2019 ODHA Newsletters

December 2019

President's Message

Greetings ODHA members!
As your new ODHA President I feel privileged and excited to represent our professional association and to be a part of the future of dental hygiene. I have been a dental hygienist for 8 years and live in Bend, OR. I utilize an Expanded Practice Permit by working in the community. I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in public health which reflects my passions for improving overall health and increasing access to care.

I am so grateful for the mentors and opportunities that have been in my life because of our professional association. I have learned that you can accomplish anything with the support of those around you. ODHA is here to support you at all stages of your career and leadership journey. As dental hygienists in Oregon, we are fortunate to practice in one of the most progressive states in the country. We are actively moving our profession forward through effective advocacy and membership support.

While acting as President over the next 12 months it is my hope to inspire you to dream big and to use the resources of our professional association as a means to achieve those dreams. Therefore, our theme this year is “inspire” and we would like to hear about all the inspiring dental hygienists across the state. If you have an inspiring story to share please email Laura Vanderwerf  to include in our upcoming newsletters!

Please be sure to follow the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association on Facebook page to stay up to date with the latest information. In addition, our statewide event calendar is posted on our website so be sure to check that periodically.

Tiffany Foy, EPDH
ODHA President
#Inspire

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Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference
November 8-9, 2019


2019 Conference Awards

A Celebration!

(L-R), Sue Sanzi-Schaedel, Chair, Dennis Muir Scholarship
Committee, Patrick Muir, Son and Committee Member
Tiffany Foy, ODHA President, Linda Muir Olson, Daughter, 
Joyce Muir, Dennis' wife, Heidi Jo Grubbs and Robin Nobis, 
Committee Members

The Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference was the site of the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Dennis Muir Scholarship.  We celebrated the women and men who have received the Scholarship and the Awards of Excellence, and the life of Dennis.  We were greatly saddened by Dennis’s death in June; however, we had his gracious wife, Joyce, daughter Linda, son Patrick and spouses in attendance.  Linda presented heartfelt and at times humorous stories about her father.


Dennis was a P&G Regional Representative who was very generous to the dental hygiene profession. Following a kidney transplant it was suggested a Scholarship bearing his name be started. Thirty Scholarships have been awarded to very deserving dental hygiene students. In 1992 a non-monetary Award of Excellence was developed to recognize excellence in students from other schools.

Currently the Scholarship is $2,000 and all awardees have their Saturday fees paid.

The Scholarship winner for 2019 is Breanna Johnson.  She is an articulate dental hygiene student from LCC, who suffered PTSD and life shattering grief from the loss of her only brother to suicide, following 12 years of addiction and mental illness due to over-prescription of opioids.  She is writing a book of her journey to healing and hope it helps others who have suffered loss from suicide and mental health.  Breanna and her family have started a non-profit which advocate on addiction and mental health issues.  They also raise funds to send struggling youth into wilderness therapy programs.

Three dental hygiene students were awarded Awards of Excellence, Gina Moua from OIT, Klamath Falls Campus, Emily McClain, from MHCC, and Catherine Reynolds from OIT, Chemeketa Campus.  These women have been through many difficult challenges to get to where they are today.  They all have strength, perseverance and commitment.  We look forward to working with all of our Awardees in the profession of Dental Hygiene and wish them the best!

Lois Whitford Memorial Scholarship

The 2019 recipient of the Lois Whitford Memorial Scholarship is Yana Khriptiyevskiy from the Mt. Hood Dental Hygiene Program. Yana stated that her cultural expectations were that she get married and be a stay at home mother. She is the first member of her family to achieve a college education. Yana states that she strives to incorporate the values of professional leadership, humanitarianism, and to be an inspiration for her patients by being an outgoing advocate for their health. "My goal is to introduce dental hygiene care by working with teams to successfully overcome the lack of care.... I dream of creating my own volunteer organization to provide dental care for homeless individuals in my area...and to serve my neighbors and the dental hygiene community."

Congratulations, Yana!

Lynn Ironside Access to Care Award

Lori Killen Aus received the Lynn Ironside Access to Care Award during the 2019 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference. Lori is an expanded practice dental hygienist who provides mobile preventive oral health care to patients who lack access to care. Lori owns her own practice, Oral Health for Life, LLC serving facilities in Newberg and Salem. She provides dental hygiene care for population groups who are not able to get to dental offices by themselves. These populations include seniors, patients with memory loss, physically disabled and mentally ill. Lori is also a contracted provider for Exceptional Needs Dental Services, Prime Mobile Dental Group and Family Dental Services, all serving Oregon Health Plan patients.

The Lynn Ironside Access to Care Award recognizes an ODHA member who has made a significant contribution to increasing access to dental care for underserved patients. This award was established by ODHA to honor Lynn Ironside for her many years of work to increase access to care for underserved patients and to advance the dental hygiene profession. Lynn’s advocacy work with ODHA led to Oregon becoming one of the first states to create an opportunity for dental hygienists to practice without the supervision of a dentist so that they could increase access to dental care for underserved patients. Nominations for this award are accepted through September 30th each year. For more information, click here.

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Leadership Opportunity

ODHA is looking for a representative to serve on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Rural Health Association (ORHA). The ORHA is a nonprofit organization whose primary goal is to improve the health of rural Oregonians. ORHA is composed of individuals and organizations dedicated to providing leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communication and education.

The ORHA was instrumental in passing the original LAP (now EPP) legislation that created a pathway for dental hygienists to provide dental hygiene services to underserved patients without the supervision of a dentist. ODHA is an organizational member of ORHA, so ODHA is afforded a position on the ORHA Board of Directors.

The ODHA representative on the ORHA Board of Directors is expected to: 

  1. attend quarterly meetings of the ORHA Board of Directors held in January, April, July & October
  2. attend the Annual Oregon Rural Health Conference in October
  3. provide reports to the ODHA Board of Directors.

Preferred qualifications for this position include:

  1. member of ODHA
  2. hold an expanded practice permit
  3. live and work in a rural area of Oregon
  4. work as a dental hygienist with underserved patients
  5. interest in advocating for improved health of rural Oregonians

The ODHA representative to the ORHA Board of Directors is appointed by the ODHA President with approval of the ODHA Board of Directors. This is a volunteer position with no remuneration and limited reimbursement for expenses. If you are interested in this position, please complete this form and email it to Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley. Thank you for considering this leadership opportunity!

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Attention Students!


Your transitional memberships will be expiring at the end of the year.  You can log on to your ADHA profiles now and sign up for the quarterly payment plans for 2020, so your memberships do not expire.

 

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Component Events

Want to know what CE courses or events are coming up in your area? Visit: http://www.odha.org/events for information or to register for component and state events!

Metro East Component

The first meeting of the 2019-2020 year selected a new theme: Prevention. Understanding that Dental Hygienists are THE preventive professional, all CE courses will center around topics that will use the latest in research designed to minimize caries, as well as minimally invasive ways to treat caries. Updates in cariology science, new interventions and documentation will be presented. Watch the ODHA website for dates and locations.

As always, we are a component that serves. Our next serve day will be Dec. 7, 2019 at Compassion Clinic at East County Church of Christ in Gresham. The clinic will run from 10 am - 2 pm with volunteers setting up at 8:30 am. Join us - it is so much fun!

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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November 2019

President's Message

Hello Fellow Members,

As I conclude my year as President of the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association, I can’t help but think how lucky the dental hygienists in the state of Oregon are to have such a large number of active, plugged-in, forward thinking dental hygienists working for them and their profession. I am not just referring to those dental hygienists who serve directly on the board. I’m talking about all of the dental hygienist who step outside of the box and practice to the full limits of our scope of practice. I’m thinking of the hygienists who serve on committees and network with the movers and shakers of major corporations, state agencies and the medical field. In addition, I am exceedingly grateful to the amazing women who served on the board this year. Their leadership and love for our industry is palpable and they made this year fly by. I can’t wait to see you all at the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Conference November 8-9. In addition, I’m honored to continue serving you and our profession as ODHA Immediate Past President.

Cheers to another successful year!
Lesley Harbison RDH EPDH MS
ODHA President

#creatingourfuturetogether

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Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference

Join us at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel - Register today!

Donations Needed at the Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference

This year we will be donating to Central Oregon Veteran’s Outreach (COVO) as part of our “Thank You to Our Veterans” at our Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference, November 8-9.

Please consider bringing an item to donate and/or signing a card between classes at the Veteran’s table. Below is a list of items that COVO needs. You can also check out their website

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Laura Vanderwerf RDH, Oregon Dental Hygiene Association Secretary - 907-957-0165.

Ongoing Needs (items don't need to be new, but need to be "clean and in good repair"):

  • Men’s, Women’s, and Children’s Clothing
  • Winter Clothing of all sizes
  • Propane (1lb disposable cans)
  • Camping Equipment, i.e.,: tents, shelters, tarps, stoves, lights
  • Canned food of any kind, high protein is extremely helpful
  • Backpacks and duffel bags
  • Bedding and Blankets
  • Durable Medical Equipment (Walkers, Wheelchairs, etc.)
  • Housewares
  • Hygiene Supplies for Men and Women
  • Infant and Baby Supplies
Urgent needs:
  • Propane (1lb cans)
  • High Protein Canned Foods (Canned Meats, Chili, etc.)
  • Tents and Tarps
  • Sleeping Bags and Blankets
  • Size 30-36 waist men’s jeans

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Oregon Dental Conference Speaker Hosts

 

Volunteer as a Speaker Host and receive FREE ODC Registration!
Learn more about becoming a Speaker Host in this video:

Join the Annual Meeting Council for the annual Speaker Host Dinner & Training.
Attendees will learn/review the responsibilities and benefits of hosting and have the opportunity to select which speaker(s) they would like to host!
Speaker Host positions are available to ODA Member Dentists and members of the dental team.

DATE: January 9, 2020
TIME: 6:30 pm
LOCATION: ODA Building - 8699 SW Sun Place, Wilsonville, OR 97070

HOW TO REGISTER: Complete THIS FORM to register by January, 3 2020.

Can't Attend in Person? No problem. You can join the meeting remotely.

QUESTIONS? Contact Margy Simco.

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RDH State Spotlight - Oregon!

Check out the article in RDH Magazine about direct access and the dental hygienist - featuring our own Lori Killen Aus!

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News 

WHO REGULATES DENTAL HYGIENE IN OREGON?

Dental hygiene practice in Oregon is regulated by both the Oregon State Legislature and the Oregon Board of Dentistry.

