Sejal Patel, dental hygienist and 2024 Dentistry Award winner, explains why hygienists do much more to improve outcomes, reduce costs and increase access in dentistry. Hygienists are going to be imperative to the future of dentistry: indispensable in terms of prevention, access and demand for oral health. Hygienists contribute to a reduction in oral disease and lower overall healthcare costs through routine cleanings and application of fluoride treatments to patients, as well as education on proper oral hygiene practices. With the healthcare system trending toward one that…
