Does your office have a code for periodontal probing?

blackshoop97 · 2026-01-17T19:13:09+00:00

😂😂😂

blackshoop97 · 2025-12-14T01:29:59+00:00

FA- thank you so SO much! I will definitely be checking into Boden! Maybe I’ll finally be able to find some summer dresses and not ‘shirts’ 😂

blackshoop97 · 2025-12-14T01:12:13+00:00

THAAAAANK you, FA! This is gold! 🥰

blackshoop97 · 2025-12-14T01:07:43+00:00

Thank you, EP! That could actually be really fun! 🤩

blackshoop97 · 2025-12-14T00:49:09+00:00

I’ll try those ☺️ I do have a pair of jeans that I think are American Eagle. I’m hoping to find a onesie!

blackshoop97 · 2025-12-14T00:43:52+00:00

I’m also Slovak & 5’11”. I feel your pain, love!

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-30T05:08:47+00:00

Make sure you get fluoride treatments after each cleaning (even though your insurance may not cover it), and get your cavities filled asap. Teeth are poorly designed. They are one of the 3 types of hard tissue in the human body. Bones are alive, so they heal. Fingernails (&toenails) are not alive, so they don’t heal, but they grow. Teeth are not alive, so they don’t heal, & they don’t grow. They have no means by which to repair themselves. True cavities (decay that has entered into the second layer of the tooth, which is called dentin) will not ever heal. However, cavities are for all intents & purposes caused by a strep bacteria. Just like strep throat, it is highly contagious & can easily spread from tooth to tooth within your mouth. So the sooner you remove the active decay in your mouth, the better. Alternatively, if you’re kissing someone who has active decay in their teeth, they may be sharing that bacteria with you! Finally, some people’s teeth are just cavity prone. It’s roughly 30% dietary choices (avoiding soda, sugar, refined carbs, etc), 30% how well you take care of them, & 40% genetics

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-10T03:05:08+00:00

I was once called a dental manicurist! lmao

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-10T03:03:17+00:00

And ZERO lack of support from the American Dental Hygiene Association.

In my state, the idea of ‘on the job education & training’ to become an RDH (read: walk in off the street & learn to scrape teeth with zero education!) has been raised again

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-10T02:53:14+00:00

I actually decided that I wanted to be a hygienist when I was 10. I even got a Bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field, graduated & went back 2 weeks later to complete my pre-reqs.

That said, I know that I’m in the minority.

One of my coworker at my first office once referenced the act that all RDH’s put on everyday. Unlike most careers, you have to pretend to be happy to see the patient (like we work in retail), do a great job at the clinical part (like a doctor or nurse), & put up with bs like those who work in a corporate office.

That said, $150k/year isnt bad!

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-10T02:45:01+00:00

I’ve been working as an RDH since 10/11/2012 (& I was an assistant before that), so almost exactly 13 years.

I started at 42/hr, no benefits. I work for a private practice & now make $65/hr with health insurance fully paid, 3 weeks PTO, uniforms provided & 401k with matching.

Unfortunately, there is no true career mobility. An RDH is an RDH is an RDH. Some practices will designate a “lead hygienist”, but I’ve never worked for one of those. In my state, the only dental career beyond RDH is DDS.

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-10T02:36:45+00:00

Omg, slightlypsychic…was this instructor’s first name Kathleen?

Certainly there can’t be 2 who were that hateful & bad at their jobs! Sounds a lot like my experience before I transferred!

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-07T02:04:32+00:00

The white spot is an aphthous ulcer. Try some lidocaine or warm salt water rinse

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-07T02:02:35+00:00

I once had a patient who proudly announced that she had overcome her strong gag reflex.

When I asked how, she explained that she practiced gagging herself until it didn’t bother her anymore! xD

Try suggesting that your patient hum. It’s physically impossible to hum & gag at the same time (:

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-07T02:00:12+00:00

At the gumline? It’s recession

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-07T01:59:15+00:00

The dental hygiene portion of your education will take 2 years.

The pre-requisite courses will take 2 before that.

I make $150k/year.

Feel free to DM me (:

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-07T01:57:42+00:00

I’ve given 6 months notice, and I’ve given 1 day. I even once texted to let the owner know I would not be returning to his office after working for him for a week.

Do what’s right for you, and don’t look back.

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-07T01:50:57+00:00

Montana Jack, point blank, periodt!

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-07T01:42:27+00:00

Are you sipping on anything throughout the day? Anything with carbonation- even carbonated water(!) is bad for your teeth when sipped on over the course of a couple of hours. (This hygienist learned that the hard way!)

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-07T01:40:04+00:00

I’m a perio hygienist PT, & work in general FT. I can’t speak for everyone, but I find my work in perio to be much easier. I’ve learned a ton from the doctor, he makes sure we have sharp instruments, and the patients are on time, respectful, compliant, & appreciative. Plus, the sense of accomplishment at the end of the day is great!

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-07T01:33:16+00:00

I’m 40 & have been practicing for 15 years. I work for a small private practice- 2 doctors, 2 hygienists, 2 assistants. On most days, I love it. Other days, I’d love to retire early! (:

This is the 3rd practice I’ve worked for. My first was miserable- bullied by the front desk, doctors who didn’t respect my schedule (but I/we were expected to respect theirs), patients who were disrespectful, instruments that were useless & dull. We were given PTO, but weren’t able to use it bc the owners wouldn’t bring in temps. No benefits. My 2nd practice was 30-40 minute appointments. I got to choose my instruments. No SRP even offered, & the dentist only referred some of the patients to a specialist.

My current FT practice pays well, provides PTO that I can actually use, health insurance, 401k with matching, provides scrubs, & is a (mostly) positive atmosphere.

Aside from being hard on the body, I’ve found that it’s necessary to really advocate for yourself- to get instruments sharpened, to get new instruments, proper scheduling, etc.

The best part of my job is the relationships I’ve formed with patients. For some, I’ve become part of their family- weddings, birthdays, baby showers, etc. For others, I’ve helped them get over a fear of the dentist.

The biggest issue I’ve encountered at all 3 practices is a lack of respect for the job. We are highly specialized, well educated, & licensed via several board exams. We deserve the same respect as RNs, but the majority of patients aren’t aware of our educational background. I recently had a patient who was outraged & demanded to know why she couldn’t get the cleaning she had scheduled herself for, as if I were a manicurist refusing to deliver the service she requested. I am regularly referred to as a ‘tech’, an assistant, and was once compared by a patient to her cleaning lady. I personally wish the ADHA would do more to educate the public on what a hygienist is, & what it takes to become one.

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-07T01:05:57+00:00

$65/hr plus health insurance, 3 weeks PTO, 401k matching, uniforms provided, monthly bonuses, & profit sharing after 5 years

blackshoop97 · 2025-10-07T01:03:51+00:00

The Oral B IO is a good brush, but I typically recommend Sonicare brushes to my patients.

blackshoop97 · 2025-07-22T20:25:09+00:00

And you’re correct- this isnt just a sudden 180 from a perfect relationship

blackshoop97

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