Best Dental Hygiene Books of 2026

Holistic Dental Care is a comprehensive guide to natural oral care that introduces simple, at-home dental procedures that anyone can do. The book offers dental self-care strategies and practices that get to the core of the problems in our mouths, preventing issues from taking root and gently restoring dental health. Author Nadine Artemis describes the physiology of the teeth and the sources of bacteria and decay. She also introduces a comprehensive eight-step self-dentistry protocol that offers an effective way to prevent decay, illness, acidic saliva, plaque build-up, gum bleeding, inflammation, and more. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in holistic dental care.

The Dental Diet by Dr. Steven Lin explores the connection between dental health and overall well-being, providing a 40-day meal plan and dietary guidelines that prioritize oral microbiome balance. Lin, the world’s first dental nutritionist, merges dental and nutritional science to create a top-down holistic health approach that emphasizes natural, whole foods. This book offers a unique perspective on health and wellness, showing readers how dental health can be the foundation for physical health. This book is a must-read for those seeking to improve their oral health and overall well-being.

Local Anesthesia for the Dental Hygienist, 3rd Edition is an essential guide for dental hygienists who want to learn the safe use of local anesthesia. The book covers pharmacology and anesthetic techniques in detail, with illustrations of dental anatomy and specific injection techniques. It includes case studies, review questions, and expert insights from Demetra Logothetis, an educator with over 20 years of experience teaching local anesthesia administration. The book's warm, humanistic style helps to alleviate the fears of both patients and inexperienced clinicians. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for any dental hygienist looking to improve their skills and confidence with local anesthesia.

The Tooth Book is an engaging children's book that teaches kids all about dental health in a fun and silly way. The story follows a character named Booth who loses a tooth and wonders what will come out next. The book covers various topics such as the different types of teeth, cavities, fillings, and how to maintain good oral hygiene. The author also encourages children to seek help from a parent or dentist if they notice anything unusual with their teeth. Overall, The Tooth Book is an excellent resource for parents to introduce their children to the importance of dental health.

The Wilkins' Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist is a comprehensive textbook that covers all the crucial topics in dental hygiene in a straightforward format. The thirteenth edition, authored by Linda Boyd, Charlotte Wyche, and Lisa Mallonee, is an updated version of the best-selling text by Esther Wilkins, which has been used in almost every dental hygiene education program in the country. The textbook comes with a comprehensive and interactive eBook, student practice activities and assessments, and a full suite of instructor resources. It is an excellent resource for dental hygiene students and faculty, providing the breadth and depth necessary for foundation courses and throughout the entire dental hygiene curriculum.

Mosby's Review Questions for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination is an excellent resource for dental hygiene students preparing for the NBDHE. This book offers over 1,680 multiple-choice questions and rationales, including more than 1,250 Component A practice questions, and 420 case-based items related to Component B. The book comes with a companion website that includes all the questions from the book plus additional case studies with color images and accompanying questions. The test creator and timer on the website generates NBDHE-style tests that mimic the number and distribution of questions on the actual exam. Overall, this book is a comprehensive and realistic review and practice guide that dental hygiene students will find helpful in preparing for the NBDHE.

This Dental Anatomy book by Quickstudy Reference Guides is a must-have for anyone interested in the human dental anatomy and its surrounding systems. The book is loaded with detailed and beautifully illustrated structures labeled for easy identification. It is a handy and thorough reference for dental students, hygienists, dentists, and even parents who want to teach their kids about taking care of their teeth. The guide can also be used by patients to locate the sources of pain for reporting to their dentists. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in dental anatomy and a valuable addition to any medical library.

The Foundations of Periodontics for the Dental Hygienist, Enhanced 5th Edition is an essential resource for dental hygiene students. The author’s use of a detailed outline format makes the information easier to read, understand, and reference, covering up-to-date, evidence-based coverage of periodontal anatomy, the disease process, and classifications of periodontal disease. The Enhanced 5th Edition has been revised and updated throughout to reflect the hygienist's increasingly important role in periodontal therapy. The book is rich with engaging learning features and student resources, making it an excellent choice for dental assisting students.

Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 6th Edition, is a comprehensive guide for dental assistants and hygienists to master safe and effective dental imaging. Written by renowned educators Joen M. Iannucci and Laura Jansen Howerton, the book covers detailed step-by-step procedures, illustrations of oral anatomy, image interpretation, and case scenarios for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. The book also includes helpful features such as application to practice, summary tables, and end-of-chapter quiz questions. The updated edition features expanded content on digital imaging and dental X-ray equipment, making it a must-have resource for dental professionals.