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
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.
QUIZ: Test Your Ultrasonic Instrumentation 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.
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 20: Dangers of Oral Clay Products
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, takes a look at natural oral care products, specifically bentonite clay.
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.
Nano-Hydroxyapatite Varnish: Does Research Support Caries Prevention Efficacy and Safety?
Nano-hydroxyapatite varnish has made its way to the market and into some dental practices. Though nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste has been on the market for several years, nano-hydroxyapatite varnish is a relatively new concept. As with all new products, research and clinical trials are needed to verify safety and efficacy.
An article previously published by Today's RDH provides insight into nano-hydroxyapatite and...
Hand Hygiene: How Effective Are Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Against Non-Enveloped Viruses?
The very first thing I learned clinically in dental hygiene school was hand hygiene. Proper handwashing was the first, and admittedly the most stressful, clinical competency on which we were evaluated. I remember practicing until my skin was chapped to ensure my technique was perfect.
Though we all need to know the correct technique and properly wash our hands, the...
QUIZ: Test Your Oral Cancer Screening 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.
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 19: Periodontal Disease and Hypertension
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, takes a look at the oral-systemic link focusing on periodontal disease and hypertension.
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.
Evidence-Based Dental Care: Evolution of SRP, FMD, and Subgingival Irrigation
As a hobby, I enjoy reading scientific literature published in the 1800s and a few from the early 1900s. What fascinates me is just how far we have come in medicine and dentistry. The progress we have made ‒ not only making treatment more comfortable for patients but also the updated evidence-based protocols for clinicians that provide the guidance...
Research History of Traumatic Occlusion and Why More Research is Needed
An ongoing debate and lack of clear evidence have left the dental profession with unanswered questions about the role of traumatic occlusion in multiple oral conditions. Is it a contributing factor? How should it be managed? What is the proper protocol, and how do we clearly identify it?
So many questions come to mind, and I hope to answer them...
Informed Consent Review: How Hygienists Can Assist Patients in Making Informed Decisions
Informed consent is an important aspect of research, medicine, and dentistry, as well as the patient's right to autonomy. While a patient's right to autonomy can become blurred in the face of certain ethical decisions, it should never be ignored outright.
Medicine and medical research have a past that haunts me since early research rarely, if ever, considered patients' autonomy....
QUIZ: Test Your Extraoral and Intraoral Clinical Assessment 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.
Consumer Beware: An Example of the Cosmetic and Beauty Industry Practicing Unlicensed Dentistry
There is a growing trend in the cosmetic and beauty industry in which unlicensed individuals are practicing dentistry. Most of these establishments are hiding behind the guise of providing cosmetic services when, in fact, they are providing and recommending dental treatment that is not within their scope of practice in the cosmetic industry.
This is a cautionary tale for both...
Dental Board Exams: The Ethical Conflicts of Using Live Dental Patients
Are you aware that dentistry is the only area of health care that requires a live board patent exam for licensure? In no other area of health care is this an acceptable practice.1 Historically, we have been using live patients since the early 1900s.2 The consistent use of live patients for so many years has made shifting away from...
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 18: Genetics & Oral Health
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, dives into the topic of genetics and oral health.
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.
Artificial Sweeteners: Reviewing the Oral Health Effects of Different Sugar Alternatives
A few years ago, I was told by a fellow hygienist that certain artificial sweeteners, specifically sorbitol, increased the risk of dental caries. I inquired about sources to support this claim, and the hygienist directed me to the dentist who provided this information to her.
I reached out to him on multiple occasions, and during these interactions, he assured me...