Valerie Yates has been a registered dental hygienist since 2001. She has been practicing in Hays, Kansas, since that time. Valerie enjoys learning and bringing value to her patients. She has taken a special interest in myofunctional disorders and has enjoyed bringing a new avenue of health to her patients. Valerie has always had a love for reading and writing. While she enjoys reading a good mystery novel, she finds her writing passion in freelancing. When Valerie has leisure time, you can find her with her husband, two daughters, and their menagerie of animals. Her nature for helping others does not stop with humans and she is sucker for four-legged friends.
5 tips for becoming a dental hygienist
Deciding on a career path is no small feat. It can be a very confusing and exciting time in your life. Dental hygiene is a rewarding and in-demand career and may be the right fit for you. Here are five tips for becoming a dental hygienist.
Adapting to Change in Dentistry is the Key to Career Longevity
By: John Cranham, DDSThis topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Cranham granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. No matter how many years in practice, dentists never have everything figured out. The things that you are doing now are not going to be right forever. My Advice for Young Dentists My advice to…
The Smart Path to Clinical Competence for Young Dentists
By: John C. Cranham, DDSThis topic originally appeared on PankyGram.org. Dr. Cranham granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Every hour you invest in your practice is an investment in your future—so choose wisely how you spend it. Many young dentists begin their careers with enthusiasm but find themselves caught in a chaotic,…
Why Strategic Credentialing From the Beginning Can Transform Your Career Earnings
By: Angela Holland, Founder of Preferred Dental SolutionsInsurance Expert and Strategy Consultant for Dental PracticesPreferredDentalSolutions.com Starting your career as a dentist or as a new practice owner is thrilling – new patients, new relationships, and new possibilities. But there’s one factor that quietly shapes your financial trajectory more than most realize: insurance credentialing. From day…
Learning to Talk Teeth: Why Communication is Your Most Important Skill in Dentistry
By: Michael Eid Dental school will teach you how to perform basic dentistry—but one thing that often gets overlooked is how to communicate with patients. The truth is, patients don’t just buy treatment; they buy trust. The way you talk to them will make or break whether they accept your recommendations. Listen First Most patients…
Chairside Air Abrasion: A Game-Changer in Modern Adhesive Dentistry
By: Dr. Lee Ann Brady, DMDThis topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org, Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. The need for precise, clean tooth preparation methods has increased, especially in adhesive dentistry. One tool that has risen in popularity is chairside air abrasion. Once dismissed due to logistical headaches, this technique…
The Most Important Thing to Become Financially Independent
By: Dr. James Pitts Have you ever wondered what is the most important item in becoming financially independent in Dentistry? Certainly, there are many factors. High-Producing Practice? Some Dentists would think having a high-producing practice is the key. While producing a lot of revenue makes it easier to become wealthy, it is not the most…
Creating Success-Oriented Patient Relationships in Dentistry
By: Paul A. Henny, DDS This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Henny granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. The word “prescriptive” recently got stuck in my head. It made me think about the important distinction between a relationship that’s primarily focused on “giving directions or injunctions” versus mutually goal-oriented and collaborative. It’s…
Management of Congenitally Missing Teeth in Ectodermal Dysplasia
By: Daren Becker, DMD This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Becker granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Case Presentation A 16-year-old girl presented with the worst case of ectodermal dysplasia I had ever seen. She was missing all of her lower teeth except for her 12-year molars. She presented with a lower…
Don’t Guess Your Way Through Credentialing — Maximize ROI from Day One
By: Angela Holland Stepping into your first dental practice is like jumping into the deep end — exciting, but full of unknowns. You’re a clinician, not an insurance guru, and that’s okay. You don’t know what you don’t know, especially when it comes to strategic credentialing. But here’s the truth: a sloppy approach to insurance…
Lessons Learned From Listening to Different Preceptors as a D4
By: Michael Eid One of the hardest parts of dental school isn’t the hand skills or the exams — it’s treatment planning. One thing I’ve learned is that every preceptor has their own philosophy. At first, you want to take every word as gospel. But the deeper you get into clinic, the more you realize:…