Heather Hakes, RDH
Heather Hakes, RDH, was born in Upstate New York where she started her Dental Hygiene career in 2000. Heather practiced in Upstate New York for three years at a general dentist practice where she gained experience with high and low functioning special needs patients. Heather then went on to pediatrics before moving to Virginia in 2007. She currently practices in Virginia in a general dental practice, where she has worked for the last ten years. Heather also works one day per week in an office with periodontal focus.
Heather is married with a son, Ryan, and two dogs, Rex and Jake. She resides in a rural area of Virginia. Heather enjoys home improvement projects, reading, writing, and spending time with family and friends.
Heather is married with a son, Ryan, and two dogs, Rex and Jake. She resides in a rural area of Virginia. Heather enjoys home improvement projects, reading, writing, and spending time with family and friends.
The History of Dental Hygiene: Development through the Years
As I get older, I notice myself commonly making references to the past by using the phrase, “Back in the day…” Music and television award shows also pay homage to their past and the changes that have taken place over the years. Then, too, education teaches lessons on past world history as it does on current world affairs. History...
Communication in Dentistry: The Layman’s Way
Communication is the process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of articulation. This article will focus on replacing dental terms and conditions using layman terms to ensure patient understanding and, thus, better communication. Providing a clearer picture of the diagnosis, treatment or recommendations will allow clinicians to bridge the gap between themselves and their...
Corporate Dentistry: How to Maintain Autonomy in a Corporate World
The abundance of private practices purchased by corporations has risen over the last decade. This increase in corporate dental practices and understanding the corporate web has influenced my research on the long-term effects it may have on the dental community.
As a dental hygienist for over seventeen years, I have always been proud of the dental community for its ability...
Periodontal Diagnosis: How to Maintain Positive Control of the Appointment
As dental hygienists we’ve all been there, treating a new patient with a periodontal diagnosis. How do we turn an appointment around after we diagnose a new patient who has been seen by the same dentist regularly for years yet has never heard of periodontal disease? It’s an everyday struggle for a dental hygienist to gain control of the...