I am pleased to nominate Deborah McGlynn for the Heart to Hands Award in 2024. Her dedication to the dental hygiene profession is truly exemplary and far exceeds the expectations of her role. I have had the privilege of knowing Deborah for over 30 years, during which time she has consistently demonstrated a profound passion for ergonomics and excellence in dental hygiene. Her commitment to these principles led to the invention of Ergosharp (ergosharp.com), a smart sharpening guide which attaches to the sharpening stone, enabling the operator to quickly and accurately sharpen their instruments. A tool designed to assist her fellow hygienists in delivering outstanding care while ensuring a pain-free experience for both operators and patients.
Deborah served as an educator at a local Dental Hygiene program in Washington State. She also tutored students and licensed hygienists who struggled with body pain, making it difficult to stay in the profession. Ergonomics is crucial for longevity in this field because caregivers often adjust their own bodies rather than asking patients, who may have limited mobility, to change their positions. Through her insightful instruction, Deborah helped her students recognize the importance of their own health first, enabling them to provide more optimal care to their patients.
Fifteen years ago, after over two decades in dental hygiene, I was plagued by chronic pain in my hands, back, and neck, which limited my activities outside of work. Deborah, a long-time colleague, and I shared similar struggles. She first advised me to switch to larger gloves to reduce hand constriction. Then, she introduced me to her invention, the One-Ten sharpening device, now known as Ergosharp. With its online tutorials, I was able to refresh my sharpening skills from hygiene school, this time with visual aids.
I realized the importance of maintaining the proper stone angle to avoid bevels, which my previous tool, the Sharpen-Rite Guide, couldn't consistently achieve. My frustration vanished when I started using Ergosharp, as my instruments stayed sharp and reduced the need for recontouring. The pain in my hands disappeared because I no longer had to grip the instruments tightly. They sliced through calculus effortlessly, like cutting through butter. The joy and satisfaction in my work returned, and I looked forward to continuing my career without considering early retirement, as many hygienists do.
Deborah McGlynn is the Best Candidate for the Heart to Hands Award in 2024. She understands the daily struggles dental hygienists face when trying to provide the quality of care that our patients need for optimum health. Ergosharp is the game changer that all hygienists need to keep their instruments consistently sharp, reduce the wear and tear on their bodies, and alleviate job-related frustration.