Cynthia Stegeman, EdD, RDH, RD, LD, CDE, FAND, is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator who works in a hospital-based diabetes center. She is a professor and chair of the dental hygiene program at the University of Cincinnati. In addition, Stegeman provides outpatient diabetes education to dental hygiene, dietetic, nursing, and medical students; health care professionals; and individuals with diabetes at Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati. She is co-author of the fourth edition of the textbook The Dental Hygienist's Guide to Nutritional Care. Stegeman also is a delegate to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She is president of the Ohio Dietetic Association and a member of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene's Peer Review Panel.
I have a number of patients (mostly women) who want to lose weight. Many drink water with seeds, or some type of fiber, and slices of orange, lemon, or lime to aid in their weight loss efforts. I am concerned that these beverages when…
Can dental hygienists recommend vitamin supplements to patients? Are there limits within dental hygienists' scope of practice on providing nutritional counseling?