Brooke Sergent, RDH, BS
Brooke Sergent, RDH, BS, graduated cum laude from Big Sandy Community and Technical College Dental Hygiene program in 2004, where she was also the recipient of the Colgate S.T.A.R. award. In 2005, she moved to East Tennessee and earned her Bachelors in Science from Tennessee Tech University based in Cookeville, TN. Brooke served on the Colgate Oral Health Advisory Board in Piscataway, NJ, in 2013. In 2014, she organized a Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Future Event for a local elementary school. Brooke currently works in private practice and serves as a BURST Ambassador.
OSHA’s Surprise Visits: Tips for Dental Offices to be Prepared
Prior to the pandemic, during a normal hectic workday at my office, the local component of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) dropped in for a surprise visit. I think it is safe to say that this is one of the most dreaded moments by dental professionals in a dental office. While many offices go their entire business...
Hygiene Treatment CDT Code Breakdown and Patient Explanations
Some dental hygienists have likely struggled with delegating the correct code for hygiene treatment. I know it certainly happened to me, especially when the D4346 code came into play in 2017. Dental hygienists might find it helpful to understand the differentiation of the existing codes and policies related to dental hygiene treatment types.
Further, explaining each type of hygiene treatment...
Instrument Sharpening by the RDH: The How and Why
I can almost vouch with utmost certainty that one of the most exhilarating events for a dental hygienist is receiving and opening brand-new instruments. The sheer knowledge of knowing that new instruments pack a sharp edge is sure to have every hygienist playing favoritism among the instruments in their stash − at least until the edges become dull.
While sharp...
Suction Backflow: How Dental Hygienists Can Prevent Cross-contamination
Many of us drink through a straw. When you take a long, delicious slurp, have you ever noticed that, once you release your lips from the straw, that the remaining liquid trapped inside the cylinder tubing backflows into the cup in which it rests? I have witnessed the process multiple times and even watched my children play insipidly with...
Do Millennials Truly Have Worse Oral Health Than Their Parents?
It’s the 21st century, and one would think that ‒ with the advancement of technology and the surplus of knowledge and research in the dental industry ‒ oral health across the nation would be at its utmost best. However, recent studies prove this erroneous theory and leave dental professionals like me in collective disarray.
Any dental professional who has spent...
Dental Stain: Hygienists Can Ascertain Source, Help Increase Dental Patient Confidence
I think it’s safe to say that most dental hygienists loathe extrinsic dental stains. Personally, nothing exhausts me more than working relentlessly to remove tenacious stain. Despite the pleasing satisfaction of accomplishment once the mouth in our chair is stain-ridden, the task is one I can go my entire career without ever having to repeat.
On the contrary, intrinsic stain...
How Short Yoga Breaks Can Relieve Dental Professionals’ Aches and Pains
Years ago, when someone mentioned yoga to me, my mind conjured up an image of posed individuals meditating while practicing serious dragon breathing in a room full of incense and feng shui music. As a runner, I began reading articles and researching how yoga was beneficial for those who ran. A quick search on the web yielded educational results...
Dental Sealants: Saving Teeth since the 1960s
Tooth decay is no stranger to the dental professional. In fact, it isn’t a stranger to most! According to a study done by the CDC, 1 out of every five children aged 5-11 and 1 of 7 adolescents aged 12-19 have dental decay.1
However, children are not the only ones who suffer from dental decay. According to the CDC, 91%...
Open Letter to Dentists: How to Show Appreciation to Your Hygienist
October was National Dental Hygiene Month. Unfortunately, not every dental hygienist was recognized for their efforts or shown appreciation. As I scrolled through my social media accounts, I detected a consensus that more dental hygienists were not shown appreciation than those who were.
This broke my heart. As a fellow dental hygienist, I know just how deserving we are. Fellow...