The Oregon State Legislature created the Oregon Dental Practice Act which is the law that regulates dentistry in Oregon. The Oregon State Legislature can adopt amendments to the Oregon Dental Practice Act. Oregon laws and their provisions are designated by the initials ORS which stands for Oregon Revised Statutes. The portion of the Oregon Dental Practice Act that addresses dental hygiene can be found in ORS 680.010 through ORS 680.205 and ORS 680.990. However, there are other portions of the Oregon Dental Practice Act and other state laws that address dental hygiene indirectly. ORS 680.200 and OAR 680.205 are the portions of the Oregon Dental Practice Act that refer to the expanded practice permit.

The Oregon Board of Dentistry interprets and enforces the Oregon Dental Practice Act. The Oregon Board of Dentistry can adopt administrative rules to further interpret the Oregon Dental Practice Act. Oregon administrative rules are designated by the initials OAR which stands for Oregon Administrative Rules. The portion of the Oregon Administrative Rules that addresses dental hygiene can be found in OAR 818-035-0010 through OAR 818-035-0100. However, there are other portions of the Oregon Administrative Rules that address dental hygiene indirectly. OAR 818-035-0065 is the portion of the Oregon Administrative Rules that refers to the expanded practice permit. Administrative rules cannot conflict with the law.

 

DO YOU HAVE IDEAS FOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES?

ODHA is now planning for the 2020 and 2021 Oregon Legislative Sessions. If you have ideas for legislative changes or any regulatory issue that you would like to see addressed, please share them now! Contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley.

 

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY MEETING

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY MEETING
The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet Friday, December 13 at the board office located at 1500 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 770, Portland, OR 97201. The open session of this board meeting is scheduled for 7:30-9:30 AM. Anyone may attend this portion of the board meeting. The agenda and public packet for this board meeting will be posted approximately one week before the meeting on the board website. Scroll down to About Us and click on Meetings. The public packet is usually more than 500 pages in length. We recommend that you review this document online and only print pages if you need them. If you would like to attend the open session of this or any future board meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information.

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Component Events

Want to know what CE courses or events are coming up in your area? Visit: http://www.odha.org/events for information or to register for component and state events!

High Desert Component

SAVE THE DATES!

  • February 13 - Speaker: Lori Brizee, a local dietician
  • May 14 - Infection Control course

Southwest Component

We held a class on October 25th with Dr. Timothy Welch, an oral surgeon, titled "Everything you need to know about Oral Surgery but were too afraid to Ask". We will also be having a class planned for January 23, 2020 with Dr. John Sullivan on " Waking up to the Truths about Sleep Apnea for Dental Professionals" in Eugene Oregon from 6-8pm. Coming to ODHA website soon. We are also planning a "Medical Emergencies" class in Medford in the spring - date and place TBA.

During each class we are collecting donations of toothbrushes, floss, toothpastes, and other toiletries for Women's Space.

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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October 2019

President's Message

Hello Everyone,

Well it seems we are starting to feel the change in season. School is back in session and the mornings and evenings are a little cooler. I love this time of year for many reasons, but professionally it is time to celebrate the dental hygienist and our contributions to oral health and overall health! Happy National Dental Hygiene Month! The other reason I love this time of year is our ODHA Annual Conference is right around the corner, November 8-9th 2019. Registration is now up on the website and reminder postcards have been sent out. We have a wonderful speaker line up and we can’t wait to see you there! New leaders will be elected, awards will be given out to appreciate those who are striving to advance our profession, and so much more. As my year as your President comes to an end, we will review and reflect on the events and accomplishments that took place throughout the year. Our general session is a wonderful time to conduct business and share a meal together. Our “Hygiene Happy Hour” themed Friday night will include lots of delicious hors d'oeuvres, a drink ticket, and time to socialize with your peers, something we never seem to have enough time to do during the year. I thank you for your membership and support. It has been wonderful serving as your President this year.

All my best,

Lesley Harbison, ODHA President

#creatingourfuturetogether

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Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference - Save the Date!

Join us at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel - Register today!

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Unleashing Your Potential - Leadership Program

It is with excitement that we share the news that ODHA President, Lesley Harbison, and ODHA Secretary, Laura Vanderwerf, have been accepted to participate in the American Dental Hygienists’ Association “Annual Unleashing Your Potential Leadership Program” held in Chicago, Illinois, November 22-24.

Unleashing Your Potential is ADHA’s once-in-a-lifetime leadership development program to help dental hygienists grow not only as professionals, but as association leaders. Each year, applicants are chosen to come to Chicago for a weekend with ADHA leaders to focus on personal development, collaborative leadership and fiduciary responsibility.

As a result of being accepted, ADHA will provide funding for their travel and accommodations. Please congratulate Lesley and Laura on this amazing leadership opportunity when you see them!

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DHS Founding Director Supports DHS Alumni & Friends Scholarship with Planned Gift

By Sarah Marks

When Lisa Rowley stepped down last year from her position as founding director of Pacific’s School of Dental Hygiene Studies (DHS), she was already considering how she would continue to support the program. For her, “it’s all about the students.”

Rowley stepped down as director in the fall of 2018 after dealing with some health issues, but still works full time with the program, teaching courses and preparing for an upcoming accreditation visit.

During her years as director of the DHS program, Lisa was instrumental in creating and fundraising for the School of Dental Hygiene Studies Alumni & Friends Scholarship. Rowley started thinking about how she could grow that fund with a future gift and decided to make Pacific the beneficiary of her retirement account. “I’m not married, I don’t have children, I have no one else to leave the money to,” said Rowley, “so I’d like to do something a little more significant. I believe that the more you make, the more you should give back.”

Rowley is one of 10 Pacific University donors recently inducted into the President’s Circle, a giving society recognizing those who have given at least $100,000 to Pacific over their lifetimes.

In 2004, Rowley was recruited by Pacific to develop and later direct a new dental hygiene program within the College of Health Professions. Pacific hoped to create a program where students would be taught to practice independently, much like a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. The university’s vision for the program was “an unusual thing in dental hygiene” said Rowley. “As soon as I heard that, I was all in,” Rowley said, “because it was something really special, and not something I had ever done before.”

Rowley had already had a full career practicing and teaching dental hygiene and had even directed a dental hygiene program at a community college in Pennsylvania. She had taken early retirement and moved to Oregon, where Pacific lured her out of retirement to develop a brand new dental hygiene program. Oregon offers an expanded practice permit that allows dental hygienists to practice without the supervision of a dentist, to provide care for underserved patients with limited access to oral health care.

With input from currently practicing hygienists, Rowley designed the program to graduate students who would immediately qualify for this permit. Students in the program take specific coursework to prepare them to practice independently. By the time they graduate, students also have 500 clinical hours providing care to underserved patients, so they can start practicing independently right away.

“A large number of our students go out and they don’t work in private dental offices,” Rowley said. “They’ll work in different healthcare systems. And some have gone out and started their own businesses; we have a couple that have vans that go around and provide dental hygiene care. So right out of the gate they’re going out and doing things like that, because they’re really well prepared for it.”

But all this preparedness comes with a large price tag, which Rowley admits. “I come from a very low-income family,” Rowley said. “I went to community college because I could never have afforded to come to a school like Pacific. I never could have afforded to attend a private university, and I don’t want that to stand in the way of other people.”

Which is where the DHS Alumni & Friends Scholarship comes in.

According to Rowley, during the admission process each year, the program typically loses up to half of the top 10 students admitted because of the program’s high tuition. “We’re really looking for students who are committed to public health and providing care for underserved populations,” Rowley said. “And students who are typically interested in that come from underserved populations, which means that they might not be able to afford to go to school here.” She would like to see more students able to attend the program without coming out with such high levels of student debt. And she thinks the scholarship is one way to help reach that goal. “I don’t want money to ever be an obstacle to somebody reaching their dream,” she said.

When Rowley was originally fundraising to create the scholarship for the program, she named it the DHS Alumni & Friends Scholarship because she hoped that alumni would support the scholarship, and through that, future dental hygiene students. She sees her gift as a challenge to other people — faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Pacific — that this is something they can also do, especially by setting up a planned gift through their estate.

“Whatever your estate is,” Rowley said, “as long as you’ve got your family taken care of, why not allocate some of that to the place that has been supporting you? I still donate to my community college because they gave me my start. That’s where the money came from; why not give some of that money back for the students?”

“I think people have the capacity to be more generous than they are, so I would like to encourage them to be as generous as they can be.”

If you have included Pacific in your estate plans, or have questions about how to do so, please email Jan Stricklin, Associate Vice President for University Advancement, or call 503-352-2890.

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Member Spotlight in ADHA's Access Magazine

ODHA member Brenna Chavarin and her business "Konnect Dental Kare (KDK)" are currently featured in the ADHA publication Access. Brenna has contracted with one of Oregon's Coordinate Care Organizations to deliver dental sealants and SDF in Klamath County schools. What a great example of a hygienist owning her own business!

Click here to see Access Community Service Magazine - and go to page 9 to see the article about Brenna!

 
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Call for Nominations

Are you interested in helping Oregon Dental Hygienist Association at the state or local level?  Do you know a friend, colleague or dental hygienist that would be perfect in a leadership role?  Check out our website to find out about positions that are open for the 2019-2020 year and fill out the candidate interest form.  If you have questions, feel free to reach out to any board member, we are here to help! 

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News 

PUBLIC RULEMAKING HEARING MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will hold a Public Rulemaking Hearing beginning at 9:00 AM on Friday, October 11 at the board office located at 1500 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 770, Portland, OR  97201. Public Rulemaking Hearings are held to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) that the Oregon Board of Dentistry may adopt to further interpret the Oregon Dental Practice Act. Members of the public may present testimony at this public hearing or may submit written comments to the board by 12:00 PM on Friday, October 11, 2019. Written testimony can be sent by email to [email protected].

The proposed rule changes are available at Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Secretary of State and OBD Color Version of Proposed Rule Changes. These proposed rule changes have not yet been adopted by the Oregon Board of Dentistry. This is your opportunity to comment on these proposed rule changes before they become final. Following this Public Rulemaking Hearing, the Oregon Board of Dentistry will review, discuss and vote on these proposed rule changes at their next board meeting to be held on Friday, October 25. If you plan to attend or would like to present testimony at this public hearing, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information.

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, October 25 at the board office located at 1500 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 770, Portland, OR  97201. The open session of this board meeting is scheduled for 7:30-9:30 AM. Anyone may attend this portion of the board meeting. The agenda and public packet for this meeting will be posted on the board website approximately one week before the meeting. Scroll down to About Us and click on Meetings. The public packet is usually more than 500 pages in length. We recommend that you review this document online, and only print pages if you need them. If you would like to attend the open session of this or any future board meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. The next Oregon Board of Dentistry meeting will be held on December 13.

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Component Events

Want to know what CE courses or events are coming up in your area? Visit: http://www.odha.org/events for information or to register for component and state events!

