Self-driven advocacy with forward-thinking leadership
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![Annie Walters MSDH RDH]()
Head over to my blog page to gain insight into my clinical experiences, key opinions and thoughts on current hygiene trends.
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![Annie Walters research]()
See my research section for current evidence-based literature pertinent to the practice and profession of dental hygiene.
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![Annie Walters MSDH, RDH]()
Here you’ll find information regarding my clinical and volunteer experience, as well as my collegiate education.
Featured Articles
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DOCTORAL DEGREES IN DENTAL HYGIENE
By: Annie Walters, MSDH, RDH
[Originally published in RDH Magazine]
In the academic and professional sphere, individuals possessing a doctoral degree are held with high regard and are viewed as equals amongst those with similar accolades. It is indisputable that having a doctorate, whether professional or academic, leads to career advancement, salary compensations, research opportunities, and training to be able to educate graduate level hygienists.
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PATIENTS WITH SPECIALIZED HEALTH-CARE NEEDS: ORAL MANIFESTATIONS AND COMMON MEDICATIONS
By: Annie Walters, MSDH, RDH
[Originally published in RDH Magazine]
Patients with specialized health-care needs (SHCNs) face numerous barriers in their lives, and access to adequate oral health care is one of them.1,2 These individuals rely on family members or caregivers to assist them with their primary care and establish them with health-care providers who understand their specialized needs and offer supportive modifications.3,4
Patients with SHCNs present with complex oral health-care needs that vary in severity. Due to systemic health conditions and difficulty maintaining personal oral hygiene, they’re at high risk for periodontal disease and dental caries.5,6 To provide personalized care for these patients, oral health-care providers must understand the complexities of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and the heightened oral manifestations that can result.6,7
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TREATMENT ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH SPECIALIZED HEALTH CARE NEEDS
By: Annie Walters, MSDH, RDH
[Originally published in RDH Magazine]
In 2019, the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) identified 7.39 million people in the U.S. to be living with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD), which equates to about 1 in 10 people. (1-4) These individuals face numerous barriers to daily life, with access to adequate oral health care being one of them. (5,6) To provide a personalized level of care to these patients, oral health care providers must have an understanding of the varying complexities of IDDs and heightened oral manifestations that can result. (7,9) Dental hygienists are in a critical position as care providers for these patients because of the role they play in education and prevention. This article series aims to discuss aspects of a dental hygiene visit that can be tailored specifically for special needs individuals and will also review caregiver education, various oral hygiene aids, and dental office considerations.
As I work with students weekly, I am often asked the questions, “what advice would you give a new graduate?” Or “looking back, what do you wish you knew as a new graduate?”
Check out my new blog post below!
