The Dental Handoff: A Holistic Approach to Oral Health with Lacy Walker
In a recent episode of The Dental Handoff podcast, host Dr. Kelly Tanner welcomed dental hygienist Lacy Walker, who joined from Germany to share her journey in dental hygiene and her holistic approach to patient care.
Finding Her Path in Dental Hygiene
Lacy's journey into dental hygiene began with her own concerns about her smile. During high school, she participated in a work co-op program that placed her in a dental office. Initially interviewed for a front office position, she was instead offered a role as a dental assistant, where she learned extensively about infection control. Watching hygienists work independently sparked her interest in the profession.
After her husband joined the military, they relocated frequently until settling in North Carolina for fifteen years. This stability allowed Lacy to pursue dental hygiene education. She waited for the second class of a new dental hygiene program to ensure everything was properly established before enrolling.
The Oral-Systemic Connection
About three to four years into her clinical career, Lacy experienced an "aha" moment regarding the connection between oral and systemic health. Working at a DSO practice allowed her to introduce adjunctive therapies for patients who weren't responding to traditional treatments.
One particular patient profoundly affected her approach to dental hygiene. Despite regular cleanings, this patient's gum health wasn't improving. The patient had high blood pressure, undiagnosed diabetes, and had experienced a miscarriage. This case ignited Lacey's passion to learn more about oral-systemic connections, leading her to become a fellow with IOSH (Institute for Oral-Systemic Health).
Holistic Patient Care
Lacy now takes a comprehensive approach to patient care, investigating daily activities, nutrition, sleep patterns, and potential airway issues. Her interest in airway health was triggered by her youngest daughter's enlarged tonsils, which caused difficulties with breathing, sleeping, and eating.
"If you're not sleeping well, you're not healing well," Lacy emphasized, highlighting the importance of quality sleep for overall health. After her daughter had her tonsils and adenoids removed, the transformation was remarkable – the dark circles under her eyes disappeared, and her energy levels improved significantly.
Lacy also discussed how many children with airway issues are misdiagnosed with conditions like ADHD when the underlying problem is oxygen deprivation. Forward head posture, mouth breathing, and dark circles under the eyes are all potential indicators of airway problems.
The Impact of Nutrition on Health
Nutrition plays a crucial role in Lacy's holistic approach. She's experimented with various eating styles – gluten-free, FODMAP, Mediterranean – to understand how different foods affect the body. This personal journey has informed how she advises patients about nutrition's impact on oral and systemic health.
Lacy noted that in Germany, she can eat fresh bread without issues, but preserved bread causes congestion and bloating. This experience highlighted the importance of understanding which foods might trigger adverse reactions in individual patients.
While dental hygiene education covers basic nutrition, Lacy believes a more in-depth understanding is necessary to effectively connect nutrition with oral and systemic health. She encourages patients to work with healthcare providers to develop personalized nutrition plans.
Personal Health Journey and Its Influence
Lacy openly shared her own struggle with disordered eating, which began at age seven when someone commented on her appearance. This experience, detailed in her book "Choices," influenced her relationship with food for years. After losing significant weight during her husband's deployment, his concern upon his return made her reflect on her behaviors.
However, it wasn't until her daughter confronted her about how her eating habits were affecting the family that Lacy fully recognized the impact of her choices. This realization became the catalyst for her writing her book and adopting a healthier approach to nutrition.
Finding Purpose in Education and Empowerment
Today, Lacy continues to work clinically while speaking, writing, and producing continuing education content for a podcast. She approaches patient care like a detective, looking beyond symptoms to find root causes. Rather than simply treating bleeding gums, for example, she investigates nutrition, medications, and lifestyle factors that might contribute to the problem.
This comprehensive approach often means going beyond the standard appointment time, sometimes calling patients later to follow up or learn more about their health journey. By customizing home care recommendations to each patient's abilities and preferences, she ensures better compliance and outcomes.
Lacy Walker's journey illustrates how personal experiences can shape professional practice, and how a holistic approach to dental hygiene can lead to better patient outcomes. By considering the whole person – not just their mouth – dental professionals can make meaningful contributions to overall health and wellbeing.
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/A1IaCzcbiPI
Keywords: Holistic dental hygiene, oral-systemic connection, airway health, nutrition and oral health, dental sleep breathing, integrative dental care, dental hygiene approach, dental nutrition, personalized patient care, oral-systemic health, sleep quality, eating disorders awareness, dental detective work, comprehensive dental care, The Dental Handoff podcast