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
QUIZ: Test Your Historical Women in Dentistry Knowledge
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We Don’t Need a Dental Hygiene Union: Know Your Rights as Employees
A statement I've heard from multiple hygienists across the country is that dental hygienists need a union. Unfortunately, that is unlikely to happen for multiple reasons, the biggest being that dentists regulate the dental hygiene profession. It is to their benefit not to allow us to create a union.
The idea of a dental hygiene union is a pipe dream....
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 8: Utilizing Critical Thinking Skills in Dentistry
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, discusses the importance of utilizing critical thinking skills in dentistry.
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 Burning Mouth Syndrome Knowledge
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Listen to the Today's RDH Dental Hygiene Podcast Below:
Mission-Ready: Military Hygienist Serves Her Country and Those Who Serve
Many dental hygienists may overlook multiple aspects of the profession, such as those who serve in the military. During dental hygiene school, one of our rotations was at a military base, and I found it very interesting to meet and discuss dental care in the military with the hygienist who served that base and our country.
In this article, I...
Open House: Alicia Morris Helps Children with Autism Feel Comfortable with Hygiene Appointments
So many dental hygienists are trailblazers who never get the recognition they deserve. It seems the same key opinion leaders receive the awards distributed in the dental hygiene community, which often leaves hygienists who are doing great work unrecognized. I am honored to write this article to spotlight a dental hygienist who goes above and beyond to serve a...
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 7: Checking Your State’s Dental Practice Act
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, discusses the importance of checking your state's Dental Practice Act, how often it should be checked, and what can be found within it.
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...
QUIZ: Test Your Periodontium Knowledge
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Listen to the Today's RDH Dental Hygiene Podcast Below:
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 6: CDT Codes for Dental Hygienists to Implement
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, discusses CDT codes for dental hygienists to implement.
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 Anxiety and Pain Control Knowledge to Help Patients
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Now Check Out the Self-Study, Peer-Reviewed CE Courses from Today's RDH!
Listen to the Today's RDH Dental Hygiene Podcast Below:
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 5: Current Protocols in Root Planing, Subgingival Irrigation, and FMD
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, discusses current protocols in root planing, subgingival irrigation, and full mouth debridement.
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 Dental Hygiene Profession Knowledge
Are you in need of CE credits? If so, check out our peer-reviewed, self-study CE courses here.
Now Check Out the Self-Study, Peer-Reviewed CE Courses from Today's RDH!
Listen to the Today's RDH Dental Hygiene Podcast Below:
Dental Practice Acts: How Often Should Dental Hygienists Review Them?
Questions abound on social media regarding what is allowed to occur in the dental office, ranging from "Can assistants polish?" to "When the dentist is out of the office, can hygienists see patients who have not had an exam in 12 months? "Unfortunately, there is not one right answer. The answer depends on the state in which the situation...
Oral Cancer: HPV-related Small Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx
HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer is becoming more widely discussed in literature and dental offices. Over the past 30 years, we have learned more about HPV’s role in oropharyngeal cancer. Currently, oropharyngeal cancer is the most common HPV-related cancer in the United States.1
Most of the oropharyngeal cancer caused by HPV are squamous cell carcinomas. However, there are multiple phenotypes that are...
Refresher on Different Types of Scientific Studies and Their Clinical Relevance
Practicing clinicians must understand the differences in the types of dental research and clinical relevance when reading and reviewing scientific literature. This awareness helps ensure dental professionals are providing the best possible care to patients and can assist in determining the best recommendations or tools to improve patients' oral health.
Placing too much weight on a study that may not...
6 Underutilized CDT Codes for Dental Hygiene Treatment
The one thing I wished I had learned in hygiene school was how to understand current dental terminology (CDT) codes better. However, this wasn't even mentioned in passing in my program.
I understand these codes and insurance should not in any way dictate treatment recommendations; however, understanding these codes and their limitations helps to have conversations with patients regarding the...
Chiari Malformation: Identifying Potential Oral Health Symptoms in Dental Patients
Chiari malformation is a condition in which the brain tissue extends into the spinal canal. Many cases are asymptomatic and only discovered due to imaging for other conditions. However, when it is symptomatic, it can be quite painful.
It is estimated that the prevalence of Chiari malformation is around one in 1,000 people. The four types of Chiari malformation are:
...
QUIZ: Test Your Prophylactic Antibiotics Knowledge
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Listen to the Today's RDH Dental Hygiene Podcast Below:
Curiosity Killed the Plaque Ep. 4: Monkeypox & Dentistry
In this episode of Curiosity Killed the Plaque, Spring Hatfield, RDH, BSPH, discusses monkeypox, including the history, virology, and pathophysiology, as well as the impact is has on dental professionals and dental offices.
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.
Please note:...
Researchers Use Teeth to Discover the Origin of Herpes Simplex Virus
According to the World Health Organization, several billion people globally are infected with the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1).1 Determining the origin and changes that occur in viruses can help scientists better understand the virus as well as therapeutic and preventive measures. However, tracing the origin and genomic changes can be challenging for viruses that have infected humans for hundreds...