Kathryn Gilliam, BA, RDH, FAAOSH

Early in my dental hygiene career, an experience with a patient who had head and neck cancer profoundly affected me. It was that experience that has shaped my passion for early detection of head and neck cancer. The head and neck cancer screening became the most important part of my examination and I do it for every patient at every appointment. If I see a periodontal patient four times a year, that patient receives a cancer screening four times a year. My drive to change the dire statistics of head and neck cancer colors my coaching as well as my personal practice. I teach every dental team that I coach my version of a thorough, spa-like head and neck cancer exam. And if I run across a team that does not commit to do the exam for every patient at least annually, I simply can’t coach that team. It’s an absolute non-negotiable point for me. My interest in the medical side of dentistry led me to years of advanced study into the oral systemic link. I developed my company, PerioLinks, LLC, to train dental teams to transform their practices to care for the total health of their patients.  I feel blessed to have chosen dental hygiene as my career. Dental hygiene has allowed me to care for thousands of people over the last 30 years and those relationships have been very special to me. I’ve had the opportunity to publish numerous articles and continuing education courses, I’ve been honored to present courses to dental professionals across the country and internationally, and I have been privileged to coach some of the best dental teams in the country to elevate their standard of care. How many people find such deep fulfillment in their lives? 

"In my quest for products to ease the terrible side effects of oral cancer treatment for my patients and friends, I discovered StellaLife VEGA Oral Care products. The fact that it’s a homeopathic product line that eliminates the need for narcotic pain medication was what primarily interested me. The StellaLife products have helped to relieve mucositis, surgical pain, swelling, and accelerated healing. When used prior to the commencement of cancer treatment, the incidence of mucositis is greatly reduced. In addition to treating cancer patients, StellaLife products are an excellent choice for patients who have undergone periodontal therapy, dental extractions and for those who experience oral ulcers. In my practice, I apply the gel after non-surgical periodontal therapy to reduce discomfort and speed healing. My patients are comfortable and report no post-operative pain. The rinse supports non-surgical treatment and enhances results by reducing the anaerobic bacterial load. I highly recommend the StellaLife product line."      

- - Kathryn Gilliam, BA, RDH, FAAOSH