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
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 29: Fluoride, IQ, and the Recent Court Ruling
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, takes an evidence-based approach to discussing the recent reports on fluoride and...
Robust Evidence or Misinformation: 8 Tips for Vetting a Source
When I was younger, I would go to the library, find an encyclopedia, and look up the answer if I had a question about...
Critical Thinking: How Dental Professionals Can Reboot Thought Patterns
Carl Sagan once said, "The truth may be puzzling. It may take some work to grapple with. It may be counterintuitive. It may contradict...
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 28: Immune Response & Oral Health Implications
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, discusses immune response and the implications on oral health.
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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...
QUIZ: Test Your Halitosis Knowledge
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Addressing ADHA’s Support of LGBTQIA+ Oral Health Week
The American Institute of Dental Public Health (AIDPH) recently hosted its 3rd annual LGBTQIA+ Oral Health Week by sharing valuable educational resources on social...
Geographic Tongue: Is There a Systemic Link?
Geographic tongue is an inflammatory but harmless condition affecting the surface of the tongue. It’s characterized by patches missing papillae, which appear as smooth,...
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 27: Macrothrombocytopenia
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, discusses macrothrombocytopenia, a group of rare disorders characterized by abnormally large platelets.
Give...
Seasonality of Immune Response: Could Gingival Inflammation Have a Seasonal Component?
The immune response is very complex as it can vary between individuals and can be affected by environmental factors, among other things. This is...
QUIZ: Test Your Angular Cheilitis Knowledge
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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,...
The Dangers of Consuming and Swishing Raw Milk for Dental Health
A few years ago, I wrote an article about dangerous misinformation and disinformation inspired by the book Cure Tooth Decay: Heal and Prevent Cavities...
Giving Perspective on the Recent Report on Water Fluoridation and Cognitive Impairment
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has named water fluoridation one of the top 10 great public health interventions of the 20th...
Dental Patients Who Use Fentanyl: Addressing Clinician Exposure Concerns and Overdose Signs and Management
Recently, while I was perusing social media, I came across an excellent question posed in one of the dental hygiene groups. The question was...
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 26: Nano-Silver Fluoride
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, discusses nano-silver fluoride.
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QUIZ: Test Your Oral Manifestations of Bacterial Infections Knowledge
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Before you leave, check out the Today's RDH self-study CE...
Researchers Look at Prophylactic Antibiotics for the Prevention of Prosthetic Joint Infections
An estimated seven million Americans are living with a prosthetic joint replacement. More women have prosthetic joint replacements than men. Interestingly, the states with...
Human Skull, Jaw, and Teeth Evolution: Looking Beyond Dietary Changes Alone
Dentistry has been abuzz with airway and tongue/lip ties, forward head posture, and the like. Some dental professionals believe this is all due to...
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 25: FDA’s Marketing Approval of E-Cigarettes
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, discusses the FDA's recent approval of the marketing of four menthol-flavored e-cigarettes.
Give...