NoVA Dental Hygienists' Component presenting....
"Facing the Consequences -- Unmasking the Impact of Nutritional & Airway Deficiencies"
About Our Speaker: Lacy Walker, RDH, BS, FAADH, FAAOSH
Lacy is a registered dental hygienist, international speaker, author of the book Choices, and owner of Shared Hygiene LLC, with 25 years of experience in the dental field. She has worked in periodontal, a psychiatric hospital, cosmetic, DSO, and general private and military practices. Lacy is the former CE Director for A Tale of Two Hygienists Podcast, a Fellow with AAOSH, Director of Research, Education, and Hygiene Relations for Connect the Dents, and the Public Relations Chair and President-Elect for the American Academy of Dental Hygiene. Lacy has been published in DACE, Dr. Bicuspid, and RDH Magazine and is passionate about the oral-systemic connection. Lacy can be contacted at sharedhygienellc@gmail.com, @lacyrdh, @sharedhygiene, or by visiting sharedhygiene.com.
Course Description:
Have you ever looked at a patient and just known something was off even before they said a word? Maybe their skin looked a little dull, their lips were dry, their tongue told a story of its own, or their overall energy just felt… flat. Sometimes, it’s not about what they say, but what their face is saying for them. Our faces are like health report cards; they are reflecting not just how we’ve been living, but how our bodies are functioning right now and where things might be heading.
As dental hygienists, we have a front-row seat to these subtle signs. In this course, we’ll explore how the face and mouth reveal key insights into nutrition, hydration, airway development, and even sleep quality. Because let’s be honest, sometimes what looks like “I just need a good night’s sleep” is really a cry for oxygen, vitamins, or water.
By learning to recognize these clues, we can spot nutritional deficiencies, connect oral findings to systemic health, and help guide our patients toward a healthier, more balanced life. It’s like detective work for wellness and it all starts with the face looking back at us from the dental chair.
Learning Objectives:
Recognize nutritional deficiencies observable on the face and within the oral cavity.
Recall the role of optimal nutrition in influencing overall well-being.
Evaluate the dental patient for potential airway problems that might impact their lifespan and IQ.
Comprehend the impact of systemic problems on the skin and oral health.
Monday, March 24, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM-9:00 PM
Location: Live via Zoom
CE: Two (2) Hours
Registration
ADHA/VDHA Member – $20.00
Non-ADHA Member – $40.00
Current dental hygiene student- Free
Questions/concerns, please contact: Betsy Di Silvio, RDH, NVDHC CE Chair. Email: ejdrdh@gmail.com
Registration deadline: Saturday, March 7, 2026.
No refund or cancellation one week prior to the course date.
A Zoom link will be provided a couple of days prior to the event.
(Northern Virginia Dental Hygienists' Component is an approved course provider by the Virginia Board of Dentistry.)
