Sometimes, I miss a blog party while I am busy scraping away the day.

How to clean teeth and stay connected to the internet at the same time:

1. Put very dark safety glasses on the patient so they cannot see very well. Place computer on patients lap and situate it at the proper angle so it easy to read at a glance (and out of patients view). Give the impression that your computer is displaying their periodontal probings and emphasize the importance of knowing how deep to go in the sulcus of the teeth. The more you look at your screen, the more pleased the patient will be.

2. Have instruments and the computer on the same tray. Elongate the keyboard so that it can accommodate sterile instruments on their sterile sheath. Place plastic cover on keys to maintain sterile environment so that it is possible to point and click with tools instead of fingers. When things get real exciting, just change instruments often so patient does not become suspicious. When sterilizing the room between patients, simply change the plastic covering on the keyboard like everything else that has been contaminated.

3. Have a computer in the room that looks like any other dental office computer. The screen saver can be demonstrating the progression of periodontal disease but as the foot switch reclines the patient, it also changes the computer to the world wide web (out of the patients view) so an operator can stay in touch while performing ones job. The foot switch controls the screen, DOWN chair = ON computer, UP chair = OFF computer.

4. The mirror is the only instrument that is always in the patients mouth so use that to your advantage. Invent a mirror with a computer screen on the back and wear super magnifying safety glasses.

5. Change the schedule allowing for internet time between patients and expect to get paid the same amount of money because a happy hygienist makes a happy patient.




On the other hand, sometimes, it is good to be left in the dark.