Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH
Spring Hayes Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, is a graduate of Florida State College at Jacksonville, and she holds licensure in Florida, Louisiana, and Alabama. Spring is on the Advisory Board and holds the position of Continuing Education Manager at Today’s RDH. Her passion is elevating the dental hygiene profession through science, education, and clinical excellence. In her free time, she loves traveling, reading, and spending time with her husband, children, and the animals at her useless animal farm. She can be reached via email at Spring@TodaysRDH.com
Understanding and Managing Dental Patients With Central Sensitivity Syndrome
Central sensitivity syndrome (CSS) is a term that encompasses multiple disorders, including fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic headaches, temporomandibular disorder, trigeminal neuralgia, and pelvic pain syndromes. This group of disorders often share common symptoms, and chronic pain is the most prominent feature.1,2
Diseases associated with central sensitivity syndrome are often “invisible” diseases. Invisible diseases are often present in a way...
A Hygienists’ Review of Obtaining Medical Clearance Before Dental Treatment
During my clinical career in dental hygiene, I had the opportunity to work in five different dental practices across three states. Some were private practices, and some were DSOs. Though many protocols were similar or, in some cases, precisely the same, the one thing that was always different in every practice was the protocols for medical clearance.
Differing protocols from...
Researchers Investigate Patient Perception of Dental Diagnostic Errors and Strategies to Reduce Occurrences
Diagnostic errors are a serious concern in health care settings. Though many people may only think of diagnostic errors from a medical viewpoint, dentistry also has its fair share of diagnostic errors. It has been estimated that around 24% of patients who experienced a diagnostic error in dentistry experienced an adverse event that led to permanent harm.1
The National Academy...
Persistent Gingival Bleeding Despite Excellent Home Care? What Dental Hygienists Should Know About Macrothrombocytopenia
As dental hygienists, we encounter bleeding and inflamed gingiva daily. Most of the time, it is due to poor oral hygiene and a lack of disrupting that pesky biofilm. However, sometimes persistent bleeding gingiva can be a sign of something more serious. A plethora of systemic diseases can cause bleeding and inflammation of the gingival tissue, including macrothrombocytopenia, a...
QUIZ: Test Your Knowledge of Effective Health Communication
Are you in need of CE credits? If so, check out our peer-reviewed, self-study CE courses here.
Before you leave, check out the Today's RDH self-study CE courses. All courses are peer-reviewed and non-sponsored to focus solely on high-quality education. Click here now.
Listen to the Today's RDH Dental Hygiene Podcast Below:
Evidence-Based Dentistry: Caries Management Guidelines for the Dental Professional
Health care in every area should be based on evidence. For years, the medical profession has evolved to provide better guidance and protocols to provide the standard of care across the board. Dentistry, though, has stayed stagnant for many years. To this day, dentistry is practiced on a spectrum, while other areas of health care are more calibrated with...
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 24: Lead Shielding
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, takes a look at lead shielding.
Give it a watch, and make sure to subscribe to the Today’s RDH Dental Hygiene podcast on your favorite podcasting app or by going to https://anchor.fm/todaysrdh.
FDA Investigating Unsafe Counterfeit Botox Causing Harmful Reactions
Botulinum toxin A has become very popular in dentistry, primarily used for the treatment and/or management of temporomandibular joint disorders and trigeminal neuralgia. Botulinum toxin A is also utilized for cosmetic procedures. Other uses include the management of chronic migraines and other headaches, cervical dystonia, and strabismus, among other conditions.1
When administered properly, botulinum toxin A is generally safe and...
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 23: Xylitol’s Alleged Link to Cardiovascular Risks
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, looks at xylitol's alleged link to cardiovascular risks.
Give it a watch, and make sure to subscribe to the Today’s RDH Dental Hygiene podcast on your favorite podcasting app or by going to https://anchor.fm/todaysrdh.
