Patients expect polishing as part of a dental hygiene visit. Many view polishing as the most important part of the appointment. They like the look and feel of polished teeth. While this procedure does not have outstanding long-term therapeutic benefits, most patients want their teeth polished, especially those who have personal habits that create stained teeth.

Since we do not live in a "one-size-fits-all" world, a number of different things should be considered when selecting gloves. The list should include comfort and fit, durability, ability to withstand chemical exposure, length of procedure time, and whether the glove is designed for the task.

Ergonomics is a big buzzword today. Many industries are concerned about workers developing workplace-related musculoskeletal disorders. Over the past two decades, more and more dentists, hygienists, and assistants have developed both short-term as well as permanent disabilities. Often these disabilities are a direct result of repetitive stress injuries directly related to tasks that we perform in the dental office.

Branding an instrument or device as “ergonomic” is a catchy way to market products today. In reality, that which creates ergonomic bliss for one can turn into an ergonomic nightmare for another. When added up, it is often the little things that make a big impact on how we feel at the end of the workday.

My childhood dentist was old and crotchety. He worked without an assistant and used a belt-driven, slow-speed handpiece for all treatment. In 1968, the University of Missouri-Kansas City Dental School built a new building with state-of-the art, air-driven handpieces for all dental and dental hygiene students. We were proud to be the first class trained to do sit-down dentistry with such elegant equipment.