Dr. Ron McGlennen: What inspired you to pursue a career in dental hygiene, and what do you find most rewarding about it?
Rebekah: My childhood dentist was a family friend, so he made sure my dental experiences were positive. As a teen I worked in his dental office during the summer and that really sparked my interest in dentistry. I noticed the bond that my hygienist had with her patients, and I wanted to be able to improve their health while building relationships with them. Over the years I have been able to achieve that goal, and I have never regretted my career choice!
Dr. Ron McGlennen: How has incorporating salivary diagnostics into your practice changed the way you approach patient care? Can you share a memorable success story?
Rebekah: Salivary testing has been a game changer! When the results come in and you can see exactly what bacteria are responsible for the diseased state in the patient’s mouth, it allows you to provide the specific care that patient needs. No more guessing and using a “one size fits all” approach to periodontal disease. I had one patient who kept having abnormal bloodwork results with her PCP. After salivary test results confirmed the need for periodontal scaling the patient accepted treatment. I encouraged her to share the test results with her PCP. She shared with me at her next appointment that her bloodwork is now normal, and she strongly believes the treatment of her periodontal disease is to credit for the improvement.
Dr. Ron McGlennen: What advice would you give to other RDHs who are hesitant to adopt salivary diagnostics in their practice?
Rebekah: We have learned to accept when physicians order bloodwork, cultures, etc. to determine the best course of action and salivary testing is no different. It provides us with a tool to know specifically how to proceed with a patient’s care and takes the guesswork out of it. We already use x-rays for diagnostic reasons, and this is just another way to provide optimum care for the patients who are trusting us with their health.
Dr. Ron McGlennen: When you’re not helping patients achieve better oral health, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy in your free time?
Rebekah: I’ve always enjoyed flower gardening. A couple of years ago I decided to try growing orchids, and so far, so good! I also enjoy needle crafts and painting.
Dr. Ron McGlennen: What excites you most about the future of dental hygiene and how salivary diagnostics can contribute to it?
Rebekah: Over my 35-year career I’ve seen many changes to benefit the patients, and salivary testing is just the most recent. Being able to have more information about the patient’s condition to be able to customize their treatment is great! The printed reports help the patient understand more and become an advocate for their own health.
- RDH Spotlight: Rebekah Jungina - February 7, 2025