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Esther Wilkins, RDH, DMD
Forsyth, School for Dental Hygiene
Tufts University, School of Dental Medicine
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Honorary Degree of Doctor in Health Sciences
- Founding Director of the Dental Hygiene Department at the University of Washington
- Clinical Professor and Part-time teacher at Tufts
- Adjunct Professor at the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Author, Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist, which is in its 9th edition with the 10th edition well underway and translated into Japanese, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, and French Canadian
- Author, Little Book of Dental Hygienist's Rules, published by Elsevier
- Fellow, American College of Dentists
- Fellow, International College of Dentists
- Periodontology Specialty certificate
- Continuing Education Program presenter in all 50 states and several foreign countries
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Personal Questions
If your most used dental instrument could talk what would it tell you?
My most used instrument is the Probe. It would say, "Thank you for naming me your most used because every patient needs the probe!"
How has dental hygiene changed over the years?
Many new devices and instruments to improve the treatment patients get and encourage better oral health. Much influence from knowledge and research about influence of perio disease on systemic health.
What would you choose as a profession if you were not able to be a dental hygienist?
If not clinical dental hygiene then teaching and giving C.E. courses.
What is your favorite outside the office activity?
Dancing, of course, seeing my friends, reading, traveling to see new places, theater productions.
What is your favorite tooth and why?
I don't play favorites--- I love them all!
If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one Hu-Friedy instrument, what would it be and why?
Younger-Good 7/8. Adapted correctly and sharp, it can remove most deposits.
What prompted you to write your first textbook on dental hygiene?
At the University of Washington, where I first was involved in dental hygiene education, there were no up-to-date texts, we made our own "mimeographed" book which later was published by Lea and Feliger.
What is your most memorable dental hygiene related experience?
Receiving the ADHA award.
If you could be reincarnated into anything, what would it be?
A person who could be successful in getting all dental hygienists to become members and participate in ADHA.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Where DOES time go? Why so fast when we need more time to accomplish all the great things there are to do in the world. How can we get people to stop using the term "cleaning teeth" by dental hygienists? When really the patient must clean the teeth every day with a toothbrush, floss, and other dental aides.
Recommended Instrument List
