words..............................2
2. Where to Work—Location and the Cost of Commuting...12
3. Job Openings-Where to Find Them......................13
4. The Job Interview....................................17
5. Interview Questions to Ask Your Potential Employer...20
   
   

2. Different Types of Dental Offices.......................37

1. Insurance............................................37
2. General Dentistry....................................43
3. Pediatric Dentistry..................................44
4. Periodontists........................................45
5. Cosmetic Dentistry...................................46
6. Prosthodontists......................................47
7. Large Group Practices................................47
   

3. Treatment Planning.....................................51

1. Following the Doctors Orders........................54
2. The Laws of Your State..............................55
3. Communication.......................................56
4. The Dental Hygiene Treatment Plan...................57
5. Codes...............................................61
   

4. Networking............................................65

1. Continuing Education Courses.......................67
2. Role Modeling......................................68
3. Mentoring..........................................71
4. Publications.......................................72
   

5. Purchasing Your Own Equipment ........................75

1. What to Get First..................................77
   

6. The Typical Day.......................................79

1. Updating Health History............................80
2. Antibiotic Prophylaxis-Premed......................83
3. Time Management....................................88
4. Scripts for Presenting Treatment...................90
   

7. Tips and Tricks of the Trade .........................99

1. Tips on Removing Calculus..........................99
2. Tips on Treating Periodontal Disease..............100
3. Tips on Placing Locally Delivered Antibiotics.....106
4. Tips on Caries Protocols..........................106
5. Tips about Placing Sealants.......................107
6. Tips about Saliva.................................108
7. Tips on Denture Care..............................108
8. Tips on Removing Stuck Floss......................109
9. Tips for Ergonomic Practice.......................109
10. Tips for Sensitive Teeth..........................110
11. Tips for Taking X-rays and Avoiding Gagging.......110
12. Tips for Staying on Time..........................112
13. Tips for Working With Children....................113
14. Tips for Relating to Patients.....................114
15. Tips for Working on Ortho Patients................116
16. Tips for Working Latex Free.......................117
17. Tips on Polishing.................................117
18. Tips for Patients with Apthous Ulcers.............117
19. Tips about Patients' Insurance....................118
20. Tips on Becoming a Prima Donna (or: How to get the
    rest of the staff to hate you)....................120
    

8. Feeling Confident.....................................121

1. Selling and Profit for the Dental Practice.........121
2. Dental Office Economics—Commission Wages v.Salary v.Hourly
   ..125
3. Asking for a Raise.................................127
4. Keeping a Positive Attitude........................132
5. Bouncing Checks....................................136
6. Insuring Yourself..................................136
   

9. FAQs...............................................139
Meet the Authors......................................143
Index ................................................145