Dental Tribune U.S. Edition

HYGIENE TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Hygiene Newspaper · U.S. Edition g HT page 2E Dental hygiene practice: Is there a new model? You’ve been learning about all the new products and risk assess- ment tools in lectures, articles in magazines and on the Internet. Saliva tests have evolved from sim- ple litmus paper evaluating the oral pH to tests that measure the peri- odontal pathogens and whether the patient has an HPV infection. Encouragement from thought leaders has dental hygienists tak- ing blood pressure, perio charting, saliva testing and even taking blood samples for periodontal therapy management. Testing occlusion, checking for signs of sleep apnea, joint vibration analysis, oxygenation of the blood, caries manifestation and engaging in small talk are all good den- tal hygiene practice, but when do you get to scale and polish? The bread and butter of dental hygiene appointments can’t go away, can it? The framework of dental hygiene is changing. Dr. Fons thought hav- ing someone around who could clean the teeth, often, would be a great adjunct to a dental prac- tice. That idea evolved to someone who could educate and clean the teeth then to someone who could do some diagnostics, educate and clean the teeth. The cleaning alone in Dr. Fons’ time took the better part of an hour. Adding these other processes into the dental hygiene appointment is just getting crazy, right? How is a dedicated dental hygienist going to get everything done without resort- ing to heroic efforts? It is time to rethink the sta- tus quo. The number of diagnostic tools and instruments we have in dentistry today, the level of tech- nology and the incredible informa- tion they provide is proving to be very time consuming. A simple salivary test to show the health of someone’s saliva takes about 10 minutes, add to that a good oral cancer screening of at least 5 minutes, then a perio chart and blood pressure check and most of the appointment time is gone. A new position in the office called a Risk Factor Manager (RFM) may June 2011 www.dental-tribune.com Vol. 4, no. 6 By Shirley Gutkowski, RDH, BSDH, FACE Fourth ‘Pros in the Profession’ winner Crest® Oral-B® announced its rec- ognition of RDH Linda Maciel of Hudson, N.H., as the recipient of the fourth Pros in the Profession award for registered dental hygienists who go above and beyond the call of duty. Throughout her 11 years of prac- tice, Maciel has established a screen- ing protocol to detect early signs of oral cancer and has developed a passion for educating members of her community about the many fac- tors that affect oral hygiene. “I’m honored that Crest Oral-B chose me,” said Maciel. “I feel very fortunate to love what I do on a daily basis. Making a difference in patients’ lives is rewarding, and pro- viding the most comprehensive care is a high priority of mine.” Maciel has a strong relationship with each of her patients and con- siders this to be a key part of her role as an RDH. Her focus during patients’ checkups is screening for oral cancer. Through this process, Maciel has caught basal-cell car- cinoma and detected early signs of thyroid cancer. Additionally, she has inspired people to quit harmful habits such as chewing tobacco and smoking cigarettes. Patients and her col- leagues appreciate Maciel’s sharp eye and attention to detail. “Linda’s oral cancer exam is a signature service to her patients and she regards this service as the most important aspect of her job,” said Dr. Cara Coleman, a dentist at Merrimack Smiles, who nominated Maciel for this award. “Her patients and their families appreciate how they benefit from her pursuit of knowledge.” Maciel realizes that oral health goes beyond the dentist’s office so she extends her passion for dental care to the public through educa- tion. She frequently works with new mothers, educating them about the importance of good oral hygiene for their children. Maciel also volun- teers with her office at community events and works to promote hav- ing a healthy mouth by discussing the links between periodontal health and systemic concerns. With this honor, Maciel will join previous Pros in the Profession win- ners Ann Benson, Trudy Meinberg and Mary Lynne Murray-Ryder on a VIP all-expense-paid trip to ADHA’s 88th Annual Session in Nashville. In addition, she will receive a $1,500 monetary prize, a pampering spa experience, an award and rec- ognition at major conferences and in dental trade publications throughout the year, plus an exclusive trip to P&G headquarters. To learn more about the Pros in the Profession program and win- ners, please visit www.prosinthe profession.com. HT Linda Maciel, RDH (Photo/Provided by P&G) How is a dedicated dental hygienist going to get everything done without resorting to heroic efforts? A new position in the dental office, called a Risk Factor Manager (RFM), may be the answer to alleviate the time crunch dur- ing dental hygiene appointments. (Image/Provided by Shirley Gutkowski)