In celebration of National Dental Hygiene Month, Keeley Flavin, a clinical associate professor at the University of Minnesota's School of Dentistry, sheds light on the evolving role of dental hygienists in healthcare. Historically seen as the guardians of oral health, these professionals are now recognized as key players in detecting and managing conditions that affect the entire body. "Your dental hygienist can also quite literally save your life: we are trained to perform a number screening assessments for life-threatening conditions such as oral cancer, HPV, HIV, and cardiovascular disease," Flavin told the University of Minnesota.
Flavin explains the significance of dental hygiene in full-body health, noting the connection between oral bacteria and systemic diseases like cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's. "When dental hygienists see their patients for routine check-ups, we screen for early signs and symptoms of diseases and help educate patients about this connection so they can be informed about their overall health," she stated. This role is particularly crucial when factors such as a nationwide shortage of dental hygienists could limit access to this kind of preventative care.
Interprofessional collaboration is another area where dental hygiene has seen significant growth. Flavin elaborates on the communication between dental hygienists and a range of healthcare providers, from physicians to dieticians, to ensure a comprehensive approach to patient care. According to Flavin, this collaboration is especially important when it comes to the interplay between medicine and dentistry during hospital stays—an area where oral health is often compromised and can impact overall patient recovery and outcomes.
The field of dental hygiene is not just expanding its scope within traditional clinical settings, but is also breaking new ground. "The dental hygiene profession is starting to think out-of-the-box in terms of how and where we provide our care,” Flavin commented in her interview. This includes ventures like mobile dental units for underserved communities and dental hygienist placements in hospitals. To keep up with these changes, the University of Minnesota’s Dental Hygiene Program has incorporated unique experiences like interprofessional rotations to better prepare its students for this shifting landscape.
Keeley Flavin, along with her involvement in educating future dental hygienists, serves as an example of this diversified profession—working not only as a clinician but also as a hospital dental hygienist. Her work, along with the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, highlights the ongoing advancements in dental hygiene education and the push towards a more integrated healthcare framework where dental professionals play an increasingly critical role. As their expertise extends beyond the mouth, dental hygienists like Flavin are steering the profession into new territories, impacting patient care on a broader scale than ever before.
