Hygiene Spotlight features an exceptional dental hygienist every month. This month, we are showcasing Melia Lewis, MED, RDH, an educator and advocate. Melia founded the educational platform Hygiene Edge, where she creates videos to teach new skills, techniques, and products to fellow hygienists.
Why did you decide to pursue dental hygiene as a career?
I have always loved science and the human body. They were always my favorite classes in school and I could read about the body all day! My father was a dentist who absolutely loved being in dentistry, so having him as a mentor and practically growing up in a dental office made going into dentistry an easy fit. I’m very grateful for a great mentor like him to show how diverse dentistry can be and how we can individually help patients and our communities.
What inspired you to create “Hygiene Edge”, the education platform?
Dental hygiene can definitely be lonely at times, especially when you work as a solo hygienist. It’s hard to collaborate or have someone to talk cases through, which I definitely felt as a new grad. Dental hygiene is also such a hands-on, muscle memory skill that is tricky to learn without guidance and support. Hygiene Edge was born to help support dental hygiene students learn the proper techniques and instrumentation from home but also support the clinical dental hygienist in their ops. And it has grown from there! It’s been so fun supporting dental hygiene educators with their courses and lectures, working with companies and products, and just connecting the dental world in a different way.
What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
Personally, my greatest accomplishment, that I’m still working on, is raising two daughters. Being a mom, especially to daughters, is no joke! I’m grateful for all the amazing women around me to help to navigate this time of life. Professionally, I can think of several individual patients who we have worked with to improve their overall and oral health through my operatory. Connecting the dots between dental health and systemic health is such a passion for me with my patients and working with them to create change in an attainable way is such a highlight of my career.
What emerging trends in oral health care or hygiene education are you most excited about?
I’m not sure if it’s trendy since it has been talked about for years, but I’m so excited for growth and autonomy in our profession. I would love to see dental hygienists be self-governed all over the world and be able to focus on prevention and education in all settings, not just a traditional brink and mortar dental office. How amazing would it be to see dental hygienists in hospitals, doctor’s offices, outreach clinics, cancer centers, and more to support patients and their health? We can be such a force for change and support in so many aspects of healthcare.
What is the one piece of technology or a product you could not work without?
So many! Definitely a saddle stool. It’s my BFF in the op to help with patient and operator positioning and keeping it as neutral as possible. I’ve loved using desiccation therapy (HybenX and PerioDT) since it was launched and have noticed how helpful it is for periodontally involved patients and heavy calculus cases.
If you could change one thing about the public’s understanding of oral health, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about the public’s understanding of oral health, it would be helping people realize that oral health is overall health. The mouth is not separate from the rest of the body. It’s the gateway to it. When there is bacteria, inflammation, or infection in the mouth, it doesn’t just stay there and can and will affect the heart, lungs, and even complications in pregnancy and diabetes. We can’t truly be healthy if we ignore what’s happening in our mouths. Raising awareness about this connection could empower more people to prioritize their oral health as an essential part of their overall well-being.
What is your favourite tv show or movie and why?
I’m a sucker for Parks and Rec. I love a good laugh after a long clinical day.
Connect with Melia:
Website: www.hygieneedge.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hygieneedge, www.instagram.com/meliardh
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melia-lewis/
TikTok: @hygieneedge