11 Messages to remember: The most popular Director's Messages since 2011

Kristine Hodsdon, RDH, MSEC, typed out a Director’s Message twice a month to highlight each issue of RDH eVillage. As she states in her final Director’s Message, she wrote them for 11 years.

We apologize to our readers, but a technological glitch in 2011 prevents us from including any Director’s Messages prior to that year. But we certainly can calculate her most popular Director’s Messages since then.

Enjoy catching up on what she has shared with us over the years. I have coordinated the publication of each issue of RDH eVillage with her since the beginning. I remain grateful for her many contributions to the dental hygiene profession.

Click on the subheads below to view the original columns.

Let's stop using the 'c' word

This title appeared in a column written by the late Irene Woodall. After Woodall passed away in 2015, Hodsdon suggested we honor the dental hygiene pioneer by getting rid of c-l-e-a-n-i-n-g from our dental hygiene vocabulary.

When to hire a hygienist

In 2014, Hodsdon noted that many dentists do not employ dental hygienists. She offered some guidelines to help them determine when the time is right to bring an RDH into a dental practice.

Your salary ... How much is enough?

In the middle of last year’s annual salary survey in the e-newsletter, Hodsdon examined different factors that motivate dental hygienists.

7 principles of masterful dental conversations

Hodsdon notes that dental hygienists are often uncomfortable with the notion of selling dentistry. In this Message, she explains seven conversations that will take care of the case acceptance part of the dialogue.

9 tips to fill unfilled hygiene appointments

In December 2013, we were still in the middle of that recession that caused a great deal of stress for anyone looking at an appointment book. Her tips aimed at filling that book up again.

Hygiene compensation

The salary survey in 2013 offered feedback on a variety of compensation packages offered to dental hygienists. In this Director’s Message, Hodsdon compared the pros and cons of various compensation methods.

'I got a $5 an hour pay raise!'

Despite the headline, this Director’s Message was not another spinoff column from the salary survey. It’s actually a Facebook comment that Hodsdon came across. She wanted to know why the dental hygienist deserved the raise.

7 keys to eliminating conflict and creating synergy at work

In this 2014 Director’s Message, Hodsdon focused on communication skills. She wrote, “What we all want from one another is to connect. When we connect, we feel a distinct affinity with the person whom we believe truly understands us.”

Is your career a Savvy Success?

In July 2013, Hodsdon concluded an interview with Christine Hovliaras, RDH, who is the author of several books regarding dental hygiene career transitions.

Whose fault is it anyway — no shows and cancellations?

Instead of searching for someone to blame, Hodsdon suggested a closer examination of the practice management system. One of her shorter columns, this Director’s Message is essentially a list of 10 items to check in your office.

17 action steps for dental hygiene career success

After Christine Hovliaras (see “Is your career a savvy success?” above) began treatment for breast cancer in 2015, Hodsdon participated in an effort to help her colleague with the expenses. In exchange, Hodsdon published the “17 action steps” for success in dental hygiene.

If you have enjoyed reading this sampling of the most popular Director’s Messages by Kristine Hodsdon, you don’t have to stop here. Her last name is unique enough to refine a search on DentistryIQ.com for all of her articles (In addition, she often wrote other articles for issues of RDH eVillage).