High Desert Component

Registration is open for the High Desert Component CE program "Introduction to Pediatric Dentistry for the Dental Hygienist" to be held on October 10.   Click Here for more details and to register online.
6:00 - 8:00 pm
COCC in Bend

Metro East Component


Metro East service event with Compassion Connect Sept 7, 2019

Northwest Component

Northwest Component will be having their Cultural Competency CE on Oct 17, with Karen Hall. Please register early. This will allow enough handouts to be printed for everyone!

Northwest Component’s Business meeting will be held at ODHA’s annual conference in November to discuss strategies for next year. Make sure you attend to help with ideas of what CE’s and events you want to see during the monthly component meetings. We are also looking for a chair and secretary. If interested fill out the candidate interest form which can be found here.

Southwest Component

Southwest Component plans on having a CE on Oct 24, with Dr. Timothy Welch on "What Every Dental Hygienist Should Know about Oral Surgery" in Eugene, Oregon from 6:00-8:00 pm.

We are also collecting hygiene items for our local Women's Shelter this season at each of our meetings. It has a focus on toothbrushes, floss, and toothpaste - but soaps, baby wipes, diapers, shampoos are also welcome.

We are also planning on doing monthly oral cancer and blood pressure screenings alongside a free food pantry at a local Church in Eugene on the last Saturday of every month. We need a call for volunteers for that to be successful.

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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September 2019

President's Message

Hello again ODHA members,

If you are looking for some excellent CE this fall, look no further than your local components! To see what is being offered in the upcoming months check out the calendar of events at odha.org. Also, don’t forget ADHA has great free online CE available to members as well at adha.org under the Education & Research tab.

Your Board of Directors have been busy planning the Annual Conference. I am so excited for this conference and I hope you plan to attend! This conference is full of excellent courses that will sharpen your skills (pun intended) and keep us up-to-date on all the vital information we need. This year’s Friday night event will be Hygiene Happy Hour. We aim to make this event a time to enjoy some food, drinks and each other’s company! During the general assembly you will be updated on all that has taken place throughout the year. Your new ODHA leaders will be installed and we’ll say goodbye to those who have served their term. There will be awards, poster presentations, Student Session, raffles and a silent auction as well as the opportunity to visit with some great vendors. You definitely won’t want to miss out this year! Registration and the speaker line up will be available soon!!

Thank you,

Lesley Harbison, ODHA President

#creatingourfuturetogether

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ODHA Future Leader Award

The ODHA Future Leader Award is presented each year to one graduating student from each of the accredited dental hygiene programs in Oregon. Award recipients are nominated by their faculty based on their potential to pursue leadership roles in our professional association. Award recipients must be student members of ADHA and demonstrate active participation in their student chapter of ADHA. Only one graduating student may be nominated from each school.

The following dental hygiene graduates were selected to receive the 2019 ODHA Future Leader Award. Congratulations and best wishes to each of you! 

Kaylynn Walls
Pacific University
Gretchen Ottosson
Portland Community College


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Call for Nominations

The following positions are coming open for the 2019-2020 year.  If interested or you want to nominate someone, please fill out the candidate interest or nomination form found here.  

Vice President/President/Past-President

You will be elected as Vice President for your first year, and with no further vote, you will be installed as President at the Annual Meeting the following year, then you will move to Past President. Your year as Vice President is spent learning about the ODHA strategic plan, finances and advocacy. You will also become familiar with how the activities of the association are planned. You are responsible for administering the Future Leader award. This gives you an opportunity to mentor new leaders who may support you as you move into other positions. You will also be responsible for leading the review of ODHA policy and procedure with the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. You are a Board Director and a member of the Executive Committee. You are involved with assisting the President and Association Manager in making decisions that direct the work of ODHA. You are also a member of the Finance Committee. Contact Tiffany Foy if interested or need more information. 

Membership Director

As ODHA Membership Director, you will organize and keep track of monthly state and component membership rosters and send them out to the ODHA Board leaders with any pertinent information.  You will also help coordinate various communications to general membership, including  social media posts, newsletter announcements, as well as calls and e-mails to members.  In addition to regular member communication, the Director develops strategies and goals for ongoing membership recruitment and retention and will assist ADHA with membership renewal efforts.  The Director reports quarterly to their fellow board members on goals and activities.  The Membership Director takes a leadership role in aspects of annual event planning and will help represent ODHA at the Oregon Dental Conference, the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Conference, and other events as needed.

Treasurer

Your attention to detail and general understanding of finances are needed in this position.  You will serve as the Chair of the Finance Committee.  You are responsible for ensuring accurate records are maintained by reviewing monthly financial statements, facilitate the filing of the association's required tax reports and verify that the Oregon Corporation Report is filed annually.  The treasurer will meet with the Finance Committee at least twice a year to prepare and present to the board a balanced proposed budget.  You will prepare handouts or electronic documentation of the current annual budget with columns of year-to-date income and expenditures and a current balance sheet to present at board meetings.  You will work with the President, other officers and association management company to manage the finances of the association  Contact Heather Kelley for more information.  One position available, two year term.

Component Director

You are a Board Director and the conduit of information between the state and your local component. You are responsible for working in close partnership with component leaders to ensure that communication is clear, accurate and timely between state and local component. You will serve as a resource to support the local component leadership in planning and operations to ensure all activities are in support of the state mission and component purpose. You will also be responsible for bringing ideas, concerns and feedback from the local component to the state Board. You will then work with your fellow Board members to thoughtfully evaluate all perspectives of the membership to make decisions in the best interest of the full membership. Contact Lesley Harbison or Tiffany Foy for more information.

Director At Large

You are a Board Director (duties listed below) and may be responsible for helping to implement one portion of the Strategic Plan, as determined by the President and Board of Directors. Contact Lesley Harbison or Tiffany Foy for more information.

State Representation

ADHA Delegate – You will join other Oregon Delegates on a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, June 14-16, 2020 to represent the State of Oregon at the ADHA Annual Business Meeting. Currently there is no funding for delegates, but if our work to increase membership and host profitable events is successful, funding for our delegates is our number one priority. Approximate costs are $199 for Conference Registration, $500 Airfare, $500 Lodging. Additional costs may be incurred during your trip. Costs are approximate and subject to change. As a member of the delegation you will attend online meetings with the other delegations from District 12 (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, Hawaii and Nevada), read all delegate materials provided by AHDA, and attend all ADHA business meetings and District 12 meetings. Prior experience as a delegate or alternate delegate is required to run for this position. Contact Lesley Harbison, Jodi Murray or Laura Vanderwerf for more information.

ADHA Alternate Delegate – All of the fun that a delegate has without so much responsibility. See the ADHA Delegate paragraph for additional information. You must attend as an alternate before you can run as a Delegate. This gives you the opportunity to experience all that the ADHA meeting has to offer. It’s a wonderful way to learn about how our association links hygienists from around the country and see how we are stronger together. You will be mentored by our delegates and will be asked to step in for them if they are unable to attend any of the individual meetings. Contact Lesley Harbison or Tiffany Foy for more information.

Our local components are an important part of ODHA. They provide our members an opportunity to support and stay connected to their local community through networking and community outreach programs. The component structure has evolved a great deal in the past years. ODHA is able to provide significantly more resources, tools and support for local components. Under the new structure each component will need to have a Chair and Secretary at a minimum.

Component Chair - As component chair you will work closely with the component director to establish and implement component operations. As a team you will develop the annual component calendar and budget which support the ODHA mission and component purpose. You will lead component meetings and ensure component events are conducted professionally and appropriately.

Component Secretary – As component secretary you are responsible for recording notes of all component events and minutes of Component meetings. You are responsible for submitting reports to the state and national levels of the association. You are responsible for maintaining membership list, potential member lists, and event attendee lists. You work with the Component Chair and Director on other component activities.

Other Component leadership - Are you passionate about a specific area and would you like to support your local leadership? Tell us how! Membership, community outreach and service, education… the opportunities are endless!

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News 

PUBLIC RULEMAKING HEARING MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD) will hold a Public Rulemaking Hearing at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, September 17 at the OBD Office located at 1500 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 770, Portland, OR 97201.

Public Rulemaking Hearings are held to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) that the Oregon Board of Dentistry may adopt to further interpret the Oregon Dental Practice Act. Members of the public may present testimony at this public hearing or may submit written comments to the Board by September 10.

The Public Packet will be posted on the OBD website approximately one week before this public hearing. Scroll down to About Us and click on Meetings.

If you plan to attend or would like to present testimony at this public hearing, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. 


DENTAL HYGIENE LICENSE RENEWAL

If you received your initial Oregon dental hygiene license in an odd year, your dental hygiene license will expire on September 30, 2019. Dental hygienists whose licenses will expire on September 30, 2019 should receive a yellow postcard directing them to the online renewal process.

All license renewals must be completed online; no exceptions. Licensees are personally responsible for renewing their own licenses. No one else should complete this process for you. It may take several days for the online renewal process to post your new information, so do not wait until the end of September to renew your license.

If your license expires, you cannot continue to practice. You may be subject to disciplinary action by the Oregon Board of Dentistry if you practice dental hygiene without a current license. A licensed dental hygienist who has worked any number of days without a current license may be issued a Notice of Proposed Disciplinary Action and offered a Consent Order that includes a reprimand and a civil penalty of $1,000 or more.

Please remind your colleagues to be prompt in renewing their dental hygiene license for Oregon. For more information, click here.


MAKE YOUR EMAIL PUBLIC WHEN YOU RENEW YOUR DENTAL HYGIENE LICENSE

Anyone may purchase a list of dentists and dental hygienists who are licensed by the Oregon Board of Dentistry. This list includes your name and address but it only includes your email address if you give permission when you renew your license.

Email is the most effective and least expensive way to communicate with dental hygienists who are licensed in Oregon. If you do not give permission to make your email address public, you may miss out on information that is sent to licensees from third parties, including ODHA, who only use email.

When you renew your dental hygiene license this year, ODHA strongly encourages you to give permission to make your email address public. And please encourage your dental hygiene colleagues to do the same. If you have any questions, please contact the Oregon Board of Dentistry.

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD) is scheduled to meet on Friday, October 25 at the OBD Office located at 1500 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 770, Portland, OR 97201. The Open Session of this OBD meeting will be held 7:30-9:30 AM. Anyone may attend this portion of the OBD meeting.

The Agenda and Public Packet for this meeting will be posted approximately one week before the meeting on the OBD website. Scroll down to About Us and click on Meetings.

Review the Board Meeting Agenda to see if there are any items that are of particular interest to you. The Board Meeting Public Packet is usually more than 500 pages in length, so we recommend that you review this document online, and only print pages if you need them. Review the Public Packet for meeting minutes, committee and liaison reports, the executive director’s report, attachments related to the agenda items, correspondence with the board, and articles & newsletters.

