Description

Wilkins’ Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist is the comprehensive clinical textbook that generations of hygiene students have used from their first preclinical session to graduation. This 14th Edition is edited by Linda D. Boyd and Lisa F. Mallonee and was published by Jones & Bartlett Learning in June 2023, in a print length of 1,312 pages. According to the publisher, it works through the essential topics of dental hygiene in a straightforward format so that students build both the knowledge and the clinical skills they need for practice.

Who should read Wilkins’ Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist

• Dental hygiene students in associate, bachelor’s or diploma programs that use the book as their main clinical text.
• Clinical instructors and program faculty who need a shared reference for lectures, clinic sessions and assessments.
• Practising hygienists returning to clinical work or refreshing protocols after a break.
• Internationally trained dental professionals preparing to work in a hygiene role and wanting a structured overview of clinical practice.

Most hygiene programs assign a specific edition, so check your syllabus before buying. If your course also includes a clinical case component, pair this text with Case Studies in Dental Hygiene to practise applying what you read.

What the book covers

The textbook was originally written by Esther M. Wilkins and has long been organised around the dental hygiene process of care: assessing the patient, forming a dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, delivering and evaluating care. Within that framework you will find topics such as:

• preparing for the appointment, infection control and patient documentation;
• medical, dental and periodontal assessment of the patient;
• preventive care, patient education and instrumentation;
• care planning for patients with special needs or medical conditions.

Section titles and chapter order can change between editions, so open the online FlipBook preview on this page to read the table of contents of the 14th Edition before you decide.

About the 14th Edition

This page offers the 14th Edition of Wilkins’ Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist, published by Jones & Bartlett Learning on June 19, 2023 (ISBN-13 9781284255997). Clinical guidelines in periodontics, infection control and preventive care are revised regularly, which is why programs update their required edition. Confirm with your instructor that the 14th Edition is the one your course and clinic manuals refer to, because page and chapter references may not match older printings.

How to study with a large clinical textbook

With more than 1,300 pages, Wilkins’ Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist is a book to work with across your whole program rather than to read once. A few habits help:

1. Read before clinic, not after. Look at the chapter linked to the procedure you will perform next session and note the steps you are least sure about.
2. Build your own checklists. Turn assessment and instrumentation chapters into short step lists you can review on your phone between patients.
3. Test yourself regularly. Write a few questions after each chapter and answer them from memory a week later, as explained in our guide to active recall.

For professional standards, career information and news about the profession, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association is a useful companion to the textbook.

Format, preview and access

Not sure which digital format suits a textbook the size of Wilkins’ Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist? Read our guide on how to choose medical eBooks.

Other dental hygiene titles to consider

• Oral Pathology for the Dental Hygienist, 8th Edition: recognising oral lesions and conditions you will meet in the chair.
• Applied Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist, 9th Edition: the drugs your patients take and how they affect dental care.
• Dental Materials: Clinical Applications, 4th Edition: materials handling written for assistants and hygienists.
• Complete Periodontics Course: a video course to see periodontal concepts applied clinically.

Frequently asked questions

Which edition of Wilkins’ Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist is this?

It is the 14th Edition, edited by Linda D. Boyd and Lisa F. Mallonee and published by Jones & Bartlett Learning in 2023. Check that it matches the edition on your reading list.

Is it suitable for first-year hygiene students?

Yes. It is written for students learning clinical practice and is also used as a reference later in the program and after qualification.

Are the publisher’s online resources included?

No. You receive the PDF eBook only. Publisher platforms, access codes, videos and supplementary materials are not part of the purchase.

When can I start reading?

Access is provided after payment confirmation. For details on delivery and payments, see our FAQ.