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Hey there,
I'm Liz, a registered dental hygienist with advanced training in oral-systemic education principles and orofacial myofunctional therapy.
I have worked in the dental field since 2011 when I started as a sterilization technician in a surgical clinic at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln, Nebraska, where I ultimately ended up graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene in 2015.
Since school, I have worked in several private practice settings as a dental hygienist. In the various offices I have worked in, I have learned about neuromuscular dentistry, implant and sedation dentistry, how to treat more advanced cases of periodontal disease, along with patient and practice management skills.
For anyone that knows me, it's pretty common knowledge that I love being organized and creating systems and forms to make work easier and more efficient. My love language is office supplies! (And houseplants, but that's a different discussion.)
Although I do love a good notebook, my greatest passion and obsession has grown significantly in the last few years, so let's talk about health-centered dentistry!
In 2018, a coworker asked me to attend a continuing education course with her in a different state, about a 3-hour drive. She didn't want to go alone, and I'm a bit of a CE junkie, so a road trip was planned. We attended the 2018 International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM) conference and learned SO MUCH information. My head couldn't even begin to absorb all of the information presented in the course, but my greatest takeaway was this: I was finally able to connect the dots for why so many of my patients "looked" healthy but still lived in a state of disease and chronic stress.
My desire to learn more about what I can do to provide better care for my patients led me to join Amber Auger's Thrive in the Op® mentorship program in 2021. Being a part of her program has given me life-long friendships, and I have learned and elevated my standard of patient care significantly since joining. Ultimately, it helped me understand more of what I want out of my dental career. I even joined Amber's staff as her research assistant from 2022 to 2024, which gave me more excuses to read research and learn new things every day, and I LOVED it.
Since my initial course on myofunctional therapy in 2018, I have worked in airway-centric dental offices that utilize airway appliances such as Vivos Therapeutics Oral Appliance Therapy, MyoMunchee, and HealthyStart along with expansion orthodontics and ENT and myofunctional therapy referrals to address airway concerns. I have watched as patients connect the dots themselves on why they feel so fatigued and sluggish even with routine exercise and an overall healthy diet.
My love of learning and wanting to provide the best care to my patients led me to take additional courses on myofunctional therapy and airway dentistry through Dr. Zaghi's The Breathe Institute, Sarah Hornsby's MyoMentor program, and Airway Palooza, in addition to hands-on training in manual therapy for pre- and post-op orthognathic surgery patients with Rebecka Clark, the founder of the Orofacial Recovery Institute.
While I practiced myofunctional therapy for one year in a functional dental office, I realized over time how much I missed working chairside as a clinical dental hygienist. After taking a step back, I decided to return to clinic and now work in a specialized periodontal office where I'm able to have discussions daily with patients on whole-health dentistry and help increase their understanding of how oral health impacts every aspect of systemic health. I still get to teach patients about airway health, but I am also able to discuss all systems of the body more, and I love the comprehensive treatment I'm providing.
As of 2024, I am working through the National Network of Healthcare Hygienists Oral Systemic Educator Certificate Program, which will allow me to work with other dental and medical providers and offices to build a future where comprehensive, interdisciplinary care between dentistry and medicine is the standard of care.
It's time we start recognizing the mouth as part of the body!
With guidance and training from top industry resources such as the American Association for Oral & Systemic Health (AAOSH) and Integrative Dental Medicine (IDM), my next career goal is to assist in the creation of protocols that connect dentistry and medicine as one.
Root Cause Resolutions was created as a way for me to share my passion for elevating the standard of care and to provide resources to both patients and providers in search of answers focused on whole-health assessment and treatment options.
As I learn and grow more in my endeavors, I will share my findings with anyone who cares to read this blog. Ultimately, my goal is to share research-backed solutions and insights along with long-term case studies of patients as they journey through establishing optimal oral and systemic health.
Talk soon,
Liz Laney, BSDH, RDH
Oral-Systemic RDH & Educator
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