If you would like to attend the Open Session of this or any future OBD meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. The next OBD meeting will be held on December 13.  

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Leadership Opportunity

ODHA Representative to the Oregon Rural Health Association

ODHA is looking for a representative to serve on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Rural Health Association. The Oregon Rural Health Association (ORHA) is a nonprofit organization whose primary goal is to improve the health of rural Oregonians. ORHA is composed of individuals and organizations dedicated to providing leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communication and education.

The ORHA was instrumental in passing the original LAP (now EPP) legislation that created a pathway for dental hygienists to provide dental hygiene services to underserved patients without the supervision of a dentist. ODHA is an organizational member of ORHA, so ODHA is afforded a position on the ORHA Board of Directors.

The ODHA representative on the ORHA Board of Directors is expected to:

  1. attend quarterly meetings of the ORHA Board of Directors held in January, April, July & October;
  2. attend the Annual Oregon Rural Health Conference in October;
  3. provide reports to the ODHA Board of Directors. Preferred qualifications for this position include:
    1. member of ODHA;
    2. hold an expanded practice permit;
    3. live and work in a rural area of Oregon;
  4. work as a dental hygienist with underserved patients;
  5. interest in advocating for improved health of rural Oregonians

The ODHA representative to the ORHA Board of Directors is appointed by the ODHA President with approval of the ODHA Board of Directors. This is a volunteer position with no remuneration and limited reimbursement for expenses. If you are interested in this position, please contact Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley. Thank you for considering this leadership opportunity!

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RDH Under One Roof

Call for Abstracts - 2020 RDH Under One Roof

The 2020 RDH Under One Roof (UOR) will be held July 16-18, 2020 at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Denver, Colorado. RDH Under One Roof is accepting abstracts from August 5 until October 5, 2019. This call for abstracts is designed to fill the general session presentations at this conference. General sessions are 2-hour large group (250-400+ attendee) lecture sessions, and are included in the full conference registration for attendees. Review the 2019 conference program to see this year’s general sessions. All submissions must be completed online by using the link provided on the conference page on the UOR website

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Component Events

Want to know what CE courses or events are coming up in your area? Visit: http://www.odha.org/events for information or to register for component and state events!

Metro East Component

We are into serving our community!! Two events are scheduled:

  1. Compassion clinic on Saturday, Sept. 7 at East County church of Christ in Gresham.
  2. Camp Courage - packing Christmas boxes for those in the service overseas. Nov 30th at the American Legion in Tigard.

Northwest Component

Cultural Competency
September 19, 2019
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
9155 SW Barnes RD.
Portland, OR 97225

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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August 2019

President's Message

Hello Everyone!

Is it just me or is summer flying by? I have been enjoying my 10-month old baby Lola and my 12-year old daughter Sadie so much this summer! Family is such a blessing and I hope you all have been able to create wonderful family memories this summer!

This month we get to hear from our delegates who attended annual session in Louisville Kentucky. They had a wonderful time, learned a lot, and are excited to share their passion for our profession and the amazing conference our national association organizes each year.

I would like to send out another call to those who may be thinking about taking an active leadership role. If you are interested in leadership, simply go here and click on the Candidate Interest Form. This page will provide information regarding open positions and the nomination and election process.

My Best,
Lesley Harbison, ODHA President

#creatingourfuturetogether

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ADHA National Conference 2019

 Attending the ADHA National Conference was both inspiring and energizing. Seeing others passionate about our profession and diligent with their delegate duties motivates me to further my knowledge at the national level. This event also gave many opportunities to network with other hygienists in order to better ODHA and make personal connections. I was even able to spontaneously see my "little sister" from Indiana University dental hygiene school. The first two days I was an exhibitor for TePe, Sunday I attended CE classes and was one of five presenters for the TED TALK CE course, and on Monday and Tuesday I served as your alternate delegate. If you are interested in how ADHA operates, I highly encourage you to nominate yourself as an alternate delegate and attend the ADHA national conference. -- Heather Kelley

 

Thank you for electing me to represent you, my fellow hygienists and peers, this year at ADHA National Conference! It was wonderful collaborating with the District XII delegates and those delegates from other districts as we debated and discussed proposed changes to ADHA propositions and bylaws. I hope you feel like we represented you well while there. If you have any questions, please reach out and let us know. -- Laura Vanderwerf

 

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Call for Nominations

Board of Directors

The Oregon Dental Hygienists Association is seeking nominations for its Board of Directors!  There will be an election to fill the positions of Vice President, Treasurer, Northwest Director, Southwest Director, Membership Director, At-Large Director, ADHA Delegate and Alternate Delegates. If you are interested or know of someone that would be perfect, please go to the ODHA website.

BOD Position Profiles

For the next couple of Newsletters, we will give you some insight as to the positions up for re-election this year. This month we will start with the Delegate and Alternate Delegate positions.

As a Delegate or Alternate Delegate, you are representing Oregon Dental Hygienists during the ADHA National Conference House of Delegates meetings. You are expected to read the ADHA Policy and Procedure manual, Delegate manual, and ADHA Bylaws & Code of Ethics. You will attend several District XII meetings via Zoom to discuss proposed Bylaw Amendments and proposed Resolutions to help decide how to vote during ADHA’s National Conference House of Delegates meetings. You travel to ADHA’s National Conference for the House of Delegate meetings, you vote for next year’s Board of Directors, and participate in deciding the future of ADHA. The alternate Delegate steps in if the Delegate is unable fulfill their obligation.

If you have any questions about this, please feel free to email Laura Vanderwerf - ODHA Delegate Chair.

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News 

RULES OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING

The Rules Oversight Committee of the Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD) is scheduled to meet on Friday, August 2 beginning at 9:00 AM at the OBD Office located at 1500 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 770, Portland, OR 97201. This meeting is tentatively scheduled to end at 3:00 PM, but it may run later due to the length of the agenda. Anyone may attend this meeting.

The Rules Oversight Committee will review and discuss proposed rules that have been referred to them from the Licensing, Standards & Competency Committee, and possibly make recommendations to the OBD in regard to these proposed rules. A Public Rulemaking Hearing will be held beginning at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, September 10. Anyone may attend this meeting and present testimony in regard to the proposed rules.

If you would like to attend this Rules Oversight Committee meeting on Friday, August 2 or any future OBD meetings, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. 

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD) is scheduled to meet on Friday, August 23 at the OBD Office located at 1500 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 770, Portland, OR 97201. The Open Session of this OBD meeting will be held 7:30-9:30 AM. Anyone may attend this portion of the OBD meeting.

The Agenda and Public Packet for this meeting will be posted approximately one week before the meeting on the OBD website. Scroll down to About Us and click on Meetings.

Review the Board Meeting Agenda to see if there are any items that are of particular interest to you. The Board Meeting Public Packet is usually more than 500 pages in length, so we recommend that you review this document online, and only print pages if you need them. Review the Public Packet for meeting minutes, committee and liaison reports, the executive director’s report, attachments related to the agenda items, correspondence with the board, and articles & newsletters.

If you would like to attend the Open Session of this or any future OBD meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. Future OBD meeting dates are October 25 and December 13.  

DENTAL HYGIENE LICENSE RENEWAL

If you received your initial Oregon dental hygiene license in an odd year, your dental hygiene license will expire on September 30, 2019. Dental hygienists whose licenses will expire on September 30, 2019 should receive a yellow postcard directing them to the online renewal process.

All license renewals must be completed online; no exceptions. Licensees are personally responsible for renewing their own licenses. No one else should complete this process for you. It may take several days for the online renewal process to post your new information, so do not wait until the end of September to renew your license.

If your license expires, you cannot continue to practice. You may be subject to disciplinary action by the Oregon Board of Dentistry if you practice dental hygiene without a current license. A licensed dental hygienist who has worked any number of days without a current license may be issued a Notice of Proposed Disciplinary Action and offered a Consent Order that includes a reprimand and a civil penalty of $1,000 or more.

Please remind your colleagues to be prompt in renewing their dental hygiene license for Oregon. For more information, click here.

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36th Annual Oregon Rural Health Conference

The 36th Annual Oregon Rural Health Conference will be held Wednesday-Friday, October 2-4 at The Riverhouse on the Deschutes in Bend, OR. Over three hundred providers, administrators, policy-makers, consumers, and public health experts will come together to explore topics of vital import to Oregonians living in rural communities.

The Oregon Rural Health Association (ORHA) will hold a board meeting during this conference. ODHA is an organizational member of the Oregon Rural Health Association. We encourage all dental hygienists to consider attending the 36th Annual Oregon Rural Health Conference. For more information visit Oregon Rural Health Conference.

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2019 Annual Conference - Oregon Public Health Association

The Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA) will hold their 75th Annual Conference & Meeting on Monday & Tuesday, October 14 & 15 at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. This conference focuses on the latest in public health research and trends, and provides continuing education, thought-provoking speakers, poster session, exhibit hall and networking opportunities.

Mary Otto, author of Teeth: The Story of Beauty, Inequality and the Struggle for Oral Health in America, will be the keynote speaker on Tuesday, October 15. She will talk about the historic divide between America’s dental and health care systems and how that gap continues to complicate access to dental care.

The mission of the Oregon Public Health Association is to protect and promote the health of all Oregon residents, to educate and support public health professionals, and to advocate for policies that promote the health of all Oregonians. ODHA is an organizational member of the Oregon Public Health Association. We encourage all dental hygienists to consider attending the OPHA 75th Annual Conference & Meeting. For more information about OPHA & this conference click here.

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ADHA Unleashing Your Potential Workshop

Unleashing Your Potential (UYP) is ADHA’s leadership development program designed to help dental hygienists grow as professionals and as association leaders. This year’s UYP will be held November 22-24 in Chicago, IL. This leadership workshop is generously sponsored by Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals.

Each year a limited number of applicants are chosen to participate in this leadership workshop. Registration, round trip airfare to Chicago, lodging and some meals are provided for participants at no charge. Applications are due August 5, 2019. For more information click here.

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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July 2019

President's Message

Hello Fellow ODHA Members,

I’d like to wish everyone a very happy and safe 4th of July! I hope you have been enjoying the warmer weather and staying cool on those especially hot days! Here at ODHA we have been busy! Please be on the lookout for information on our Advocacy Luncheon happening later this month! This will be a wonderful event that you will not want to miss!

In next month’s newsletter we will give you an update on annual session in Louisville Kentucky! We had several members who represented Oregon and it is so exciting to hear all about what they learned while at the national conference. Thank you AJ, Rachel, Lisa, Heather and Laura for representing our state!!

