What if your dental appointment could do more than leave your teeth feeling clean and smooth? What if it could actually save your life?

In this episode of Mouthy Matters, Tosha sits down with Jennifer P. Sieder, RDH, a dental hygienist with nearly 30 years of experience, to pull back the curtain on what dental hygienists are really doing in that chair. Because most patients have no idea. They come in, get their polish, and leave without understanding the level of assessment, diagnostics, and whole-body awareness their hygienist was running the entire time.

Tosha shares the story of a patient whose dental appointment led to a cardiology referral that uncovered severe blockage. The surgeon sent a letter to the practice saying the team had saved her life. That is not a fluke. That is what happens when a hygienist is trained to listen, look, and connect the dots between what is happening in the mouth and what might be happening in the rest of the body.

Jennifer and Tosha talk about how they both found their way into dental hygiene, why the profession draws people who genuinely want to make a difference in healthcare, and what it looks like to go from a routine cleaning appointment to a full oral health assessment that checks gum tissue, blood pressure, lymph nodes, thyroid, airway, and oral cancer screening all in one visit.

If you have ever wondered what your hygienist is actually doing, or if you are someone who just shows up and hopes for the no cavity club, this episode is for you.

What you will hear in this episode:

-How Tosha and Jennifer each found their way into dental hygiene and why the profession drew them in
-Why your dental appointment is far more than a cleaning, and what hygienists are actually trained to assess
-The real story of a patient whose dental hygienist helped save her life by connecting oral and systemic health
-What oral cancer screening, airway evaluation, and blood pressure monitoring have to do with your teeth cleaning
-Why Jennifer goes into middle schools to teach kids about dental hygiene, and what questions they actually ask
-How to find a great dental practice and what to ask your hygienist at your next visit

Connect with Jennifer P. Sieder, RDH:
Instagram: @microbelinkdx
Facebook: facebook.com/microbelinkdx

Website: microbelinkdx.com

Connect with Tosha:
tosh.care | @toshardh | mouthymatters.com

Stay Awesome!
-Tosha, RDH

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner. Opinions from guests are their own. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.