(by Kathryn Gilliam, BA, BSDH, MAAOSH, HIAOMT) When I thought about the ulcerated epithelial lining being an open wound, I finally questioned: Why we don’t treat it like medical practitioners treat wounds? And in fact, why are we not using more medical protocols in general? As a practicing dental hygienist, I’m always looking for new techniques, technologies, products, and knowledge …
Ancient Tongue Diagnosis for the 21st Century Dental Hygienist
(by Kathryn Gilliam, BA, BSDH, MAAOSH, HIAOMT) The earliest known text entirely dedicated to tongue diagnosis is Ao Shi Shang Han Jin Jing Lu (Ao’s Record of the Golden Mirror of Cold Induced Disorders). This text was published with 36 color illustrations during the Tuan Dynasty (1271–1368).1 Tongue diagnosis is a principal practice in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and there is increasing …
Oral Cancer Awareness: Why Early Detection and Education Save Lives
(by Dr. Parul Dua Makkar) Oral cancer remains one of the most devastating yet overlooked cancers worldwide. Each year, tens of thousands are diagnosed, often too late—when treatment options are limited, survival rates are lower, and quality of life is drastically impacted. Unlike other cancers with widespread awareness campaigns, oral cancer still lags behind. The truth is simple: early detection …
The Many Benefits of Merging Dental and Electronic Health Records
(by Ann-Marie C. DePalma, CDA, RDH, MEd) Integrated electronic health records can bridge dentistry and medicine – enhancing care, coordination, and outcomes through global collaboration and standardized oral health data. I received an email several weeks ago from the FDI World Dental Federation that included a consensus statement on integrated electronic health records (EHRs.) Since I have an interest in …
PANS: A Mysterious, Debilitating Pediatric Disorder
(by Kathryn Gilliam, BA, BSDH, MAAOSH, HIAOMT) Imagine your child turning into a different person, seemingly overnight. Suddenly your sweet, lighthearted child is moody, aggressive, defiant, and anxious. He laughs or cries at inappropriate times. He develops sleep problems and begins wetting the bed and having nightmares. Out of the blue, he has developed obsessive-compulsive behaviors, performs ritualistic repetitive behaviors, …
5 Phrases Hygienists Need to Stop Saying to Patients
(by Katrina Sanders, RDH, BSDH, M.Ed, RF, FDSI ) Is sugarcoating decaying your clinical practice? It happens to the best of us: As we become comfortable in our clinical practice, we forget the ways in which our verbiage can dramatically alter the way our patients understand our recommendations. When I was in grade school, we used to play the Telephone …
Hygiene Expert Shares 5 Ways Your Dental Hygienist Can Save Your Life in New Book
(by Brandi Hooker Evans, RDH-ER, MHE, MAADH) Poor oral health often leads to poor overall health, and who better to explain this than an experienced registered dental hygienist and consultant? Brandi Hooker Evans, RDH, owns and operates Stellar Outcomes and Evans Dental with her husband, Eron Evans, DDS, and with almost 2 decades of experience as a clinician in private …