hygiene - the international C.E. magazine of dental hygiene

I 09hygiene 1_2012 clinical_ handpiece I sterilize an air-driven handpiece is considerably longer because the entire handpiece takes time to cooldown.Theadvantageofbattery-operatedhand- piecesisonlytheremovablesheathissterilized,sothe cool-down time is considerably less. This is both a time saving and cost saving feature. Thehygienistcanoperatewithonehandpiecemotor and have multiple sheaths to rotate between during patient care. Today’stechnologyhaschangedtomeetavariety ofproceduralandergonomicrecommendations.The design features, specifications and dedicated low- speed hygiene handpieces have been modified by manufacturerstomeettheuniqueneedsoftheRDH. So the question is, “What are you using?”_ _References 1. Darby M., & Walsh M. 1995. Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders. 2. Gilbier S. 125 years of developments in dentistry, 1880- 2005 Part 3: Dental equipment and materials. British Dental Journal (2005);199, 536–539. 3. Murphy,DC.1998.ErgonomicsandtheDentalCareWorker. Washington DC: American Public Health Association. 4. Phinney, Halstead. 2002. Essential Skills and Procedures for Chairside Dental Assisting. America: Delmar Thomson Learning. 5. Robinson D, & Bird D. 2001. Ehrlich and Torres Essentials ofDentalAssisting.Philadelphia:W.B.SaundersCompany. 6. Today in Science History, 1999–2007. Website provides information on past historical events; www.todayinsci. com/1/1_26.htm. 7. WilkinsEM.2005.ClinicalPracticeoftheDentalHygienists. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 8. WoodallIR.1993.ComprehensiveDentalHygieneCare.St. Louis: Mosby, Inc. Shirley Branham, RDH, MBA, is the central clinical educator for DENTSPLY Professional. She received her bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from the University of Michigan and earned an MBA degree in health care management from the University of Phoenix. Branham’s background includes more than 20 years of clinical and educational experience in the dental as- sistant and dental hygiene professions. While a member of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, she held various ap- pointments, including hygiene faculty member, staff hygienist in the Graduate Prosthodontic Clinic and research coordinator assistant. Branham’s areas of expertise include clinical dental hygiene, biomaterials, implants and local anesthesia. She lec- tures nationally and internationally for DENTSPLY Professional, covering topics on ultrasonic instrumentation, anesthesia, car- iesriskassessmentandimplantmaintenance.Youmaycontact her at shirley.branam@dentsply.com. _about the author hygiene Fig. 2_In 2011, Midwest introduced the Midwest RDH Freedom Cordless Prophy System.