by Ann-Marie C. DePalma, RDH, MeD, FAADH
[email protected]
Did you know the future of dental hygiene is now? New technologies, including dental endoscopy, newly designed piezo ultrasonic tips, host modulated therapies, and regenerative proteins are the future that hygienists can work with now. Judy Carroll, RDH, has designed a program called “The Vision of Revolutionary Care,” which shows the dental hygiene practitioner how preventive diagnosis and more definitive treatment options can lead to improved clinical outcomes and nonsurgical bone regeneration.
Judy’s program discusses published literature and rationale that demonstrate the limitations of current nonsurgical periodontal therapies, the past, present, and future of periodontal endoscopy, the use of subantimicrobial dose doxycycline, efficient piezo root instrumentation, the use of regenerative proteins such as Emdogain and Gem21, and the proper use of insurance codes and fee scheduling. The course is filled with nuggets for nonsurgical treatment strategies for improved clinical outcomes and unparalleled efficiency. Judy feels that the entire staff would benefit from this program by gaining a better understanding of periodontal pathogenesis, risk assessment, communication with patients, and new nonsurgical treatment options. She can even tailor a program for one-on-one clinical coaching.
After years of researching surgical extractions and failed periodontal treatments, Judy felt a sincere desire to find better solutions for her periodontally-involved patients, while providing alternatives to the surgical components most of them were given. She developed a passion to tell others about the solutions she discovered. Judy provides participants with published literature and research on Emdogain, perioscopy, SDD (subantimicrobial dose doxycycline), the limitations of traditional scaling/root planing, great insurance narratives, and fee structures. After researching all of the information, she began presenting programs to study clubs and associations, which led to developing her own business and lecturing nationally. During a session at UOR in 2008, Judy was privileged to have Dr. Esther Wilkins in the audience, and Dr. Wilkins has since been very supportive of Judy’s work and research.
Judy is a graduate of Shoreline Commnity College School of Dental Hygiene and holds two associate in arts degrees. She is a member of ADHA, and is passionate about raising her 10-year-old son, outdoor activities, nature, and teaching patients and clinicians about periodontal disease solutions.
Judy feels that most hygienists are lacking in postgraduate periodontal skills since there are few options for advancing their clinical periodontal diagnostic and therapeutic skills. She believes that the dental hygiene profession has been left in the dark about new advances, especially endoscope technology, host modulation, and more efficient bladed and diamond-coated piezo ultrasonic tips. All of the new technologies have the potential to empower the profession of dental hygiene, leading to more significant differences in the lives of the patients and clinicians. Dental hygienists have the power to elevate the profession by providing highly definitive treatment options within their current scope of practice, which allows them to help the millions of people suffering from periodontal disease. Judy’s vision is to achieve that for all.
For more information about Judy and her programs, go to www.periopeak.com.
About the Author
Ann-Marie C. DePalma, RDH, MEd, FAADH, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dental Hygiene and a member of ADHA and other professional associations. Ann-Marie presents continuing-education programs for hygienists and dental team members and has written numerous articles on a variety of topics. She can be reached at [email protected].
