Have you ever wondered what it would look like if a dental hygienist crossed over into the world of medical research? Today I am introducing you to someone who did exactly that. Meet Alana Hall, MHA, RDH, a registered dental hygienist with 18 years of clinical experience who now works as a dental researcher studying the connection between oral health and neurological outcomes.
You may have seen the recent headlines about flossing and stroke risk. Alana was part of the team behind that research, which was published and presented at major conferences including the American Heart Association. I had the chance to ask her everything, from how she made the leap from the dental chair to a research lab, to what she wants every hygienist to know about the oral systemic link. Let’s get into it.
- What made you interested in getting involved in dental research beyond clinical care?
Great question! I’ve worked in clinical dentistry as a dental assistant and a registered dental hygienist for 18 years in many different settings. Very quickly I became passionate about the oral-systemic link and treating patients not just in the mouth, but in a way that influenced whole body health. Especially in perio and special needs patient settings, patients have complex medical histories and chronic conditions. Seeing just one patient at a time, I may have been able to change their life, or their immediate circle, but in research, I am able to touch more lives and connect dentistry to medicine, indirectly. Research has given me a way to connect what I see firsthand chairside to a larger area.
- How did you discover this specific study and got involved in it?
I originally got involved through networking. One of my professors in my MHA program works closely with the department I currently work in. He saw very quickly my passion for the oral-systemic link and upholding the standard of care, even outside of clinical practice. In my masters program, I also focused a lot on dementia statistics and brought in the current research linking periodontal disease to Alzheimer’s disease. My clinical background has filled a gap on the dental side where my boss and mentor has dedicated his research to in neurology.
- What role did you play in the research process for this study?
I have been involved in grant writing and submission for upcoming clinical trials we are proposing to the NIH. Specifically with study design, interpretation or dental and oral health variables and procedures. I also have conducted literature review and manuscript development for publication. I have helped translate dental concepts and language for medical professionals. It is very important to understand that if something is not your audience’s area of expertise, it can be a completely different language to them. I spend a lot of time explaining dentistry to medical professionals, the same way I explain things to patients.
- What education or credentials were necessary to participate in a large scale research study like this?
Of course for the specific research I am involved with, my experience and background in dentistry was pivotal. Research coordinator roles typically require a bachelor’s degree, which I already had in Business Administration. My role is specifically a Dental Researcher, which is not the same as a coordinator. My Master of Healthcare Administration helped position me above a coordinator role. My education played a role, but mostly my clinical expertise, attention to detail, critical thinking, and ability to collaborate across disciplines was the most important.
- How does one transition from being a clinical dental hygienist to contributing to research?
I believe the most important thing is to network and to attain higher education. Not to say that it’s impossible to get into research with an Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene alone. Positioning yourself in academic settings, research teams, and collaborating with professionals outside of dentistry is crucial.
- What steps would you recommend to a hygienist interested in research opportunities?
- Network ,network, network with professionals in medicine and academia.
- Get comfortable reading scientific literature and understanding data.
- Volunteer or assist on projects in your free time
- Learn basic statistics, or take statistics courses.
- Be vocal, closed mouths do not get fed!
- How long was your involvement in this project from start to finish?
I started working in research part time in September 2025, and have transitioned full time this year. It is important to understand that roles may not start full time immediately, depending on the institution and source of funding. I was offered full time a week into starting in my department, but originally part-time was offered to ensure I was a good fit for the team.
- What were the most challenging parts of being involved in a study of this scale?
Even with a master’s degree and my expertise in dentistry, I was learning a completely different language in medicine and in research. My first week I was attending table rounds for inpatient stroke and overnight admissions, where residents were presenting patient information, reviewing MRI and CTs, I knew NOTHING. I sat in the back of the room and just listened. Research coordinators also attend rounds and screen for potential candidates for active trials the department is doing. After a few months of exposure, I understand what is being said, what “different” looks like on images, just like when we read xrays and CBCTs in dentistry. With research, I had exposure academically to statistics, but it also was different using it in real life! I have made plenty of mistakes, which are learning experiences. I am also grateful to have the mentorship and ability to make these mistakes. Fast forward to this week alone, my mentor mentioned that he has created a statistical monster and the training wheels are off.
