Not taking care of your oral health can leave you with something a lot worse than bad teeth. From diabetes to cardiovascular disease, neglecting dental hygiene can result in all kinds of dangerous health conditions, including COVID-19.

The face of dentistry in the post-coronavirus world is very different to that before the pandemic. With so many changes and no guarantee of when a COVID-19 vaccine will be made publicly available, it’s likely you’re re-thinking many aspects of your business, including your pricing.

If you were to think of a highly risky profession during COVID-19, it would probably be that of the dental hygienist.

In March 2020, ADA recommended that dentists postpone all elective procedures to stop the spread of COVID-19. As the pandemic gets more under control, dental surgeries throughout the US are reopening their practices for routine care. Texas, Colorado, Illinois and Georgia are just some of the current 42 states where dental offices are open for elective procedures.

Even during these uncertain times, one thing’s for sure — dentistry is never going to be the same again. After the coronavirus severely impacted countries throughout the world, it became clearer than ever the importance of having strict safety protocols in the healthcare industry and making sure they’re enforced.

Dentistry is categorized as being a high risk for COVID-19 transmission. Reason being, the main channels of infection are relevant to most procedures performed daily in dental offices, with aerosols being the ardently debated topic.

As the number of COVID-19 cases rises, dentists and healthcare care providers should remain informed about the best clinical practices to counter this pandemic.

Due to the nationwide economic collapse caused by the coronavirus, many people throughout the US are currently receiving more money through unemployment benefits than they were from their jobs. According to Business Insider, around 50% of workers in the US can currently earn more money by collecting unemployment benefits than working their regular jobs.

The minimum qualification you need to become a dental hygienist is an associate degree in dental hygiene. There are other qualifications you can obtain to be eligible for the role, but an associate degree is the fastest way to become an RDH. To help you decide which degree is best suited to your future goals, here’s a detailed overview of the different qualifications you need to become a registered dental hygienist and how to get them. 

Almost every business has felt the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, but perhaps none more than dental practices. In fact, a few days ago, the American Dental Association (ADA) initiated a campaign to urge Congress to address dentistry, in the coming round of COVID-19 relief legislation.