Haley Cradic, RDH, BS
Haley Cradic, RDH, BS, graduated from East Tennessee State University in 2018 with her Bachelors of Science degree in dental hygiene. She works part-time at a private practice in Rogersville, TN, and part-time at a non-profit clinic in Bristol, TN, that serves the uninsured people of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Haley is most passionate about being able to make a personal connection with each of her patients. When she’s not in the operatory, Haley enjoys reading, gardening, spending time outdoors, and spending time with her family.
Lessons for Hygiene Rookies: “Lifelong” Learning Starts with Other Staff Members
Dental hygiene schools equip future clinicians with the knowledge to navigate through the daily trials of patient treatment. We are taught anatomical structures, clinical skills, radiographic interpretation, pro-fluoride arguments, and community health topics among many other lessons. Long clinic days and difficult patient cases mold us into more efficient and experienced hygienists.
While hygiene school is the perfect cocoon where...
The Top 5 Lies that Google Teaches Dental Patients
"If it's on the internet, it must be true." This phrase has jokingly been thrown around probably since the invention of the internet. This modern convenience has allowed so much information to be accessed and easily disseminated; however, it is important to fact-check online content. Unfortunately for dental workers (and health care in general), a quick Google search often...
How to Determine if a Patient Prefers a Chatty or Quiet Hygienist
Most career paths have a stereotype associated with them, which is usually untrue. For example, doctors are known for having "chicken scratch" handwriting. Librarians are known as little, old ladies with glasses, and police officers are rumored to love donuts. While these stereotypes were meant to be humorous, they don't define the careers.
Several years ago, before I was even...
5 Challenges that Hygiene School Grads Face in the Real World
When you're fresh out of hygiene school, it's easy to ride out the high of passing all the dental boards and rigorous classes. You feel like you're on top of the world, and nothing can bring you down. Unfortunately, some parts of the real dental world can come at you fast. While confidence is the key to being successful...
The Topic of Topicals: Pain Management with Benzocaine Encourages Dental Patient Comfort
In our line of work, many dental hygiene patients present with varying levels of anxiety. While fears range from gagging to feeling pain during procedures, one of the most common fears seems to be injections.
Pain management is an important aspect of a successful dental appointment, but many patients tend to overlook the advantages of being anesthetized during treatment. As...
Understanding Why Dental Patients Can be Non-Compliant
Providing dental hygiene care can be one of the most rewarding jobs in health care. When patients find a good hygienist, they tend to stick with them and even begin to look forward to their biannual cleanings.
As a dental hygienist, you form close bonds with many patients, and you feel like part of the family. Sometimes, however, being a...
Ending the Board Exam Game: Is There an Easier Way to Assess New Dental Hygiene Professionals?
"Thanks for playing our little game."
I'll never forget hearing those words after taking my clinical board exam. My anxiety was already at an all-time high because of the stress that comes with preparing and completing the board exam. The last thing I needed was a snarky remark from one of the proctors.
One of the most debated topics in dentistry...
Extractions: What to Say when Patients Schedule Based on the Moon
When I went for a consultation about my wisdom teeth extraction in high school, my oral surgeon asked me if I wanted to schedule my surgery with the signs of the moon. I thought he was joking. What does the moon have to do with getting my wisdom teeth removed? I don't read my horoscope or put stock in...