Finally, please think about how you could serve your association!! If you have any interest in volunteering or serving in a leadership role in your local component or on the board of directors, please contact me! We are accepting nominations for those interested in taking an active role. I encourage you to “lean in” to your profession, and share your talents, and ideas.

Sincerely,
Lesley Harbison, ODHA President
#creatingourfuturetogether

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Dental Hygienist Elected Vice President for Oregon Board of Dentistry

Yadira Martinez, RDH, EPDH has been elected Vice President for the Oregon Board of Dentistry to serve from May 1, 2019 until April 30, 2020. Yadira is beginning her 6th year as a member of the Oregon Board of Dentistry. Her current term expires April 1, 2022.

Yadira lives in Hillsboro and works as an expanded practice dental hygienist with the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, a federally qualified health center that provides integrated medical, dental and behavioral health services for underserved patients in Washington and Yamhill Counties. Yadira provides dental hygiene services for children and young adults up to age 21, as well as for pregnant women and patients with diabetes, at Virginia Garcia’s dental clinics and school-based health centers. Yadira has a passion for public health and has been working with Virginia Garcia since 2000.

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Advocacy Update

PROMOTING DENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH ADVOCACY
2019 ODHA Advocacy Workshop

ODHA will hold its 2019 Advocacy Workshop on Saturday, July 27th from 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM. This event will be hosted by the Oregon Tech Dental Hygiene Program on the Chemeketa Campus in Salem. This 6-hour workshop is intended for dental hygienists who want to become more involved in advocating for the dental hygiene profession in Oregon.

Participants will learn and practice skills needed to effectively pursue regulatory changes to promote dental public health. At the end of this workshop, the participant will be able to:

  • Explain how dental hygiene practice is regulated in Oregon.
  • Review formats for proposed amendments to law & rules.
  • Assess support for and opposition to a proposed regulatory change.
  • Create a policy one-pager for a proposed legislative bill.
  • Write testimony to present at legislative & rules public hearings.
  • Communicate with a legislator about a proposed legislative bill.

The registration fee for this workshop is $25 which will include 6 CE credits, continental breakfast, lunch, and workshop materials. Participants should bring a laptop computer. Please register online here by Friday, July 19th. Attendance is limited so please register as soon as possible.

EXPANDED PRACTICE DENTAL HYGIENISTS

Expanded Practice Dental Hygienists. . .

  • Do you provide dental hygiene treatment for teenagers age 15-17?
  • Do some of these teenagers receive no dental hygiene treatment because they cannot get consent from a parent or guardian?

According to Oregon law, minors age 15 and over can give consent, without the consent of a parent or guardian, to receive treatment from a physician, dentist or nurse practitioner. However, minors age 15 and over cannot give consent, without the consent of a parent or guardian, to receive treatment from an expanded practice dental hygienist.

If you have had to deny dental hygiene treatment to a minor age 15 and over because you could not obtain consent, WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU! ODHA can pursue legislation to change this, but only if we hear from you. Please share your experiences with ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley.

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News 

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD) is scheduled to meet on Friday, August 23 at the OBD Office located at 1500 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 770, Portland, OR 97201. The Open Session of this OBD meeting will be held 7:30-9:30 AM. Anyone may attend this portion of the OBD meeting.

The Agenda and Public Packet for this meeting will be posted approximately one week before the meeting on the OBD website. Scroll down to About Us and click on Meetings.

Review the Board Meeting Agenda to see if there are any items that are of particular interest to you. The Board Meeting Public Packet is usually more than 500 pages in length, so we recommend that you review this document online, and only print pages if you need them. Review the Public Packet for meeting minutes, committee and liaison reports, the executive director’s report, attachments related to the agenda items, correspondence with the board, and articles & newsletters.

If you would like to attend the Open Session of this or any future OBD meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. Future OBD meeting dates are October 25, and December 13. 

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY MAILING LIST

Would you like to receive notifications about all Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD) meetings? The OBD does not automatically send notifications about their meetings to their licensees. You must go to the OBD website and subscribe to receive this information.

Click here then scroll down the left column on the home page and click on Address, Name & Subscription Changes. Scroll down the page and click on Manage Your Subscriptions. Enter your name and license number. Scroll down to I’d Like to Receive the Following: and check the boxes for Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Agendas for all Board and Committee Meetings. Then indicate if you would like to receive this information by mail or email.

DENTAL HYGIENISTS CAN ADMINISTER SILVER NITRATE

Dental hygienists licensed in the state of Oregon can administer silver nitrate because it is considered to be an antimicrobial agent. According to the Oregon Administrative Rule 818-035-0030(1)(e) a dental hygienist can “Administer and dispense antimicrobial solutions or other antimicrobial agents in the performance of dental hygiene functions.”

In the past, the Oregon Board of Dentistry had ruled that dental hygienists could not apply silver nitrate. However, the Board now determines that silver nitrate is an antimicrobial agent and therefore dental hygienists can apply silver nitrate.

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Component Events

Want to know what CE courses or events are coming up in your area? Visit: http://www.odha.org/events for information or to register for component and state events!

Metro East Component 

There was standing room only at the annual Metro East SDH grad celebration. A panel of representatives from various work force settings gave an hour long information base to the grads with quite a bit of time for questions. Participants were able to hear from representatives of a public health perspective, Kaiser group, Willamette Dental group and a private dental office. During the meal and desert participants were able to network with the professional RDH's and EPDH's also attending. Congratulations grads!  

South West Component

The SW component encompasses a large geographical area and this can be challenging when planning events.  We have a great group working on planning CEs and community service events and we always welcome anyone interested in helping out. We meet via zoom so anyone in our component can easily be part of our planning. The more hands, the more fun, and less work.  We will kick start our year with a 2 hour CE on Thursday September 26th from 6-8 PM; ODHAs president, Lesley Harbison will inspire us with her presentation "How ODHA Helped Me Achieve My Goals: A Journey from Clinic Back to the Classroom."  We will also be meeting on Thursday October 24, the topic and speaker to be determined later.  Eugene CEs take place at 4750 Village Plaza Loop, suite 100, Eugene, OR 97401. Our committee is planning an awesome CE in the Medford/Grants Pass area sometime in September or October. More information to come soon. We always welcome your suggestions for CEs, community service, and of course help.  

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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June 2019

President's Message

Hello Everyone!

First let me say a very happy belated Mother’s Day to all of the dedicated and hardworking moms out there! You put so much energy into caring for both your patients and your families. In so many ways you are the backbone of both your dental practice as well as your family. Give yourselves a major pat on the back for showing up to life in these meaningful and extraordinary ways!

Spring is in full swing and so are the plans for our annual conference in November! We are excited about the emerging line up of speakers and will be able to provide a sneak peak in the coming months.

Annual session in Louisville Kentucky is just around the corner, June 21-23rd, 2019. I encourage any member or nonmember to go and reap the many benefits of this amazing conference! In addition, I’d love to encourage you to please donate to IOH if you are able! Our district has a goal of raising 5k. The IOH is the philanthropic foundation to advance professional excellence in dental hygiene education and research. They work to empower dental hygienists to improve the public’s health through community service grants, support advancements in the dental hygiene profession through research grants, and develop dental hygienists’ access to educational programs through scholarships.

Thank you as always for your dedication and membership support!!

Sincerely,
Lesley Harbison, ODHA President
#creatingourfuturetogether

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Dental Hygienist Members of the OBD

The Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD) consists of 10 members appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate. All members of the board must be residents of Oregon. Of the 10 board members, 6 must be active licensed dentists, 2 must be active licensed dental hygienists and 2 must be members of the public.

Dental hygienist members of the board are selected by the Governor from a list of three to five nominees submitted by the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association (ODHA). Board members serve for a 4-year term and may be re-appointed for a 2nd term.

The current dental hygienist members of the Oregon Board of Dentistry are Yadira Martinez and Alicia Riedman.

Yadira Martinez, RDH, EPDH is beginning her 6th year as a member of the Oregon Board of Dentistry. Her current term expires April 1, 2022. Yadira lives in Hillsboro and works as an expanded practice dental hygienist with the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, a federally qualified health center that provides integrated medical, dental and behavioral health services for underserved patients in Washington and Yamhill Counties. Yadira provides dental hygiene services for children and young adults up to age 21, as well as for pregnant women and patients with diabetes, at Virginia Garcia’s dental clinics and school-based health centers. Yadira has a passion for public health and has been working with Virginia Garcia since 2000.

Alicia Riedman, RDH, EPDH is beginning her 5th year as a member of the Oregon Board of Dentistry. Her current term expires April 1, 2021. Alicia lives in Eugene and works as an expanded practice dental hygienist for the Community Health Centers of Lane County, a federally qualified health center. For over twelve years she has been a member of a team of expanded practice hygienists that provide on-site dental prevention services to Head Start, Early Head Start, WIC, Relief Nursery, Summer Migrant Program, as well as elementary, middle, and high school students. Alicia uses portable dental equipment to provide oral health assessments, teeth cleaning, fluoride varnish, sealants and oral health instruction. As a third generation dental professional, it is her passion to provide dental care to these underserved children.

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Advocacy Update


OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD) is scheduled to meet on Friday, June 21 at the OBD Office located at 1500 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 770, Portland, OR 97201. The Open Session of this OBD meeting will be held 7:30-9:30 AM. Anyone may attend this portion of the OBD meeting.

The Agenda and Public Packet for this meeting will be posted approximately one week before the meeting on the OBD website at www.oregon.gov/dentistry. Scroll down to About Us and click on Meetings.

Review the Board Meeting Agenda to see if there are any items that are of particular interest to you. The Board Meeting Public Packet is usually more than 500 pages in length, so we recommend that you review this document online, and only print pages if you need them. Review the Public Packet for meeting minutes, committee and liaison reports, the executive director’s report, attachments related to the agenda items, correspondence with the board, and articles & newsletters.

If you would like to attend the Open Session of this or any future OBD meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. Future OBD meeting dates are August 23, October 25, and December 13.

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Lois Whitford Memorial Scholarship

The 2019 LWMS dinner was very special. The dinner was held Saturday, April 27th. Guests included the former Oregon Dental Hygiene Scholarship and Loan Committee. This committee has been an active part of ODHA since the late 70's. Dedicated RDH's have met quarterly to raise money and grant loans to deserving student RDH's. This committee made the decision last year to discontinue operating and give the funds to the Lois Whitford Memorial Scholarship. All committee members knew Lois! Audrey Dickson taught alongside Lois, and was a guest of honor, as well as Krysten Clist, who chaired the ODHSL. A former ODHA president, Meredith Stiger, attended the dinner as a former ODHSL member as well as her sister Joyce Rankin. Having these distinguished guests around the table was an honor and pleasure to be able to thank them for their many years of work supporting the DH profession. Regular supporters of the LWMS Sandy Nelson, Carol Lincer and Vickie Woodward were present. LWMS Committee members Lorie Underwood, Karen Hartley and Laine Aus Neal were present - Laine knew Lois (and Audrey) as a child and acted as server and sous chef. This year we were incredibly fortunate to have our 2019 LWMS recipient join us. Yana Khriptiyevskiy had as wonderful of a time meeting seasoned dental hygienists as we did get to know her.

