Lacy Walker, RDH, CDA, FAADH, FAAOSH

Lacy Walker, RDH, CDA, FAADH, FAAOSH

December 2025 Heart to Hands

A single patient 10 years ago changed the course of my career. She presented with advanced periodontal disease, uncontrolled diabetes, and hypertension. When she later experienced a miscarriage, I was heartbroken and it motivated me to search for answers. Salivary diagnostics revealed all eleven pathogenic periodontal bacteria, and for the first time, I truly understood that what happens in the mouth does not stay in the mouth. That moment forever shifted how I viewed dentistry and my role as a dental hygienist.

I became committed to asking why. At that time I didn’t fully understand how the disease developed based on other oral systemic conditions, why it progresses more in others, and how oral health impacts the rest of the body. This ignitied my passion for the oral and systemic connections. Across more than 25 years in dentistry to include periodontal, general, cosmetic, DSO, and care for patients in a psychiatric hospital, I learned that meaningful healthcare begins when we slow down enough to truly listen. Practicing internationally in Germany further shaped this mindset, reinforcing the importance of thoughtful documentation, clinical curiosity, and seeing the patient as more than a set of clinical findings.

I began taking intentional time to research, reflect, and better understand the underlying contributors to disease. I sought out continuing education, connected with like-minded dental hygienists, and engaged in conversations that challenged me to think beyond traditional models of care. Through collaboration and shared knowledge, my approach evolved. I no longer focus solely on procedures, I practice with purpose, treating each patient as a unique individual whose story matters.

Being a mom deepened this perspective. I noticed sleep-related issues in my youngest daughter caused by enlarged tonsils and recognized thyroid enlargement in my oldest when she was 10 years old, which ultimately led to surgery. She also lives with palatal myoclonus. Having  parents with diabetes, hypertension, and progressive dental breakdown further reinforced my belief that prevention, education, and early intervention are essential, not optional.

After a continuously rewarding career in dentistry, what keeps me inspired is not doing less, but slowing down but doing more with intention. I practice with a mindset of an acronym I call “C.A.T.C.H. M.E”.… I remind myself to pause, listen, observe, and connect before moving forward. Relationships grow with trust. When patients don’t feel rushed, they feel heard. When they feel heard, trust grows, and I believe that is where healing begins.

I remain excited by advances in technology, including AI-assisted diagnostics, and by educating patients and professionals about the oral-systemic connection, especially the roles of sleep, laser therapy, nutrition, and biofilm reduction. I hope to leave a legacy that reminds the world we are not just dental hygienists. We are healthcare professionals, and what we do with our hands can truly change lives.

My career has been fulfilling, challenging, insightful, and totally, absolutely worth it.