Hygiene

Tameko Sowell, DDS, is a native of Ohio, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in human nutrition and food management from The Ohio State University. She obtained her dental degree from New York University in 2007. While in dental school, Dr Sowell participated in multiple outreach programs, including mission trips to Nicaragua and Tanzania. After obtaining her dental degree, she completed a 1-year advanced education training with the US Department of Veterans Affairs in Bay Pines, Florida. Dr Sowell began working for Gaston Family Health Services in 2008 (which became Kintegra Health in 2020) as a staff dentist and became assistant dental director in 2016. In January 2024, she became the chief dental officer of Kintegra Health and oversees the dental department. Dr Sowell enjoys working in the public health sector and believes dentistry is her calling to give back to the community.

Articles

With the help of MouthWatch, Kintegra Health is working to close the gap between medical and dental care and has collaboration success stories that show how it is keeping patients out of the emergency department. 

Deep Dive: Establishing Better Physician-Dentist Collaboration With Technology

As the world of dentistry continuously evolves and new science emerges, it is imperative for dental professionals to evaluate both past and current research in order to make informed decisions and provide patients with the most accurate information and ethical care.

Should Chlorhexidine Remain the “Gold Standard” In Today’s Modern Hygiene?

Kellie Nock is the assistant editor for Dental Products Report. She graduated from Kent State University in 2018 with a Bachelor's in Journalism. Kellie enjoys multimedia content creation with a focus on audio and video storytelling. 

Green tea matcha powder in mouthwash may be able to assist in the fight against harmful, periodontitis-causing bacteria, according to new study. 

Study Shows Matcha Green Tea Powder Mouthwash Fights Harmful Oral Bacteria

Funding has been awarded to organizations across the United States serving communities historically facing oral health inequities. 

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health Awards Grant Funding for Oral Health Equity Projects

The U.S. Senator from Vermont has introduced new legislation to address expanding dental care to underserved communities across the nation. 

Senator Bernie Sanders Introduces Dental Care Crisis Legislation

Dental thought leaders have convened before Washington to attest for the need to expand dental care and make it more accessible across the U.S.

Dental Leaders Testify Before Senate HELP Committee on Dental Care Crisis

Michelle Roman, EdD, RDH, is chair of dental hygiene at Middlesex County College, along with Professor Nadine Thompson, EdM, RDH, BSDH.

In May 2023, Dental Products Report featured Edison, New Jersey’s Middlesex College, and took a deep dive into how the college successfully incorporated teledentistry into its curriculum and community outreach efforts. One year later, Michelle Roman provides an update about the hygiene school’s progress in education and public health.

The Middlesex College Teledentistry Program: One Year Later

Dr. Lou Shuman is the CEO of Cellerant Consulting Group, dentistry’s leading corporate incubator and accelerator; a venturer-in-residence at Harvard’s i-Lab; the chairman of the technology advisory board at WEO Media; a long-time contributor to Dental Products Report; and the founder and creator of the Cellerant Best of Class Technology Awards.

Vigilant Biosciences has developed a method to help dental clinicians accurately detect oral cancers chairside, with the goal of early cancer diagnosis and better survival rates. 

Biomarker Reader Helps Catch Oral Cancers Earlier

Katrina M Sanders RDH, BSDH, M.Ed, RF, is a graduate and recipient of countless awards from the University of Minnesota’s School of Dentistry Division of Dental Hygiene. She is proud to currently serve on the alumni society for one of the most prestigious dental schools in the country. Katrina’s professional career emerged as an educator when she attained full-time employment with a career college in Phoenix, Arizona. A physical manifestation of Katrina’s commitment to her profession is in the development of her textbook, "Introduction to the Dental Hygiene Profession." Katrina proudly received her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with distinction through Northern Arizona University as a Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society distinguished member. Currently, Katrina is a distinguished speaker with Dental Hygiene Culture as she lectures nationally in a variety of dental hygiene continuing education content.

Podcasts

Join the Sanders sisters and trauma and acute care specialist Dr Sabrina Sanchez as they discuss putting the patient at the forefront, and the connection between trauma care and oral health. 

Floss & Flip Flops – Episode 29 – Trauma Awareness Month with Dr Sabrina Sanchez

Laura Dorr is the former executive editor of DPR's Modern Dental Network and a regular contributing author.

Whole body health is interconnected, and teaming up across concentrations can be key to keeping a patient healthy and happy. 

Patient Care