AME: Confessions of a Dentist Doing Hygiene

<p>Alan reflects on a recent shift in his clinical routine: stepping back into the role of a dental hygienist due to staffing transitions and vacations. While many dentists avoid the "prophy" side of the chair, he argues that performing hygiene—when supported by an assistant who understands the workflow—offers invaluable diagnostic insights that are often lost during a standard five-minute exam.<br /> <br /> By seeing patients before they are "cleaned up," utilizing dental microscopes for high-magnification discovery, and employing disclosing …