Esther Wilkins, Pioneer of Dental Hygiene, Dies at 100

We'd like to take a moment to reflect on the life of Dr. Esther Wilkins. She was the author of  Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist, often referred to as "the cornerstone text in almost every dental hygiene education program". The dental hygienist's role in oral health care is critical, on many levels. Hygienists not only help patients maintain clean, healthy teeth and learn about home care, they also can help refer patients to other professionals, such as orthodontists, when more treatment is needed. (See our Hygienist's Guide to Orthodontics) Esther Wilkins had a major impact developing the higher education programs for training today's dental hygiene professionals.