FDA Approves Marketing of Four Menthol Flavored E-Cigarettes for the First Time
Many dental professionals are aware of the risks associated with the use of e-cigarettes, including periodontal disease, oral infections, and increased risk of caries - not to mention the plethora of systemic health conditions associated with tobacco use.1,2 Therefore, you can imagine my surprise and disappointment when I recently discovered that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved...
Bentonite Clay Oral Care Products: A Healthy Choice or Hidden Danger?
As dental hygienists, we often come across various products that promise to improve oral health. One such product category is oral clays, which are becoming increasingly popular due to their natural composition and purported benefits, as well as recent promotion on social media. However, it's crucial to understand the safety of these products.
I'm unsure of the reason consumers feel...
Dental and Systemic Risks of a Gluten-Free Diet in Healthy Individuals
Gluten-free diets are often necessary to manage gluten-related disorders such as gluten intolerance and celiac disease. However, more and more individuals not affected by these conditions are adopting a gluten-free diet.
Gluten-free diets are popular among some wellness communities, but what do we really know about gluten-free diets, especially when utilized in the absence of a gluten-related disorder?
What is Gluten?
Gluten...
QUIZ: Test Your Oral Manifestations of Rare Diseases Knowledge
Are you in need of CE credits? If so, check out our peer-reviewed, self-study CE courses here.
Before you leave, check out the Today's RDH self-study CE courses. All courses are peer-reviewed and non-sponsored to focus solely on high-quality education. Click here now.
Listen to the Today's RDH Dental Hygiene Podcast Below:
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 22: Factors that Shaped Skulls, Facial Features, and Teeth
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, looks at different factors that have shaped our skulls, facial features, and teeth.
Give it a watch, and make sure to subscribe to the Today’s RDH Dental Hygiene podcast on your favorite podcasting app or by going to https://anchor.fm/todaysrdh.
Cardiovascular Risks of Xylitol: A Breakdown of the Study in Recent News Reports
Sensationalized headlines based on a preliminary scientific study have become more and more common. These headlines can often be misleading and cause misunderstanding and distrust among patients and health care professionals. They are also often a source of misinformation largely due to the misinterpretation of the preliminary study and/or the lack of transparency about the need for further studies...
A Hygienist’s Overview of the Effects of Iron-Deficient Anemia on Oral Health
The human body is a scientific masterpiece with multiple biological functions. However, proper function and maintenance are required to keep it working like a well-oiled machine. This includes adequate intake of certain minerals such as iron, calcium, and zinc.
Iron is an essential mineral that the human body requires for multiple functions. Iron deficiency can cause gastrointestinal (GI) upset, weakness,...
A Review of Medical Errors in Light of Kentucky Decriminalizing Them
Medical errors have been increasingly identified as a serious public health problem. This includes medical errors that occur in a dental setting. It's been reported that preventable medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States.1
The definition of a medical error varies, but the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committee on Quality of Health Care in...
Dental Hygienist Shortage: Proposed Solutions and Why Assistants Scaling Is Not the Answer
Amid the whirring drills and bright lights of dental practices, there's a growing problem: the dental hygienist shortage. Dentists are scrambling to find qualified dental hygienists to meet the needs of their practices and patients. It's a stark shift from 20 years ago when graduates like myself faced fierce competition for jobs.
One of the more popular suggested resolutions among...
Cephalic Tetanus and Tetanus of Dental Origin: An Overview and Case Studies
I became acutely aware of the controversy regarding dental professionals inquiring about patients' vaccination status during the pandemic. Though some dental professionals thought that question should be off limits, I want to remind you that as a dental professional, you are also, and maybe even more importantly, a health care professional.
I am not implying that vaccination status should be...
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 21: Teeth Whitening Product Efficacy
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, takes a look at different teeth whitening options and their efficacy.
Give it a watch, and make sure to subscribe to the Today’s RDH Dental Hygiene podcast on your favorite podcasting app or by going to https://anchor.fm/todaysrdh.