Pictures (L-R)
  1. Audrey, Lori
  2. Carol, Sandy, Karen
  3. Laura, Vickie, Yana, Audrey
  4. Marilyn, Joyce, Krysten
  5. Yana, Audrey, Laine

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Component Events

Want to know what CE courses or events are coming up in your area? Visit: http://www.odha.org/events for information or to register for component and state events!

Metro East Component 

The Metro East component held the fifth CE in our series on Interdisciplinary/Interprofessional Collaborations on Wednesday May 8th, "Integrating Mental Health Education into the Oral Health Profession." Dr Susan Rustvold gave a great presentation on practical use in dental offices working with those who experience mental health issues. Ana Maria Milburn, is the Mental Health Dept. Manager at NW Family Services. She defined the various mental health disorders and gave great instruction on how to best manage each emotional and mental health need within the oral health setting.

Our next event will be celebrating with the 2019 graduating dental hygiene students from PCC and Mt Hood. There will be a panel from various work force models to talk to the grads about possible job opportunities.
Location: The Recreation Building at 4000 Carman Dr. Lake Oswego 97035.
Sponsorship provided from Dean at Oral B.

South West Component

New SW Component Chair
Hello, my name is Jamie Christianson and I am from Eugene, Oregon. I am very excited to be your new Chair of the SW component! Not only do I bring enthusiasm about our ever-growing profession, but I am an ACTIVE member of our association and I encourage others to do the same. While being “Active” can mean just making sure to pay your dues on time, I feel that it’s much more than that. Like giving some of your time to your professional association that has given us so much so that we can do what we do for our patients every day. I have chosen to give back to my association by being on our association’s various boards.

I have enjoyed my time spent being on these boards such as SADHA secretary for Lane Community College from 2004-2006, Lane County Dental Hygienist Association (an ODHA component before it became a part of today’s SW component) Secretary and its Newsletter editor of Tooth-Be-Told for 10 years, and lastly, past ODHA Secretary (2008-2009). With each board experience, I made new connections and long-life friends that I know I can (and have) call up and chat when needed for advice or just a pick me up. Thank you.

I then continued my love of preventative oral health care by applying for my EPDH permit in 2010 and utilized this permit by being on-site preventative oral health care specialist in health care and nursing communities under my own business for about 5 years. I have also been a program administrator & co-clinic coordinator for the Oregon MaxiCourse (A Comprehensive Implant Education course for General Dentists) for the last 3 years. I am currently back to working for a wonderful general practice in Springfield, Oregon where I have the opportunity to build a strong preventative oral health program for patients.

On a more personal/family side of things, I do have a wonderful husband with whom I have two lovely daughters ages 5 and 10 who keep me very busy when I am not at work or at a dental conference. I also can’t forget our super sweet black lab named Arthur and our cat named Eric. My daughter also has a snake named Gingersnap that I am still trying to get used to (let’s just say I prefer horses over snakes). I love to camp, hike, and go for swims in the cascade lakes of Oregon during the summer.

As if you couldn’t tell already, I really do feel compassionate about my career choice as a dental hygienist and excited for the opportunities that are being opened in the medical field and within our scope of practice. I love to chat about dentistry. I am sort of a nerd that way. I look forward to getting to know more of my colleagues in the SW component and throughout the rest of the state. What a wonderful time to be a dental hygienist!

How will you be a more “Active” member? I would love to chat with you on ways you can help out. Psst...you don’t have to be a board member to start. Please email me to get our conversation started! I look forward to meeting you soon.

Sincerely, Jamie Christianson, RDH

North West Component 

June: no meetings due to ADHA annual conference
July/August: no meetings
September
CE CourseCultural Competency
SpeakerKaren Hall, RDH, EPDH
WhenThursday, September 19 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
LocationProvidence St. Vincent Medical Center, Souther Auditorium

Fees & Registration Information:
ADHA Members: (free)
Non-member Hygienists, Assistants and Dentists: $50 

NW Component Secretary

Jennifer Lusk, RDH, EPDH, BSDH

Graduated from Pacific University in Aug 2018.
Just celebrated 24 years of marriage. We have 4 children.
I enjoy gardening, reading, scrapbooking, and golfing.
I work in a private practice and have been a Clinical Instructor at Pacific University.

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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May 2019

President's Message

Hello Fellow Members!

Can you feel it? Spring is here and it feels as though everything is just popping and starting to bud and bloom! I love each change of season. It reminds me that nothing stays the same and we have to go with the flow of life.

We started April off with a bang and the not-to-be-missed ODC RDH Event! We knew it was going to be fun, and we were not disappointed. RDHs were welcomed at the door with goody bags, a great spread of snacks, and an amazing selfie photo booth! Q-Optics and Crest sponsored the event, and we had several excellent raffle prizes. We absolutely love having the opportunity to celebrate all RDHs and your contribution to the dental field.

Thank you to all our members for your continued support. Each and every member helps to support our profession. You are adding your voice to the future of our profession with your membership.

Sincerely,
Lesley Harbison, ODHA President
#creatingourfuturetogether

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News for Expanded Practice Dental Hygienists

  • Do you provide dental hygiene treatment for teenagers age 15-17?
  • Do some of these teenagers receive no dental hygiene treatment because they cannot get consent from a parent or guardian?

According to Oregon law, minors age 15 and older can give consent, without the consent of a parent or guardian, to receive treatment from a physician, dentist or nurse practitioner. However, minors age 15 and older cannot give consent, without the consent of a parent or guardian, to receive treatment from an expanded practice dental hygienist.

If you have had to deny dental hygiene treatment to a minor age 15 and older because you could not obtain consent, WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU! ODHA can pursue legislation to change this, but only if we hear from you.

Please share your experiences with ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley.

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2019 Alternate Delegate Profile 

Hi, my name is Heather Mobus, and I am excited to serve my first year as an Oregon Alternate Delegate at the ADHA National Convention. I am currently the Treasurer for ODHA and am part of the Advocacy Committee.

I graduated from Indiana University in 2010. I have worked in private practice, holistic care, periodontal practice, faculty in dental hygiene educational institutions, and as a consultant for TePe oral health products.

This year I am participating in the ADHA National Conference TED Talk: Spark Your Passion CE course on Sunday, June 23rd from 10:15 AM to 11:15 AM. I look forward to continually supporting our profession through ODHA membership and giving the best possible care to our patients.

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Advocacy Update


DENTAL HYGIENISTS CAN DO IN-OFFICE A1C DIABETES SCREENING TESTS

At its December 2018 meeting, the Oregon Board of Dentistry passed the following motion: ”The Oregon Board of Dentistry recognizes that it is within the scope of practice for Oregon licensed dentists and dental hygienists to perform in-office A1C diabetes screening tests for at-risk patients.” The board noted that: a) such testing is not presumed to be the standard of care; and b) for A1C screenings beyond the normal range, dentists should refer patients to a physician for a formal evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.

D0411 & D0412 - ADA Quick Guide to In-Office Monitoring & Documenting Patient Blood Glucose & HbA1C Level provides an overview of in-office diabetes screening procedures that includes CDT coding. Please note the following from this document: “Laboratories and providers performing in-office testing are regulated under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA). The dental office may require a “CLIA Certificate of Waiver” in order to perform blood glucose testing using CLIA waived test kits. Waived tests typically include systems cleared by the FDA for home use. Providers providing patient testing with a CLIA certificate of waiver must follow manufacturer’s instructions and perform testing only with test kits that have been assigned a “CLIA waived” status by the FDA.”

Contact Lisa J. Rowley at 503-568-5825 for questions, more information, or comments about ODHA Advocacy issues, and if you would like to become involved in ODHA Advocacy activities!!!

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Oregon Dental Conference - RDH event wrap-up!

Our 3rd annual RDH Event was great! This year we had 120+ attendees, and we have officially outgrown our space! We had some great prizes to give away from Crest/Oral-B, Dental Hygiene Nation, BURST Oral Care, Waterpik, as well as SmileCase, Cocofloss, and Young Dental samples! Thank you to ODHA and our amazing sponsors, Crest and Q-Optics, for making this event possible. We hope to see all of you again next year!

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New Program Director at Mt. Hood Community College

As of January 2, 2019, Mt. Hood Dental Hygiene Program has a new program director. Jennifer Aubry, a previous part-time instructor accepted Raye Ann Yapp’s position. Raye Ann retired in December 2018 and will continue working part-time for the program.

In 2003, Jennifer graduated from MHCC’s dental hygiene program. She worked in private practice in Gresham and Portland through 2011. In 2007, she began teaching at Mt. Hood part-time in the clinic. Her position and courseload grew over the years. Jennifer will continue teaching Community Dental Health, Public Health and Dental Research, Local Anesthesia and Clinical courses, in addition to the administration responsibilities of program director.

Jennifer was born and raised in Oregon. She graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s in Health Promotion and Education, Community Health prior to attending dental hygiene school. In 2012, she graduated from Portland State University with a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. She looks forward to learning and growing in dental public health administration and the higher education arena.

Jennifer, and her husband, Jean-Christophe, have been married for 17 years. They reside in Gresham, Oregon with their four children, ages 6 to 14. At home, she stays busy doing the fun stuff of being a mom, such as chauffeuring children to and from their multiple extra-curricular activities, helping with their homeschool curriculum projects and schoolwork, and organizing parties and family vacations. When life gives her a few extra minutes, she enjoys reading, sewing, knitting, and doing other crafty things. She strongly dislikes laundry and grocery shopping, but does it anyway, because it’s necessary!

The Mt. Hood student paper, The Advocate, recently wrote an article featuring the new program director. You can view it here.


Jennifer and fellow colleague, Ilya Babiy, at a human cadaver dissection CE education course

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Student Happenings

Mount Hood Community College, Dental Hygiene

An Opportunity to Make a Difference! Dental Hygiene students of Mt. Hood Community College are on a mission! This year, 11 students and 2 faculty are on their way to St. Lucia in July to serve the community with healthier smiles. For every 1 dentist, there are 100,000 persons! An opportunity like this provides a copious amount of experience that allows each student to be in an environment where his or her future careers CAN reach and change the lives of several individuals! Each student will be able to work with faculty supervision to provide necessary care to patients. 

Students heard about the trip that took place last year and how blessed those that went felt about assisting the citizens of St. Lucia, that they had to follow in their footsteps and join the mission. The experience was so grand, that two students are returning to volunteer again! 

