Each week the RDH PIRA (Patient Impact & Rise Above) recognition program, sponsored by Water Pik, Inc., features a dental hygiene clinician who excels in his or her role and goes the extra mile. The past two and a half years have been a challenge for many clinicians and as we return to the operatory, we want to acknowledge those who provide patient care—clinicians who are changing their patients’ lives, influencing their patients’ health, and making a difference every day. This week we honor Gloria McNeal, RDH.
“I am a one-of-a-kind dental hygienist, providing complete personalized dental hygiene care to patients entrusted in my care. I am also a certified esthetician, and I provide skin analysis to my patients.
More PIRA honorees
"The epitome of strength and achievement"
An educated patient is a healthier patient
“Patients really enjoy the calming and relaxing atmosphere I create with live fish, mood-setting salt light therapy, and relaxing music. They are ecstatic when I take the time to disclose their teeth; they are often surprised by what they learn from me. Ninety-eight percent of my patients tell me they have never been shown how to floss, and when I give them a piece and say ‘Show me how you use this,’ often they don't know how. When they come back for their recall appointment, they are eager to show me that they learned from my instructions.
"Education is what drives me, and I believe that if l have helped to change the life of just one individual, then I have made a difference. It is essential to learn something every day, even if it's not something within the scope of dentistry or esthetics. Changing the lives of others is my best reward.
"I was very reluctant about becoming a dental hygienist because in my mind, it was not life changing. I took the blood pressure of a patient then released her to go straight to the emergency room for an evaluation because her readings were extremely elevated. She returned to me six months later, thanking me for saving her life, because she never knew she had hypertension. I live to help people who want the help, and for other challenges; I plant seeds and allow people to water the seeds.
“It gives me much pleasure to see patients trusting me, my knowledge, and skills to work with them as a cotherapist for dental hygiene care.”
Visit the PIRA website to nominate someone today! Good luck, and we look forward to hearing from many outstanding and qualified colleagues!
