The mother of your 7-year-old client requests that you examine her child's teeth, which are stained. Concerned about upcoming school photos, she asks you to polish the stains off. You start polishing. Should you have gotten consent from the 7-year-old client before proceeding with the procedure? Yes! There is no minimum age for consent; however, it does rely on the individual's ability to understand and decide. Generally, RDHs may find that children: < 7 are…

Read More

Given the huge interest in optional Peer Circles and to get ready for the addition of the 4th Path option, we’re looking for an additional 20 RDHs to act as facilitators for Peer Circles! Experience as a facilitator is not necessary. We will work with selected participants to develop the skills needed to be an effective facilitator. For those who are interested, there are a few requirements. First and foremost are enthusiasm and commitment! In…

Read More

The following Advisories and Fact Sheets were recently updated on the Knowledge Network: Advisories Chemotherapy Immunosuppression Kidney Disease and Kidney Failure Lupus Oral Cancer Pregnancy Radiation Therapy Tuberculosis, Infection or Disease* Fact Sheets Acute Kidney Failure Cannabis Chemotherapy Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Influenza Myocardial Infarction Oral Cancer Organ Transplantation Pregnancy Radiation Therapy Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Tuberculosis Vaping * This Advisory was previously named “Tuberculosis, Latent or Active”. The preferred Canadian terminology is now “Tuberculosis, Infection or…

Read More

In 2022, CDHO engaged a third-party research company to conduct a Voice of the Patient survey. The survey is now administered yearly in four languages – English, French, Mandarin and Punjabi – with 2,000 patients participating. The survey asks about their experiences with dental hygiene practice and barriers to accessing care. CDHO uses this data to improve resources for RDHs and to develop more patient-focused information. The data is available on our website and we…

Read More

RDHs can perform orthodontic procedures, so long as they have a client-specific order from a dentist. CDHO considers the dentist’s orthodontic treatment plan as evidence of the client-specific order when dealing with orthodontic procedures. If an orthodontic procedure is not in the treatment plan, a client-specific order must be obtained from the dentist before the treatment is provided. CDHO receives questions about whether the dentist needs to be present when an RDH is performing the…

Read More

Following the success of our in-person Peer Circle events this spring, we’ve planned additional events throughout the summer. We’re returning to Barrie and Ottawa, where Peer Circles filled up in a matter of hours, and we’ve added in-person dates for Toronto. We are also continuing with online sessions. Register for an optional Peer Circle. More online Peer Circles are coming in the fall, as well as in-person events in Windsor, Sault Ste. Marie, Kitchener/Waterloo, Peterborough,…

Read More

Peer Circles are group discussions of 8 – 10 RDHs led by an RDH facilitator. The groups discuss scenarios that RDHs may face in practice, and they find ways to address the scenario together. Case scenarios are written and reviewed by RDHs from across Ontario, working in diverse areas of practice and with different levels of experience. Cases centre around issues that are common in a variety of practice settings, such as: Communication Ethical decision…

Read More

Hi everyone! I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the nicer weather as we head into summer! Throughout April and May, we hosted optional Peer Circle events in London, Barrie, Ottawa, Sudbury and Thunder Bay. These events sold out quickly (in less than 24 hours in some cities!) and we were thrilled to see packed rooms in every city we visited. The enthusiasm at each event was incredible, and it was inspiring to…

Read More