Exploration of the Human Mouth: Bacterial Colonies Do Present Dangers
The human mouth is a sodden ecosystem housing billions of microorganisms − mostly bacteria − burrowing in our gingiva, living within plaque, and surviving on our tongues. Dental plaque and the surface of the tongue are among the densest microbial habitats on Earth.1 In fact, 100 billion organisms exist per gram of plaque.1 Scientists have unveiled over 700 different...
The Doorway We Use: Dental Exams Provide Valuable Medical Alerts Too
Did you know that the mouth is a window to overall health? Think about that for a second. The anatomical area treated with our expertise is also where many health conditions and diseases begin. By thoroughly examining and paying particular attention to our patients, we can be an intervention when needed. Dental professionals possess the ability to guide patients...
Geographic Tongue: Dental Hygienists Can Help Locate Lesions and Guide Treatment
My favorite subject in dental hygiene school was oral pathology, which remains true 18 years later in my dental professional career. I perform a complete oral evaluation on every patient during their routine appointment, and it seems I find one finding more than any other ‒ benign migratory glossitis, which many of us know as geographic tongue. In fact,...
Cleidocranial Dysplasia: Stranger Things Series Highlights an Oral Health Condition
My husband and I recently fell victim to binge-watching Stranger Things after the much-hyped season four finale. While I admit I became captivated by the show, I was also derailed by a completely different issue that the producers were quick to mention and incorporate into the storyline in the first season.
Naturally, this particular issue had me pulling out my...
PFAs: Controversy over Chemicals may Surface with Some Dental Floss
Recently, many dental hygienists caught wind of controversy over PFAs in floss. While some may be on alert and highly concerned regarding this issue, others may not be even remotely invested in the hype.
As of writing this article, I have not been confronted by any of my patients on the matter. But I felt it was important to arm...
From NASA to Your Mouth: The Dental Benefits of Nano-hydroxyapatite
Ask any dental professional what the hardest substance in the human body is, and they will quickly answer that question. In fact, I hear this question often on radio and TV trivia. While the common population may not be aware of it, dental professionals know this answer without fail: The hardest substance of the human body is tooth enamel.
Enamel...
Toothbrush Etiquette: Could Your Toothbrush Have Fecal Matter On It?
For most of us, brushing our teeth is something we do daily, at least twice. It helps freshen our breath and to brighten our smile, but most importantly, we do it to keep our mouths healthy which unknowingly to most, affects our overall health. Society has been brushing their teeth for thousands of years now. The brush has evolved...
Halitosis: How Dental Professionals Can Sniff Their Way to the Source
Halitosis is a malodor that is expelled from the mouth. While everyone wakes in the morning with a less than desirable mouth aroma, some dental patients actually battle chronic bad breath on a daily basis.
One in four people experience bad breath, and some studies have reported as high as 50% of the adult population suffers from halitosis.1,2 In fact,...
Straight to the Source: How Dental Professionals Should Seek Professional Information
In a world surrounded by social media that is growing exponentially, we often find ourselves delving into these platforms for answers, advice, and news. Social media is a part of many people's routines, and users average 144 minutes on social media daily.1
Facebook, specifically, is chock-full of groups for connecting with like-minded individuals. The dental community is no exception, with...
Decorative Dentistry: Dental Patients Continue to Invest in Trendy Teeth Modifications
It is no secret that society has become center focused on appearance, and the mere fact that “selfie” was named word of the year in 2013 by Miriam Webster further clarifies this.1 Focusing on ourselves more leads to the desire to look better.
New research reveals that American women spend nearly a quarter of a million dollars on their appearance...
A Comprehensive Review of Designs for Vision Loupes & Headlight
Disclosure: This article is sponsored content from Designs for Vision as part of our sponsored partner program.
The mere thought of how I ever practiced my dental hygiene career without loupes is unfathomable. Loupes have assisted me in my career by improving my posture, as well as reducing musculoskeletal disorders and hand fatigue. In addition, loupes help perform dental procedures with...