Dedicated to improving patients' lives
Each week the RDH PIRA (Patient Impact & Rise Above) recognition program, sponsored by Water Pik, Inc., features a dental hygiene clinician who excels in their role and goes the extra mile in their job. The past two years have been a challenge for many clinicians and as we return to the operatory, we want to acknowledge those providing patient care—clinicians who are changing their patients’ lives, influencing their patients’ health, and making a daily difference. This week we honor Brittany Glauz, RDH.
"It's not just cavities and gum disease"
Throughout my teen years, I was rebellious, uncontrollable, and at times just flat-out disobedient. Looking back, I see a girl who needed guidance, a mentor, and someone to look up to. But my history is what has built me and made me passionate about holding a professional role in health care. Every day I set out to use my knowledge in oral health to help guide and mentor patients to improve their oral-systemic health. My goal is to create a better patient experience in the operatory, so that patients ultimately improve their lives through oral health, by giving them a different experience in the dental chair, educating them on preventive care, and helping them understand oral-systemic health.
More PIRA honorees:
Breaking the poverty cycle and inspiring others
Preventive care has been put on the back burner for so long within dentistry that it has become less important than restorative, and I decided to change this for my patients. Every day I am teaching each patient what a thorough dental hygiene visit should look like. I believe that over time patients can learn the importance of their hygiene visit and their hygienist. I also take the time to explain to patients that our oral health is directly related to our body, and we can help to prevent systemic disease by improving oral hygiene. It's not just about cavities and gum disease.
I am dedicated to changing my patients' lives by giving them a different experience in the dental chair, educating them on preventive care, and helping them understand oral-systemic health. I may not have four hours with each patient like I did in hygiene school, but I will still provide patients with the quality care they deserve.
Visit the PIRA website to nominate someone today! Good luck, and we look forward to hearing from many outstanding and qualified colleagues!
About the Author
Jackie Sanders, MBA, RDH
Chief Editor, RDH magazine
Jackie Sanders, MBA, RDH, is a respected dental industry leader with more than 40 years of experience in dental hygiene, marketing, and professional relations. As chief editor of RDH, she is dedicated to advancing the dental profession through education, innovation, and collaboration. Prior to this role, she served as manager of professional relations and communications for Sunstar/GUM, building strong connections with industry associations, educational institutions, and dental professionals nationwide. Jackie has also contributed her expertise through committee service with organizations including the American Dental Education Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.