Beginning last fall, students have been working hard to secure donations and find new ways to raise money to support the trip. Over the next couple of months, supplies will be gathered and packaged up, students will make their final preparations, and then they will be off to join other Great Shape!, Inc. volunteers to treat communities in St. Lucia. All are looking forward to the rewarding experience and the growth they’ll gain in their dental hygiene careers.

Student Heidi Nguyen writes about the anticipated St. Lucia mission trip: I am going on my first volunteer mission trip this summer to sunny St. Lucia with my classmates and staff from MHCC. I heard about the trip that my school went on last year and how blessed they all felt about being able to help out and assist the citizens of St. Lucia. I am looking forward to this rewarding experience and being able to help the community that is in dire need. 

Our trip is supported by our school and specifically our dental hygiene staff, who will be also sharing the experience with us students. We are all working hard to secure donations and find new ways to raise money to support our trip. This is a group effort that all students have been able to assist with. Our program director, who will be assisting us, has supported our efforts and is helping out at every turn in our progress.

All of us at MHCC’s dental hygiene program are eagerly awaiting our departure knowing that this opportunity will allow us to grow as clinicians, while serving a community that is truly in need. 

Pacific University

Senior President Kaylynn Walls, Junior Vice President Alexandria Sauer, Junior President Alexandria Pena, Senior Vice President Sunisa Thongkam, Senior Secretary Ashlyn Chee, Junior Secretary Norma Santiago-Hernandez

An update from: Kaylyn Walls, President
I’ve had the opportunity to serve as the SADHA president during both my junior and senior year at Pacific University. My responsibilities in this role have allowed me to gain valuable communication skills as an advocate for my classmates as well as many networking opportunities. I’ve been active in promoting ADHA for students and stressed the importance of continuing their membership after graduation. 

As a SADHA member, I was able to help raise funds so that a group of classmates and I could attend the national ADHA conference in Louisville, Kentucky this year. We have organized fun events to help students relieve stress outside of school such as hikes on Saddle Mountain and yoga classes in the clinic. With help from faculty, we were also able to gather a panel of EP hygienists to talk to us about their experience in this field.

Overall, as future dental hygienists, SADHA has helped us learn the importance of community and support from our professional organization.

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Component Events

Want to know what CE courses or events are coming up in your area? Visit: http://www.odha.org/events for information or to register for component and state events!

Metro East Component 

CE Course:  Inter-professional series - Mental Health
Panelists:  Karen Green MSW, LSSW, Faculty, Mental Health/Social, Mt Hood Community College and Ana Maria, social worker, NW Family Services
When:  Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at 6:30 pm 
Where:  2574 Troy Ct., West Linn, OR
Fee & Registration Information: 
ADHA Members: (free)
Non-member Hygienists, Assistants and Dentists: ($50)
CE Credits:  2 CEUs 

South West Component

CE Course: Current Infection Prevention Protocols and Recommendations: Are you in Compliance?
Speaker
Monica Monsantofils, BSDH, EPDH, PGDip
When:
Thursday, May 9, 2019 from 6:00-8:00pm
Where:
4750 Village Plaza Loop, Eugene, OR
Fees & Registration Information:
ADHA Members: (free)
Non-member Hygienists, Assistants and Dentists: ($50)
CE Credits: 2 CEUs

North West Component 

CE Course: Medical Emergency Part 2
Speaker:
Dr. Steve Beadnell
When:
Thursday, May 16, 2019 from 6:30-8:30pm
Location:
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Souther Auditorium
Fees & Registration Information:
ADHA Members: (free)
Non-member Hygienists, Assistants and Dentists: ($50)
CE Credits:
2 CEUs 

High Desert Component

CE Course: Diagnosis and Treatment of Periodontal Disease for the Hygienist and General Dentist
Speaker:
Dr. Kathleen Rueter
When:
Thursday, May 2, 2019 from 5:30-9:00pm
Location:
Deschutes Brewery Downtown - Tap Room
Fees & Registration Information:
ADHA Members: (free)
Non-member Hygienists, Assistants and Dentists: ($75) 
CE Credits: 3 CEUs 

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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April 2019

President's Message

Hello Fellow Members and Happy Spring!!

I know it doesn’t always feel like it, but spring is coming and with it all sorts of exciting events. For instance, the Oregon Dental Conference will be taking place April 4-6, 2019. During this conference, ODHA hosts RDH Event Mix and Mingle, this year sponsored by Crest and Q-Optics. This event is for ALL dental hygienists! We want to celebrate you and all that you do!! The RDH event is Saturday April 6th from 11:00 am -12:30 pm. We will have light refreshments, giveaways and awesome raffle prizes!! Last year it was a huge success and we plan to build on that momentum! Please stop by and say hi! We are also there to answer your questions about all the many benefits of ODHA membership. This is the perfect time to network and mingle with your RDH friends!

As always, thank you for your support! Together we are stronger, creating the future for our profession. It is not possible without you and your membership!!

Sincerely,
Lesley Harbison, ODHA President
#creatingourfuturetogether

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Upcoming Events

Oregon Dental Conference

The Oregon Dental Conference is just around the corner! This year, you will find ODHA with the “ODA Partners” in the exhibit hall - please come by and say ‘hello’! We will also be doing easy online sign-ups this year for anyone who may want to join the association.

ODHA will again be hosting the RDH Event at ODC on Saturday, April 6th at 11:00 am, with our amazing co-sponsors, Crest and Q-Optics. All RDH are welcome! Come to mingle and catch up with your colleagues, enter for amazing raffle prizes and hear the latest Oregon updates. We hope to see you there!

 

In Motion 5K

Fundraising is underway for the 2019 “In Motion 5K”, which happens each year at the ADHA Annual Conference.  The 5K walk/run/fun event is the primary fundraising event for The ADHA Institute for Oral Health (IOH).  The IOH provides yearly scholarships and grants for dental hygienists, community service projects and research.  If you are attending the ADHA Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, you can sign up as a participant to help fund raise.  If you are unable to attend the ADHA Annual Conference, but would still like to support IOH through the “In Motion 5K”, you can make a one-time donation to the team of your choice or simply sign up as a virtual participant!  Click on the logo below to learn more!

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Scholarship Update


Yvette Ly - 2018 Scholarship Recipient

The Lois Whitford Memorial Scholarship will hold its 21st annual fundraising dinner on Saturday, April 27th. The event is a 9 course gourmet meal, well worth the $100 given to the scholarship. This year the 2018 recipient, Yvette Ly, will be honored as well as the former committee members of the Oregon Dental Hygiene Scholarship and Loan Fund, Inc. (ODHSLF):

  • Krysten Clist, President
  • Karen Matson, Secretary
  • Audrey Dickson, Treasurer
  • Sandie Curren
  • Joyce Rankin
  • Meredith Stiger

The ODHSLF dissolved at the end of 2018, giving the remaining assets to the Lois Whitford Memorial Scholarship. This will be a night to remember as past ODHA leaders share an evening meal around the table with future leaders.

For further information please contact Lori Killen Aus.

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 2019 Oregon Delegates

Hello, my name is Rachel Broderick and I am excited to serve my second year as Oregon Delegate to National Convention. I am currently the Northwest Component director.

I graduated from Pacific University in 2016 and work as a Public Health Hygienist at Neighborhood Health Center where I serve a diverse population.

I am looking forward to my 4th Annual Convention and hope to see some other Oregon Hygienists in Louisville, Kentucky.

 

Hi everyone, my name is Laura Vanderwerf. I graduated in 2014 from Northern Virginia Community College in Springfield, Virginia and moved back to Oregon shortly afterward. I currently work for a mobile corporation at Intel Ronler Acres.

Last year, as an alternate delegate, I was honored to be asked to step in when a delegate couldn’t attend, and what an experience it was. Because of this, I sought to be elected as an Oregon Delegate. I am looking forward to representing Oregon Dental Hygienists at the 2019 ADHA National Convention!

 

Hi everyone!  I’m AJ Lewis, a 2016 graduate of Pacific University, currently working in private practice. 

In addition to everyday patient care, I am very passionate about dental product knowledge and research and am interested in dental photography.  Nationally, I have served on the New Professionals Advisory Board and am a graduate of Unleashing Your Potential with ADHA.

I am currently serving my second term as your ODHA Membership Director and I’m excited to attend my fourth ADHA annual session this June - but this year as a Delegate!

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Advocacy Update


2019 OREGON LEGISLATIVE SESSION

There are 13 bills related to dentistry that are being considered during the 2019 Oregon Legislative Session. Here is a summary of some of these bills:

  • Senate Bill 824 would allow the Oregon Board of Dentistry to accept results from alternative examinations (such as OSCEs) to meet one of the requirements for dental licensure.
  • Senate Bill 834 would allow OBD licensees (dentists & dental hygienists) to explain an error to a patient without the threat of that conversation being used against them in court.
  • Senate Bill 835 would allow dentists to advertise that they practice in one or more specialty areas of dentistry if they meet the requirements stated in this bill.
  • Senate Bill 836 would authorize the Oregon Board of Dentistry to review patient charts associated with dental pilot projects approved by the Oregon Health Authority.
  • House Bill 2220 would authorize trained and certified dentists to prescribe and administer vaccines.
  • House Bill 3106 would require coordinated care organizations that manage their own dental programs to have a licensed dentist on-site at least one day each week.
  • House Bill 3107 would require coordinated care organizations that manage their own dental programs to have a dental clinical advisory group.
  • House Bill 3353 would allow a nonprofit corporation that provides reduced-cost dental services to underserved populations, including individuals 55 years of age or older or individuals who require accessible facilities, to own, operate, conduct or maintain dental practice.

You can read the full text of a bill and follow its progress through the Oregon Legislature at Bill Selection. You can also contact your legislators to let them know if you support or oppose these bills. Find your state legislators at Find My Legislator

Expanded Practice Dental Hygienists

  • Do you provide dental hygiene treatment for teenagers age 15-17?
  • Do some of these teenagers receive no dental hygiene treatment because they cannot get consent from a parent or guardian?

According to Oregon law, minors age 15 and older can give consent, without the consent of a parent or guardian, to receive treatment from a physician, dentist or nurse practitioner. However, minors age 15 and older cannot give consent, without the consent of a parent or guardian, to receive treatment from an expanded practice dental hygienist.

If you have had to deny dental hygiene treatment to a minor age 15 and older because you could not obtain consent, WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU! ODHA can pursue legislation to change this, but only if we hear from you. Please share your experiences with ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley

Contact Lisa J. Rowley at 503-568-5825 or [email protected] for questions, more information, or comments about ODHA Advocacy issues, and if you would like to become involved in ODHA Advocacy activities!!!

