Gueits explains 'ortho link' to be presented at RDH Under One Roof seminar
Lauren Gueits
A seminar urging dental hygienists to be more active in diagnosing malocclusion is scheduled for Aug. 15 the RDH Under One Roof conference. Lauren Gueits, RDH, will present a course titled, “Comprehensive Care: Don’t forget the ortho! Implementing the perio-ortho connection into clinical practicality.”
Gueits’ seminar is one of three general sessions in the 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. time slot on the second day of the dental hygiene conference, which is hosted Aug. 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.
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The other two general sessions opposite Gueits are:
- “Implant Coordinator: Are you Ready for your next career move,” presented by Ann-Marie DePalma, RDH
- “Riding the Silver Tsunami Wave: A guidebook for treating the baby boomer,” presented by Patti DigGangi, RDH
RDH eVillage recently interviewed Gueits, who is based on Long Island in New York and is the president of Healthy Smile Consultants.
RDH eVillage: You state that hygienists should help patients avoid the health consequences of malocclusion. In what way do you feel the seminar will increase awareness among hygienists to identifying potential cases where occlusal issues could be corrected through orthodontics?
Gueits: This course will bring to light that malocclusion is a symptom of malpositioned teeth. Doesn't it make sense to correct an orthodontic problem with an orthodontic solution? Occlusal adjustments, bite guards, Class V buccal composites are Band-Aid treatments. Do you believe patients deserve to be educated on the advantages of proper tooth alignment for long-term solutions? If so, this course will demonstrate how to have these chairside discussions for the utmost in comprehensive care.
RDH eVillage: The seminar appears to cover all of the key components of an orthodontic exam, which you suggest should be part of the overall hygiene exam. Can you give us some hints about what areas will be added to the hygiene exam during the seminar discussion?
Gueits: The last thing hygienists want is to be inundated with extra forms and exams to do when we are already bogged down trying to do our perio/restorative charting, oral cancer screenings, etc. I want to show you how to incorporate the ortho component as it relates to oral health in what I call the one-second ortho exam and an increased sense of awareness of the consequences of malocclusion as it relates to oral diseases.
RDH eVillage: As a speaker, you have always been a strong advocate for dental hygienists to administer periodontal health protocols. During the seminar, you will be introducing a perio/ortho clinical protocol. Can you summarize what the UOR audience can expect from this discussion?
Gueits: I have had the privilege of surveying hundreds of dental offices over the past year as to what their clinical protocol was in regards to orthodontics. I would say 95% have this philosophy: Perio first, meaning no active inflammation. Restorative, second. Ortho, third.
When challenged on whether this makes sense, 100% of them agreed that it did not. It makes more sense to have the perio-ortho-restorative model. Of course, restorative would take precedence if there were active decay, pathology, pain, or infection.
I look forward to reviewing the health benefits of this clinical protocol in my lecture.
RDH eVillage: You have indicated that the growing popularity of adult orthodontics will be discussed. In your mind, what are some key elements that hygienists should remember in patient education regarding the choices in orthodontic treatment?
Gueits: Most adults, if given the option, would choose clear aligners over traditional braces for social and esthetic reasons. This gives us more of an opportunity to treat adults with an orthodontic solution. We have to consider if faster is necessarily better when treating adults due to the increased risk of root resorption. Clear aligners are also a popular choice for they are removable for easier oral hygiene and there are no food restrictions.
To view the course description for the seminar presented by Gueits, click here.
To view the course description for the seminar presented by DePalma, click here.
To view the course description for the seminar presented by DiGangi, click here.
Ann-Marie DePalma
Patti DiGangi
