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
What Hygienists Need to Consider when Treating Patients with Malocclusion
Malocclusion is defined as “irregular contact of opposing teeth in the upper and lower jaws.”1 Most people with minimal knowledge of dentistry view it...
Noma (Cancrum Oris): A Case of a Third World Disease in a First World Country
People who live in developed countries often lack knowledge of some of the serious dental and health issues that persistently trouble residents in developing...
Research in Nutrition Helps Sharpen Focus on Oral-systemic Links for Dental Treatment
Since periodontal disease is a chronic complex disease affecting 47% of the adult population in the United States,1 we know that treatment of the...
Dear CVS: I Have Concerns About Your Do-It-Yourself Orthodontics Partnership
Dear CVS,
As a dental professional, I am writing with serious concerns associated with your recent partnership with a do-it-yourself orthodontic company. Upon looking into...
Understanding and Managing Xerostomia
Xerostomia or dry mouth is one of the most undermanaged oral health conditions in medicine and dentistry. This could be due to the lack...
Measles: How Dentistry Can help Slow Outbreak through Diagnosis
We may see a record-breaking number of measles cases in the United States for the first time this year, the highest since the elimination...
Oral Cancer Awareness and Adjunctive Screening Devices
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. According to the CDC, 598,038 people died from some form of cancer...
Does Xylitol Outshine Fluoride in the Fight against Tooth Decay?
For years fluoride has been dentistry’s gold standard in the fight against tooth decay. In 1945, water fluoridation was implemented. A 60% reduction in...
“Root Cause” Netflix Documentary: Let’s Review the Science
If you haven’t heard, let me be the first to introduce you to a documentary on Netflix called “Root Cause.” The documentary follows an...
Sealants: Not Just For Kids Anymore
As a dental hygienist, I consider myself a preventive oral healthcare specialist. Dental hygienists are one of the few healthcare providers with the primary...
Dental Response to “Sucking Baby’s Pacifier Clean May Prevent Allergies”
To Whom It May Concern,
Your recent article published on your website on November 19, 2018, titled “Sucking Baby’s Pacifier Clean May Prevent Allergies,” has...
Topical vs. Systemic Fluoride: What Patients Need to Know
A study published online in Environmental Health Perspective on July 20, 2012, written by Anna Choi, a research scientist in the Department of Environmental...
Dear Dr. Oz: A Letter from a Licensed Dental Professional
Dear Dr. Oz,
I would like to begin by saying, your show has been very informative over the years, and I appreciate what you are...
Is Saliva the Future of Diagnostics?
During dental treatment, saliva is generally not our friend. We fight with it to keep patients from feeling like they are drowning, it is...
Could Periodontal Disease have an Autoimmune Component?
Periodontal disease causes chronic inflammation, tissue destruction, and cannot be cured only maintained. Periodontal disease has some genetic qualities, and if left untreated can...
The Medical History Mystery: Getting Patients to Understand the Importance of Medical History
I’m sure I’m not the only hygienist that has pondered why patients are so reluctant to provide complete disclosure of their medical history before...
The Importance of Screening Pediatric Patients for Sleep Related Breathing Disorders
“Scientists have discovered a revolutionary new treatment that makes you live longer. It enhances your memory, makes you more attractive. It keeps you slim...
Networking to Achieve Overall Health for Patients
Recently, at my annual well visit with my primary care physician, after the usual weight and blood pressure check, I was asked when I...