Kathryn Gilliam

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Articles

An orange a day keeps the hygienist away: How vitamin C promotes oral health

Mar 27, 2024 | rdhmag.com | Anne Rice |Adam Altdorfer |Kathryn Gilliam |Joy Void-Holmes

When periodontal pathogens invade oral tissues, the immune system activates to counter the invaders. Immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and T cells, are recruited to the infection site. These cells work together to identify, engulf, and eliminate the invading pathogens through phagocytosis and the release of antimicrobial substances. As part of their defense mechanisms, neutrophils and other immune cells produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which play a role in microbial killing.
The Effects of Stress on Oral and Systemic Health

Mar 14, 2024 | oralhealthgroup.com | Kathryn Gilliam

“You think you’re stressed? I’ll tell you about stress…” It almost seems like a competition these days, as if the amount of stress we can endure is a badge of honor. Every one of us experiences stress. Stress can come from all sorts of circumstances we perceive to be frightening, dangerous, or threatening in some way. Our genes play a role in our emotional response to stress. Our life experiences also affect the way we react to stress.
Passion and dedication motivate this man in a female dominated field

Mar 12, 2024 | rdhmag.com | Rafael Rondon |Kathryn Gilliam

Men are making significant strides in the dental hygiene profession. Everyone brings a unique set of experiences and perspectives, shaping the fabric of dental care delivery. One remarkable young man has embraced the role of a dental hygienist with passion and dedication. Meet Darren Green, who entered oral health care driven by a passion for impact. Despite stereotypes, he pursued his passion and broke barriers.
Open Wide: How a dental blog can empower hygienists and build patient trust

Mar 8, 2024 | rdhmag.com | Kirsten Brancheau |Amanda Hill |Kathryn Gilliam |Fleur Bruna

In the ever-evolving field of dental hygiene, we need to work hard at staying connected and continuously expanding our knowledge. We have a unique opportunity to make a difference by educating not only our patients but also our fellow professionals. Here’s a look at my journey in starting my dental education blog, Open Wide, and how other knowledgeable dental hygienists can contribute to its success. Together, we can empower patients to advocate for themselves in any dental setting.
RDH Clinical Recognition Program winner: Danielle Lambersky, RDH

Mar 7, 2024 | rdhmag.com | Kirsten Brancheau |Carol Jahn |Amanda Hill |Kathryn Gilliam

Each month, the RDH Clinical Recognition Program, sponsored by Water Pik, Inc., features a dental hygiene clinician who goes the extra mile in their job to change their patients’ lives, influence their patients’ health, and make a daily difference. Here we honor Danielle Lambersky, RDH. Blending art and patient careDanielle Lambersky, RDH, did not begin her working life as a dental hygienist.
Would you drink that?

Mar 7, 2024 | rdhmag.com | Amanda Hill |Melissa Van Witzenburg |Kathryn Gilliam |Sheila Britten

In the movie Erin Brockovich, there’s a scene where the legal teams are sitting around a table, and Erin (played by Julia Roberts) says to the opposing council, “We brought that water in special for you, folks; it came from a well in Hinckley,” and the lawyer who was about to drink it sets it down and abruptly ends the meeting. I can’t help but draw a parallel from this scene to the water in our dental operatories.
Medical protocols for periodontal therapy

Mar 6, 2024 | rdhmag.com | Kathryn Gilliam |Sheila Britten |Katrina Holt |Tom Viola

When I thought about the ulcerated epithelial lining being an open wound, I finally questioned: Why we don’t treat it like medical practitioners treat wounds? And in fact, why are we not using more medical protocols in general? As a practicing dental hygienist, I’m always looking for new techniques, technologies, products, and knowledge to help my patients achieve optimal health. We’ve been talking about integrative medicine and dentistry for the last decade or longer.
The tongue doesn’t lie: What it’s trying to tell us

Nov 22, 2023 | rdhmag.com | Kristin Evans |Melody McGee |Melissa Van Witzenburg |Kathryn Gilliam

When I first started dental hygiene school, I learned instrumentation on a typodont. After much practice, I became more confident and knew I would do well as a dental hygienist. Then I encountered a real mouth, and a tongue—a squirmy, large muscle that seemed to inflate and take up all the space in the mouth. Have you ever wished you could take that tongue out of your patient’s mouth during treatment and have clear access to the teeth and gingiva?
Identifying and managing trigeminal neuralgia in the dental office

Nov 21, 2023 | rdhmag.com | Melissa Van Witzenburg |Melody McGee |Kathryn Gilliam |Barbara K. Tritz

Dental hygienists are broadly educated in common systemic illnesses, oral pathology, and communicable diseases. Presumably, every hygienist encounters patients who present with health conditions they aren’t familiar with, and this is likely the case regarding trigeminal neuralgia (TN). This rare condition is twice as prevalent in women as men and is often undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or underdiagnosed. Also by the author ...
Ancient tongue diagnosis for the 21st century dental hygienist

Nov 20, 2023 | rdhmag.com | Kathryn Gilliam |Barbara K. Tritz |Brooke Ackerman

The earliest known text entirely dedicated to tongue diagnosis is Ao Shi Shang Han Jin Jing Lu (Ao’s Record of the Golden Mirror of Cold Induced Disorders).