- What was the most rewarding part of seeing this study come to completion?
We are not doing any clinical trials currently, but in the process of submitting various levels of grants and clinical trial proposals.
- How do you balance clinical work and research commitments?
Prior to transitioning full time, I worked 2.5 days a week in both roles. Monday and Wednesday, and half-days on Fridays in research, and Tuesday, Thursday, and half days on Fridays in Periodontics. Both helped with the opposite role, with the more research I did, the more I was able to tie in the oral systemic link to my perio patients, and the more exposure with my perio patients, it contributed to more research ideas.
- What advice would you give to dental hygienists who want to get their work published or presented in scientific journals?
Read scientific papers and articles. Understand that research is factual, and opinions are really restricted to hypotheses. You have to be able to back up what you are trying to write about, so finding previous research to build on your work. Reach out to other researchers, within and outside of dentistry. Many people who take the time to write and publish are doing it in their free-time, unpaid, so they are extremely passionate about their research.
- What support or mentorship did you have during your involvement in the study?
I am blessed to work side by side with the neurologist who has dedicated over 20 years to the oral systemic link to the brain. He has mentored me and has helped me navigate all the processes of grant writing, submission, manuscript writing, proposals, and the publication process.
- How much does prior experience in public health or epidemiology help in participating in research?
It helps a lot, especially with understanding study designs and population level data, and downstream and upstream effects. It is not required, and you can learn as you go. It is extremely important to have a public health mindset though.
- Did you have to undergo any additional training or certification specifically for research involvement?
Yes, my master’s program was very helpful, but not required. What is important is having education or exposure to statistics. My bachelors degree was in business administration, so I did not have as much public health or statistics education/training. My associates in dental hygiene had dental public health classes, which was helpful as well. When getting into research, there is mandatory training you have to take, such as human subjects protection training.
- What surprised you most about the findings of this study?
I am fortunate that a lot of the data we are analyzing is showing statistically significant associations between oral health and oral health behaviors and neurological outcomes. There are also times where you find a link, but when you factor in other influences like health, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors, the association may not be significant. It is important to understand that even a negative or nonsignificant finding is still a finding.
- What do you think is the next research question stemming from this study?
There are always new research hypotheses being generated when you are working on a project. Even attending conferences and seeing other research, it generates new ideas.
- How do you think dental hygienists can advocate for oral health’s role in systemic health based on studies like this?
By educating patients and the public. Even if it is something chairside, volunteering, or using social media platforms! The more exposure to evidence, the more traction we can get with the importance of oral health and how it is linked to the rest of the body.
- What advice would you give to hygienists who want to collaborate with other healthcare fields in research?
Network and learn the language. Medicine and dentistry don’t regularly speak. We operate separately, it’s obvious just with health insurance and dental insurance. The medical doctors I speak with tell me routinely about the limited exposure they get to dentistry in their education and training. It is the same for us in dentistry, we get exposure to different things in the body and the oral-systemic link, but we do not understand their language, either.
- What was your most memorable moment working on this study, whether a discovery or personal experience?
Seeing our work being accepted for presentation at major conferences, and being a part of the conversation. More recently, having one of our papers published on flossing and reducing the risk of stroke. A simple, low-cost, behavior modification can have a huge impact on overall health.
- If you could go back and give yourself advice before starting, what would you say to yourself about getting into research?
Do not underestimate your value or experience, and to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Your experience is exactly what is needed to advance the profession and research
Alana’s journey is proof that your clinical experience as a dental hygienist is more valuable than you might think. She walked into a room full of neurologists and stroke specialists and found a way to contribute something none of them could. That is the power of knowing your worth and showing up even when you feel out of your depth. If her story lit something up in you, share this post with a hygienist who needs to hear it. And if you want to read the actual research on flossing and stroke risk, I have linked it below.
Research:https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/str.56.suppl_1.19
