Melanie V. Taverna, MSDH, MAADH, is an assistant professor/clinical faculty member in the Division of Dental Hygiene at the University of Texas Health San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), where she teaches in the entry level, degreecompletion, and graduate programs. She is also director of the university’s Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Program. Active in practice-based research as the assistant director of the South Texas Oral Health Network (STOHN), a local practice-based research network of dentists and dental hygienists, Taverna is also currently conducting research through the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN). She is in her third year of UT Health San Antonio’s health sciences doctoral program. Taverna can be reached at: taverna@uthscsa.edu.
While not traditionally noted as high risk for dry mouth, young patients are more commonly experiencing medical conditions and medication usage that increase susceptibility for xerostomia.