Dear Hygiene Insider,
While the median income of dentists is rising, the median income of hygienists has stayed about the same, according to a new data analysis by personal finance website Finder. The analysis found median pay for hygienists decreased by 0.10% from 2016 to 2017. See more data and an infographic in our Insider Exclusive.
Also new in the Hygiene Community, Dr. Alvin Danenberg examines the research between periodontal disease and autoimmune reactions. In his latest column, Dr. Danenberg notes that periodontal disease can be viewed as both an acute and a chronic infection, and he wonders whether diet initiates or contributes to chronic periodontal disease. Read more here.
Researchers aren't just looking into a connection between periodontal disease and autoimmune reactions. They're also investigating possible links between oral health and artherosclerosis, diabetes, pregnancy outcomes, and respiratory conditions. Learn more about recent research into the periodontal-systemic link here.
Should a manual toothbrush have soft or hard bristles? Researchers conducted a systematic review to find out. They looked at whether soft-, medium-, and stiff-bristle toothbrushes contributed to gingival lesions. Find out which type of bristle may be safest for your patients here.
Finally, our editors were at the California Dental Association's CDA Presents meeting in San Francisco. Check out our Hygiene Community coverage:
- 5 tips to prevent a water-line outbreak at your practice
- Hormones and oral health: Treatment planning for women
- Common conditions may impact older patients
- For healthy teeth, pick dark chocolate over crackers
