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Your routine dental cleaning is also an opportunity to catch health problems early.

When you settle into the chair at your dentist’s office, you might expect the routine cleaning and the reminder to floss, but your dental hygienist is doing a lot more than that. Faculty who educate future dental hygienists at the 91���� School of Dentistry say a thorough hygienist looks at your whole health, not just your teeth.

“It’s exciting to get the word out that our students don’t just learn how to clean teeth, brush and floss,” said Yazmin Garza-Gonzalez, MBA, RDH, assistant professor in the Department of Periodontics. “They learn to look at the whole picture, which is going to make them better clinicians, and also help educate their patients on how their oral health is the window to their medical health.”

Your hygienist sees the big picture

For many people, their hygienist and dentist are among the healthcare professionals they see most often. Every visit is a chance to catch problems early and ask how your oral health and overall health affect each other.

The ability to see the big picture starts in training. In their first semester, dental hygiene students at 91���� start by learning the structures of the head and neck, including bones, muscles, jaw joints, blood vessels and nerves, according to Pamela Hilbig, BSDH, MA, assistant professor in the Department of Periodontics. They go on to study tissues and how infections can travel.  A hygienist with that training isn’t just looking at your teeth. They are looking for any findings that might be out of the ordinary.

Your medications matter

Before the exam begins, your hygienist will ask what medications you take, including prescriptions, vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter products. It may seem like a question for your doctor, but many medications can affect your mouth. Garza-Gonzalez said some of the most common medication-related problems include:

• Dry mouth (xerostomia): Less saliva raises your risk of cavities and gum disease.
• Gingival enlargement: Swollen, overgrown gum tissue.
• Oral ulcers: Painful sores in the mouth.
• Oral lichen planus: A chronic inflammatory condition that can cause white, lace-like patches, swollen tissue, or open sores on the inside of your mouth.

Your medication list also helps your care team safely choose local anesthetics if needed and avoid harmful drug interactions. Hygienists are also trained to respond to medical emergencies linked to preexisting conditions such as diabetes, seizures, blood pressure disorders or heart conditions, Garza-Gonzalez said. That’s why your care team needs to know your medical history. 

UT Health San Antonio uses an electronic health record that brings your dental and medical records together, giving your team a fuller view of your health history. If you’re a current patient, you can view your dental and medical records, test results and appointments in MyChart.

Your cleaning is also a screening

Once your dental hygienist knows your health history, the exam can begin. Hygienists will perform exams inside and outside the mouth, looking for lumps, bumps, nodules, signs of skin cancer and changes in facial symmetry. They also feel the cheeks, neck, collarbone area and lymph nodes, and check salivary glands and tonsils. Findings are recorded in your electronic health record, which your UT Health San Antonio physicians can also access, so changes can be tracked from visit to visit.

The exam also includes an oral cancer screening. “What’s important about screening for oral cancer is that the earlier it’s detected, the better the prognosis,” Hilbig said. “We can see when it’s first developing and direct the patient to the right healthcare provider so they can get the treatment they need.”

Not every dental office includes an oral cancer screening in routine cleanings, Hilbig said, but it should always be part of the visit. At UT Dentistry, it’s included in every exam. Ask your dental provider whether it’s part of your exam and request it if it isn’t.

The window to your overall health

The next time you’re in the dental chair, remember that the cleaning is only part of the visit. Your hygienist is also checking for early signs of problems that can be linked to your overall health. Share your full medical history, ask questions and keep up with regular visits so your dental team has the full picture.

Need a dental provider? Visit UTDentistry.org or call 210-450-3700 to schedule an appointment at a UT Dentistry Clinic.

Looking for a reduced-fee option? Dental hygiene students in the UT Dentistry dental hygiene teaching practice, supervised by faculty, provide cleanings, X-rays, periodontal assessments, exams and oral cancer screenings. They also offer sealants to help prevent cavities, tobacco cessation and nutrition counseling, and scaling and root planing (also known as a deep dental cleaning), a non-surgical periodontal procedure for gum disease. Visit to learn more.