It’s A Tale of Two Hygienists’ monthly student roundtable episode, which means Andrew and Michelle have invited a roster of guests to educate student listeners on a chosen topic. They’re kicking off September—which is also Dental Infection Control Awareness Month—by speaking to two instructors of dental hygiene students about how they are preparing for a new year of dental hygiene programs amidst COVID-19.
Emily Boge, RDH, is the dental administrative chair at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa, and also serves as the program chairs for dental assisting and dental hygiene. Jessica Atkinson is an assistant professor in dental hygiene at Dixie State University in St. George, Utah; she is also the COO of Hygiene Edge, which sells a wide variety of products and guides.
In this episode, Emily and Jessica discuss how the pandemic has forced hygiene programs to update their curriculum, explain how you can advocate for yourself in an unsafe practice, and impress the importance of calling in sick these days.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
Interview starts: 3:40
– Emily and Jessica explain how their respective hygiene programs have been grappling with and accommodating for the pandemic.
– What changes because of COVID can hygiene students expect for the upcoming year?
– How this current moment will change—and currently is changing—dental attitudes toward airborne pathogens.
– Why it may have required a pandemic for dental professionals to get their act together regarding PPE.
– The guests’ advice for how graduates can deal with a practice that isn’t safely abiding by infection control standards.
– On the vital importance of calling in sick when you need to, as well as the grey areas where you’re not sure if you’re “sick” by the strictest definition.
QUOTES:
“Sometimes we do the absolute best we can for patients as long as we’re staying in compliance.”
“The little things that you don’t think are going to be making a big difference, do.”
“It’s been a really great opportunity to see our strengths being used for the benefit of the students and for the public that we serve.”
“What can you do now to make your situation better than it was yesterday?”
“We are working everyday to make your experience better than the experience you had yesterday.”
LINKS:
Emily’s email: emily@thinkbigdental.com
Hygiene Edge – http://www.hygieneedge.com/
Hygiene Edge on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/hygieneedge
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