National Dental Hygiene Month honors and
celebrates the work dental hygienists do to improve patients' oral
and systemic health.
HENDERSON, Nev., Oct. 31,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PDS Health™, a
leading dental and medical support organization, proudly recognizes
National Dental Hygiene Month, a time dedicated to honoring the
vital role and impact dental hygienists can have in improving
patients' oral and overall health. Established by the American
Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA), National Dental Hygiene
Month celebrates the contributions of dental hygienists nationwide,
raising awareness about the direct connection between oral health
and systemic health.
In dental offices across the country, dental hygienists serve as
periodontal disease management experts, working in partnership with
dentists to educate patients about the Mouth-Body
Connection® — the direct link between oral health
and overall health — and the significance early disease detection
can have in improving health outcomes. Research continues to prove
that some bacteria found in the mouth is linked to serious
conditions like Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, reproductive health issues and that maintaining good oral
health can reduce the risk of these conditions and, in some cases,
prevent them entirely.
"National Dental Hygiene Month is a time to celebrate the
extraordinary contributions dental hygienists make every day," said
Stephen E. Thorne IV, Founder and
CEO of PDS Health. "Our hygienists are not only the front line of
defense against periodontal disease; they play a key role in
helping patients understand the critical link between oral health
and overall health. By shifting to a more integrated, preventive
approach, we are transforming patient care and improving health
outcomes on a broader scale."
As an early leader in educating on the Mouth-Body Connection,
PDS Health has created one of the most technologically advanced and
supportive environments for dental hygienists to be empowered in
taking a whole-body approach to the care they provide. PDS Health
dental hygienists are delivering advanced care, performing
comprehensive health history assessments, and actively reviewing
patients medical and laboratory histories through the
Epic® shared health records system. Dental hygienists
are among the biggest advocates changing the landscape of patient
care within dentistry, actively using, assessing and monitoring
oral health with tools like chairside biomarker screenings and
advanced laboratory diagnostics. This proactive approach provides
dentists and hygienists with critical insights, enabling a more
personalized treatment plan that address each patient's unique
needs and ensures the appropriate timing for follow-up care, rather
than waiting for the next six-month check-up.
By moving away from a one-size-fits-all model to precision-based
care, hygienists are helping to transform dental hygiene practices
and improve patient outcomes. As they spend more time with
patients, hygienists build strong relationships based on trust and
support early detection of health concerns, contributing to a more
individualized, effective approach to care.
"The dental industry is evolving, and with it comes a growing
recognition of the value and impact dental hygienists have on
improving patient outcomes by reducing inflammation and long-term
disease management," said Summer
LaMoureaux, RDH, Director of Hygiene Operations at PDS
Health. "Our team of hygienists are doing more to detect,
understand, and manage their patients' care with tools like saliva
diagnostics, much the same way that blood work is used in medical
settings."
In states where permitted, dental hygienists may opt to use a
dental laser to address bacteria embedded in the gum tissue. This
approach has been shown to reduce the bacterial load found in the
mouth and potentially further reduce the amounts of harmful
bacteria that may be entering the bloodstream. To support
clinicians in adopting this advanced technology, PDS Health
University™ provides specialized training programs. As
the organization's premier education platform, it offers a
board-approved course, Lasers for Dentistry, which meets
state-specific requirements and equips PDS Health's supported
dental hygienists and dentists with the skills and knowledge needed
for laser technology implementation.
"In the states allowed, the use of a soft tissue laser and
saliva diagnostic has transformed how we look and approach oral
disease and the management it warrants. The advancements and tools
that are being made available today pose massive positive impact
potential for improving patient health outcomes," said LaMoureaux.
"However, not all laser training is created equal and finding an
appropriate training provider can be nuanced and costly, which is
why PDS Health University is an approved provider for laser
education, offered at no cost to our clinicians."
PDS Health encourages patients to take charge of their oral
health and explore how it impacts their overall health. Learn more
about the Mouth-Body Connection and its vital role in supporting
systemic health.
About PDS Health
PDS Health™ continues
the journey started by Pacific Dental Services® in
1994, with a vision to redefine health care through the integration
of dental and medical services. Its approach, centered on the
connection between oral health and overall health, aims to create
healthier, happier patients and set new benchmarks in the
healthcare industry. As a leading provider of integrated healthcare
support, the company delivers a broad spectrum of services to
dental, dental specialties, and medical providers, enhancing
operations and care delivery for clinicians across the U.S. For
more information about PDS Health, visit pdshealth.com.
Mouth-Body Connection® is a registered trademark of
PDS Health.
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SOURCE PDS Health