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Component Events

Want to know what CE courses or events are coming up in your area? Visit: http://www.odha.org/events for information or to register for component and state events!

Metro East Component 

Metro East Component is focusing the 2018-2019 CE on Inter-professional collaborations. Our March course was presented by James Beckerman, MD, FACC on "A Cardiology Fellowship for the Oral Health Profession."

On Saturday, March 9, 2019 members of Metro East joined with student dental hygienists to serve uninsured at a Compassion Clinic in Troutdale.

South West Component

The South West component is excited to announce that our new chair is Jamie Christensen and our secretary is Kelly Pollette. We welcome anyone else interested in helping to brainstorm future CEs, community service days and fun activities.

On February 23rd, the South West Component partnered with Saint Matthews Episcopal Church. On the last Saturday of each month the Church holds a food pantry providing food for those in need. This was our first time representing ODHA and providing free oral cancer screenings, taking blood pressures and offering resources for dental care. We received some donations from a local dental hygienist and a local dentist that helped us give out needed oral health supplies. Everyone was so appreciative.

We had a CE on February 28th, the same week that Eugene was hit with more than a foot of snow shutting down much of the town. Luckily, we were able to hold the CE as power came back on at the facility that day. Dr. Dow, a Eugene periodontist helped us get a better understanding of the new perio classifications. He was delightful and funny, using case studies to help us get a handle on how to classify our patients.

CE Course: Current Infection Prevention Protocols and Recommendations: Are you in Compliance?
SpeakerMonica Monsantofils, BSDH, EPDH, PGDip
When: Thursday, May 9, 2019 from 6:00-8:00pm
Where: 4750 Village Plaza Loop, Eugene, OR
Fees & Registration Information:
ADHA Members: (free)
Non-member Hygienists, Assistants and Dentists: ($50)

North West Component

North West Component attended the Dental Hygiene Capstone CE event at Pacific University, Hillsboro Campus on March 21st to support the Dental Hygiene students.

CE Course: Medical Emergency Part 1
Speaker: Dr. Steve Beadnell
When: Thursday, April 18, 2019 from 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Souther Auditorium
Fees & Registration Information:
ADHA Members: (free)
Non-member Hygienists, Assistants and Dentists: ($50)

High Desert Component

High Desert component is hosting a class on May 2nd titled “Diagnosis and Treatment of Periodontal Disease for the Hygienist and General Dentist” at Deschutes Brewery’s Mountain Room from 5:30-9:00pm. 

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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March 2019

President's Message

Hello Fellow Members,

Even though we are through February I want to say I hope that the holidays were joyous and restful for you. I often feel the holidays are some of the most hectic days of the year, but the most exciting as well. The feeling of renewal, family, and tradition is strong at this time of year. Hopefully, among the rush of shopping, traveling, and holiday parties, we all got a chance to slow down and spend time with the ones we love.

Many of us utilize the New Year as a time to set new goals and form resolutions, and hopefully we are still going strong with those resolutions. With this spirit of renewal and new beginnings I encourage you to be sure to renew your membership and encourage your co-workers and friends who have yet to join our association to do so. We have so many wonderful activities planned, and the camaraderie and support for our profession is unparalleled.

Plans for the November conference are already in the works, our advocacy team is hard at work making sure our profession is poised for a successful future, and our component leaders are planning top notch CE courses to keep us all on the cutting edge of our profession.

I want to thank you for your support and your membership. Our profession is pulsing with the steady rhythm of growth and positive change. Every new year brings something new and exciting and our association and its members are right there making that change happen. Together we continue to create our future and the future of dental hygiene!

Sincerely,
Lesley Harbison, ODHA President
#creatingourfuturetogether

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Save the Date!

Calling all hygienists…. come and mingle with your fellow hygienists at the Oregon Dental Conference!
What: 3rd Annual “All RDH” Event
Where: Oregon Dental Conference
When: Saturday, April 6th
Time: 11:00-12:30


ODHA Executive Officers at the
2018 Oregon Dental Conference

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Scholarship Update

In 1972, seed money from the ODHA’s Oregon Foundation for Dental Research and Development provided start up financing to begin the Oregon Dental Hygiene Scholarship and Loan Fund, Inc. ODHA formed a committee that was established in 1978 to raise money for granting scholarships and loans to dental hygiene students. Wine tasting parties and silent auctions were held at ODHA events to raise money that would enable financial help to our future professionals. This committee has remained active through the years, communicating with the DH programs in Oregon, processing and granting loans to those who submit requests, and the difficult task of maintaining loan re-payment, as many default. Meetings were held at the office of Ray Ramsey, the former attorney for ODHA who graciously volunteered his time and valuable advice. Ray passed away November, 2018. He was a great friend to ODHA for over three decades and will be missed. The ODHSLF dissolved at the end of 2018 giving the remaining assets to the Lois Whitford Memorial Scholarship.

We would like to formally thank the ODHSLF committee:

  • Krysten Clist, President
  • Karen Matson, Secretary
  • Audrey Dickson, Treasurer
  • Sandie Curren
  • Joyce Rankin
  • Meredith Stiger


Yvette Ly - 2018 Scholarship Recipient

On Saturday, April 27th the LWMS will hold its annual fundraising dinner. This will be the 21st annual fundraising dinner event. The event is a 9 course gourmet meal, well worth the $100 given to the scholarship. This year the 2018 recipient, Yvette Ly, will be honored as well as the former committee members of the ODHSLF. This will be a night to remember as past ODHA leaders share an evening meal around the table with future leaders.

For further information please contact Lori Killen Aus: [email protected]

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Advocacy Update


2019 ODA LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

At their January 2019 meeting, the ODHA Board of Directors voted to support the 2019 Oregon Dental Association (ODA) Legislative Agenda.

The ODHA supports 2019 ODA proposed legislation that would:

  • Allow dentists to administer immunizations.
  • Allow OBD licensees (dentists & dental hygienists) to explain an error to a patient without the threat of that conversation being used against them in court.
  • Improve and clarify current statute that requires oral health screenings for students entering public school for the first time.
  • Move away from live patient clinical testing as a requirement for dental and dental hygiene licensure in Oregon.
  • Allow the Oregon Board of Dentistry to review patient charts in a dental pilot project and share their concerns with the Oregon Health Authority.


ODHA SUPPORTS HB 2220

The 2019 Oregon Legislative Assembly will be in session for the purpose of lawmaking January 22, 2019 through June 30, 2019. Click on the following links to see How an Idea Becomes Law and A Guide to Reading a Legislative Measure. The ODHA is in support of House Bill 2220 that would allow dentists to give vaccinations. Oregon has established state policy on improving vaccination rates, and dentists can help additional Oregonians access life-saving vaccines. HB 2220 would require dentists to use existing reporting mechanisms, protocols, and storage requirements already established by the Oregon Health Authority for providers currently vaccinating Oregonians. Dentists would also be required to take vaccine-specific training, approved by the Board of Dentistry, prior to administering any vaccines. Click on the following link to learn more about HB 2220. ODHA will monitor and comment on bills related to dentistry throughout the 2109 Oregon Legislative Session.

Please share this flier with your friends, colleagues and legislators.


NEW RULES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2019

The Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD) adopted 19 administrative rule changes in 2018 that became effective January 1, 2019. The following changes may be of particular interest to dental hygienists. To view all administrative rule changes, go to www.oregon.gov/dentistry.

  • OAR 818-035-0072 and OAR 818-042-0095 have been amended to allow restorative functions dental hygienists and restorative functions dental assistants to place and finish direct restorations except gold foil. The words “alloy” and “composite” were removed from this rule to allow for the use of other restorative materials with the exception of gold foil.
  • OAR 818-042-0040 has been amended to allow dental assistants to use high-speed handpieces for the purpose of adjusting occlusion, contouring and polishing restorations on teeth that are being restored.

Please contact Lisa J. Rowley at 503-568-5825 or [email protected] for questions, more information, or comments about ODHA Advocacy issues, and if you would like to become involved in ODHA Advocacy activities!!!

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Component Events

Want to know what CE courses or events are coming up in your area? Visit: http://www.odha.org/events for information or to register for component and state events!

Metro East Component

CE Course: Systemic Link Between Periodontal Disease and Heart Disease: History and Current Events
Speaker: Dr. James "Jamie" G. Beckerman, MD, FACC
When: Wednesday, March 6th from 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Timber Dental - 1200 SE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
Fees & Registration Information:
ADHA members (free)
Non-members ($50)
Space is limited so please use the link above to register, or visit http://www.odha.org/events.
Please feel free to share this information with your dentist and hygienist friends and colleagues. We look forward to seeing you!
Dinner is provided.

South West Component

The Southwest component has found its feet again, meeting regularly for CEs in Eugene. Our first community service day took place on Saturday February 23rd where we partnered with the food pantry at Saint Matthews Episcopal Church. We are looking for members who want to be part of a committee to help organize CEs in Eugene and also in the Medford/Grants Pass area. We can meet via Skype or FB messenger, so no need to live close to each other. All ideas are welcome for future CEs and community service days. The more hands, the less work, and more fun!

CE Course: Diabetes and Periodontal Disease, By the Numbers and Beyond the Numbers
Speaker: Gail Johnson, RDH
When: Thursday, March 28, 2019 from 6:00-8:00pm
Where: 4750 Village Plaza Loop, Eugene, OR
Fees & Registration Information:
ADHA Members: (free)
Non-member Hygienists, Assistants and Dentists: ($50)

North West Component

The NW component has CE Opportunities every 3rd Thursday of the month:

CE Course: Cultural Competency CE
Speaker: Karen Hall, RDH, EPDH
When: Thursday, March 21, 2019 from 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Southern Auditorium
Fees & Registration Information:
ADHA Members: (free)
Non-member Hygienists, Assistants and Dentists: ($50)

CE Course: Medical Emergency Part 1
Speaker: Dr. Steve Beadnell
When: Thursday, April 18, 2019 from 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Southern Auditorium
Fees & Registration Information:
ADHA Members: (free)
Non-member Hygienists, Assistants and Dentists: ($50)

High Desert Component

The High Desert Component met recently to discuss our Strategic Plan and upcoming lectures. We also talked about hosting a 5k run to raise funds and awareness and asking local dental reps to sponsor our future courses.

CE Course: The Root Cause: How to explain the safety and efficacy of root canal therapy to your patients
Speaker: Ryan Duval, DMD, MSD
When: Thursday, March 21 2019 from 5:30-8:00pm
Location: Deschutes Brewery - Mountain Room, 901 Simpson Ave. Bend, OR 97702
Fees & Registration Information:
ADHA Members: (free)
Non-member Hygienists, Assistants and Dentists: ($50)

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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