December 2018: Oral Pathology Research Paper – Multiple Myeloma
Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a terminal disease with various symptoms as well as oral manifestations that are relevant to me as a dental hygienist as I work to enhance the patient’s ability to maintain good oral hygiene. Additionally, it will also affect treatment planning as I hope to ensure the patient’s comfort regardless of the oral manifestations and to provide proper care for the individual’s needs. Patients with multiple myeloma suffer from dysphagia, pain, bleeding, swelling, and tooth mobility. Therefore, anesthesia can be administered to help the patient with pain management and manipulation of the tissue should be kept at a minimal to decrease the amount of bleeding. Additionally, if the patient suffers from dysphagia, he or she can be seated in an upright position with adequate suction being provided to prevent the patient from choking. Unfortunately, since there is not a cure for this disease, and life expectancy is low for these individuals, patient comfortability is an essential factor to put into consideration when deciding on the most effective treatment plan.
December 2018: Pharmacology Research Paper – Drug Abuse in The Northwest Region
Drug Abuse in The Northwest Region
I believe that a dental hygienist should self-educate himself or herself on the regional drugs that are being abused in order to be familiar with its oral, physical, and psychological manifestations. Although patients might not be very forthcoming about the drugs he or she may be taking, one must be able to identify the possible affects it can have on an individual. Some patients may be honest and admit that he or she is on drugs, thus making it a dental hygienist’s duty to advise and educate the patient about it’s potential for abuse, its side effects, and what types of oral manifestations can occur because of it. Drug abuse trends tend to change with time, thus a dental hygienist must remain current with the constant research that is being done in order to identify what signs and symptoms a patient is displaying intraorally that can indicate drug abuse. Therefore, in this paper you will find a list of the most popular drugs of abuse in the Northwest region (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana), the history of these drugs, and what interventions have been created to decrease opioid abuse.
April 2018: Oral Presentation at The Spring Wellness Fair – Positive Effects of Melatonin in Oral Health
During The Spring Wellness Fair of 2018, my group and I discussed the positive effects melatonin has on the oral cavity and your overall health. Melatonin has been proven to effectively improve the sleep-wake cycle, decrease gingival inflammation and promote healing of the periodontal bone.
November 2017: Oral Presentation for Histology and Embryology – Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome causes brain damage and growth problems for children due to alcohol exposure during a mother’s pregnancy. There is no amount of alcohol consumption that is known to be safe during pregnancy. Therefore it should be avoided completely to prevent permanent lifelong complications for the child.
May 2016: BIO 480: Research – The Effects Manuka Honey Has on Oral Biofilm Formation
Thesis.Part 1
Thesis.Part 2
Thesis.Part 3
Dental plaque formation on orthodontic brackets and stainless steel wires has become a very crucial issue worldwide. Amongst the multiple oral bacteria identified, the two predominant strains include Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus salivarius. Since dental plaque results in tooth decay, it was sensible to reason and determine if a natural ingredient could prevent dental plaque from occurring. In this particular study, a comparison was made between the effects of manuka honey and regular honey on Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus salivarius found on orthodontic brackets, for extermination or inhibitory consequences of these bacteria due to this natural ingredient that could prevent dental plaque from occurring. I evaluated the effects these two types of honey have at preventing biofilm formation based on their different antibacterial activity and if one is preferably a better option. The results obtained indicate that honey does prevent biofilm formation and that manuka honey is more effective at inhibiting the growth of these two bacteria than regular honey.
