Redefining the Modern Dental Hygienist

A 21st-Century Hygienist Leading the Way in Oral–Systemic Care

In an era where dentistry and medicine are becoming increasingly interconnected, forward-thinking hygienists are stepping into roles that go far beyond traditional clinical care. Among them is Jessica Eisenbarth, BSDH, RDH, OMT, CH-OSE, a true 21st-century hygienist who’s helping shape the future of oral–systemic healthcare. 

Jessica currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at Ivory Family Dentistry in Spearfish, South Dakota, where she blends leadership, clinical insight, and a passion for prevention. Today’s hygienists are expanding far beyond the operatory. Just as registered nurses (RNs) can advance into leadership or specialized roles, today’s registered dental hygienist (RDH) embraces their role as a licensed healthcare provider—bridging dentistry and medicine through the science of prevention, behavior change, and collaboration to promote whole-body wellness. Jessica's unique hybrid role includes overseeing practice operations, mentoring her team, and providing myofunctional therapy and oral–systemic health consultations. Through this integrated approach, she ensures patient care goes deeper than just treating symptoms—it addresses the root causes that impact whole-body health.

Bridging Dentistry and Whole-Body Health

Jessica’s journey reflects the evolution of modern dental hygiene. Rather than limiting her work to the mouth, she’s made it her mission to understand the complexities of the entire airway—recognizing that oral conditions are often early indicators of systemic health issues such as sleep-disordered breathing.

“I’m deeply passionate about helping bridge the gap between dentistry and medicine through education, collaboration, and prevention-focused care. My goal is to be part of an integrated wellness model where patients receive truly comprehensive support for their oral and systemic health."

Her commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration is clear. While her clinic isn’t fully integrated within a medical facility, Jessica routinely collaborates with medical providers, speech-language pathologists, and airway specialists to ensure her patients receive comprehensive, prevention-focused care.

From Hygienist to Oral–Systemic Educator

Jessica holds an Oral Systemic Educator Certificate™ through the National Network of Healthcare Hygienists (NNHH)—credentials that validate her expertise and set her apart as a leader in oral-systemic health. Her Capstone Project perfectly embodied that vision. Jessica and her colleague presented “Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders: Screening, Strategies, and the Whole-Body Impact” at the South Dakota Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention—an innovative collaboration designed to educate speech-language professionals about the oral–systemic connection.

“I wanted to go beyond surface-level continuing education as an RDH. I wanted a program that would open new doors for me and validate my experience, strengthen my credibility, and empower me to make a greater impact in bridging dentistry with whole-body health. This project deepened my understanding of the critical overlap between oral function and systemic health, as well as the importance of collaboration between dental and speech-language professionals. By bridging the knowledge gap between the fields of dentistry and speech-language pathology, our presentation helped empower clinicians to recognize orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) earlier, communicate more effectively across disciplines, and support whole-body health through interdisciplinary care. The experience not only expanded my professional network but also reinforced my role as myofunctional therapist and oral-systemic health educator while advocating for integrated care.”

Leading with Purpose, Not Routine

Dental hygiene school is meant to be a foundation upon which a uniquely personal, service-based oral-systemic health career is built on over time. Jessica represents a new generation of RDHs who, like RNs, understand that school is the starting line, not the finish line. She’s continually learning, adapting, and integrating more prevention focused science to raise the standard of care as a hybrid healthcare hygienist. She is using her critical thinking, teaching and collaborating skills far more than the fine motor skills that are so focused upon in hygiene school.

The oral–systemic health model she champions encourages hygienists to get out of their routines—to consider airway function, inflammation, sleep, and systemic risk factors. It’s a philosophy that not only improves patient outcomes but also reignites passion for clinical professionals who want to make a deeper impact.

“The demographic that truly tugs at my heartstrings are those patients who, without early recognition and proactive management, are likely to end up in the ‘sick care’ model. These individuals are often overlooked or dismissed until their symptoms become more advanced. I’m passionate about helping them uncover the root causes of their health concerns and connecting them with the right resources before their issues become symptomatic. Supporting patients in taking a proactive approach to their oral systemic health and seeing them empowered to be able to live longer, healthier lives is deeply rewarding."

The Power of Advanced Oral Systemic Education

Jessica credits her Oral Systemic Educator training with giving her the confidence and scientific foundation to make meaningful changes to their dental office's approach to care. For hygienists who want to have a bigger impact while advancing their careers, Jessica’s story is a powerful example of what’s possible when you invest in deeper, evidence-based learning.

"My connection to this work and passion for continuous learning is very personal. Over the years, I’ve watched loved ones struggle with chronic health issues that, looking back, were likely rooted in undiagnosed or untreated oral-systemic concerns. At the time, I didn’t know enough to recognize the signs or guide them toward preventive care. Those experiences have been a driving force behind my passion for early identification, education, and root-cause prevention. It’s incredibly meaningful to use what I’ve learned to help others and be able to support them in achieving long-term wellness. This program reinforced and expanded the knowledge I’ve built through years of advanced continuing education, while giving me greater credibility as both a leader and educator. It provided the framework and validation I needed to confidently guide our team toward a more integrated, prevention-focused model of care. Implementing what I learned has deepened our oral–systemic approach. The most meaningful feedback comes from patients who will remind of the value of this approach and inspire me to keep leading by example and raising the standard of care."

Looking Ahead: The Future of Integrated Care

Jessica's dream role would be within an integrated, collaborative health and wellness clinic that brings multiple modalities together under one roof. Until then, her focus remains clear—education, collaboration, and prevention.

“I’m deeply passionate about bridging the gap between dentistry and medicine,” she says. “My goal is to be part of a model where patients receive truly comprehensive care for both their oral and systemic health.”

For Hygienists Ready to Take the Next Step

Jessica’s advice to hygienists considering advanced oral systemic education online is simple but profound:

“The main benefit for me was the sense of professional credibility that this certificate provided. It affirmed the years I’ve dedicated to advancing my knowledge and strengthened my confidence as a leader and educator in oral–systemic health. The program gave me a stronger scientific foundation and shared language to confidently communicate with other healthcare providers."

Whether you’re a clinical hygienist seeking new meaning in your work, an educator hoping to strengthen your credibility, or a practice leader looking to integrate whole-health care, Jessica’s journey is proof that the modern hygienist’s role is evolving—and that the future of dentistry is integrative, preventive, and deeply human; offering care that goes beyond procedures, protocols, or data—it’s rooted in empathy, connection, and genuine understanding of the person behind the patient.