Tearing Down Boundaries
Have you wondered what it would be like to work outside a dental operatory and integrate your skills and knowledge with those in the larger healthcare community? I see several groups on social media for dental hygienists who have taken that step. Why haven’t more colleagues done so? When we consider what we have to offer the medical community as experts in oral disease prevention, it seems to be a perfect transition for us into the medical community.
Our medical colleagues are increasingly realizing the connection between oral health and overall health, so this makes our expertise extremely valuable. And when we understand that most physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other medical personnel don’t have the time or desire to learn about oral healthcare, it’s easy to see how dental hygienists can be key members of their team. Let’s never forget — dental hygiene is the only oral healthcare profession that was founded on preventing disease.
* References and figures can be found in the original article via the link above.
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