Dental Hygienists Address Women's Health

Questions and concerns related specifically to women's health can be addressed during regular visits to your dental hygienist. The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) reminds consumers that oral health is an integral part of total health and encourages patients to discuss health concerns with their dental hygienists.

Dental hygienists have a longstanding history of addressing prevention-related topics. Over the past five years, they have assumed key roles in providing prevention education to patients by expanding professional visits to address topics like heart disease and hypertension, child abuse, smoking cessation, and breast cancer.

Questions and concerns about mammograms, pelvic exams, Pap smears, and other health topics can be incorporated as part of your regular preventive oral health treatment. By focusing on your total health, education about prevention and risk factors may be discussed during your office visit.

Early warning signs and disease detection also can be addressed, says ADHA. By initiating a discussion about women's health with your oral health care provider, you may obtain necessary information or resources to possibly save a life.

- 30 -