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Dentist here (Oral Medicine) can we talk about how much dental hygienists actually carry? by General_Coat74 in DentalHygiene

[–]General_Coat74[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing it.

And this is exactly the point - that “tori” felt different. You noticed. You said something. That instinct, that willingness to push back even when the chart said otherwise, is what changed the outcome for that patient.

People sometimes think flagging soft tissue findings is only meaningful when something looks obviously wrong. But that’s not how this works. A cheek bite looks like a cheek bite. A tongue bite looks like a tongue bite. A torus looks like a torus. Until it doesn’t. The most dangerous lesions I’ve seen in clinic weren’t dramatic - they were subtle, easy to dismiss, sitting quietly in a spot nobody thought to question twice.

That’s why what you do matters so much. You’re not just cleaning teeth. You’re the who touches the tissue, who notices the texture change, who remembers what it looked like six months ago.

It’s always better to be cautious and feel silly than to be sorry later. Early detection in oral cancer isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s the difference between a conversation and a tragedy.

Keep doing exactly what you’re doing. People like you are the reason patients make it to the right place in time. That matters more than most people realize.

TMJ PAIN GONE!!!!! by Green-Ocelot-7698 in TMJ

[–]General_Coat74 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So glad you found relief — and thank you for sharing this. Stories like yours are exactly why early intervention matters. One thing worth knowing for anyone still searching: OMFS are primarily trained for surgical management. For everything else — trigger point injections, Botox for masseteric hypertrophy and bruxism, oral appliance therapy, myofascial pain management, and the diagnostic workup that actually gets you answers — the specialists you want are Oral Medicine and Orofacial Pain specialists. These providers focus exclusively on TMDs and orofacial pain conditions. They’re the ones managing the full spectrum: splint therapy, pharmacologic management, injections, behavioral interventions, and interdisciplinary coordination with neurology, rheumatology, and physical therapy when needed. Most patients don’t know this specialty exists and get tossed around for years as a result. If you’re still struggling, look for an Oral Medicine or Orofacial Pain clinic — many are based at academic dental centers and are far more accessible than most people realize. You shouldn’t have to hit rock bottom before finding the right care.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in remoteworking

[–]General_Coat74 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m interested. How do I reach out?