Monthly Incisor

April 2024

 The Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association, a chapter of the ADHA, is committed to providing advocacy, professional development and networking opportunities for dental hygienists and the dental hygiene profession.

 


 


 

March

President’s Message

Hello ODHA members!

A happy and healthy mouth is indeed a crucial part of maintaining overall well-being. Good oral health can have a positive impact on the entire body, from digestion to overall health.

As dental hygienists we typically are passionate about oral health and our expertise certainly contributes to a happier and healthier community. March 20th being “World Oral Health Day” is an excellent opportunity to promote good oral hygiene practices and raise awareness about the importance of regular dental care.

March 3-9 is “Dental Assistant Appreciation Week” in 2024! Dental Assistants play a vital role in dental practices, supporting both Dental Hygienists and Dentists in providing quality care to patients. Recognizing their hard work and dedication is essential for boosting morale and fostering a positive work environment. Hope you are planning some special activities or events to show appreciation for Dental Assistants.

Dental continuing education is important for dental hygienists. It helps you stay up to date with the latest advancements in the field and maintain your licensure. Join your Component for some in-person education and networking. Check out our website for the latest activities.

Look for the ODHA at the Oregon Dental Conference, April 4-6. We have a dental hygiene social planned for Saturday, April 6. Bring your lunch and join us for some networking.

Karan BershawWarm regards,
Karan Bershaw, MS, RDH, EPDH, FADHA

 

 

 

 


Component News

North West

Hello ODHA friends,

Spring is here! Only weeks ago I was walking to my car in complete darkness after work. Now, with the arrival of the new season, dusk is welcoming me to the end of my work day. There is hope!

I have been delightfully busy with my new(ish) job at Capitol Dental. When others ask, "How are you liking your new job?"  the word that most often comes to mind is “invigorating”. Public health is where my heart is. It reminds me that when I do what I enjoy, work becomes a labor of love rather than just earning a paycheck.

Last month, I worked with a mom and her 4-year-old son who had recently moved from Africa to the United States. In Africa, they lived in a very poor village. Mom and son lived in a small hut, where they slept on thin mats on a dirt floor. Mom was legally blind but didn’t let that get in her way. She worked hard in school and was awarded a college scholarship in the U.S. With dreams of making a better life for herself and her son, she came to Portland, leaving her 6-month-old baby boy with family in Africa. While away from her son, her heart ached. While away from his mommy, her son constantly sucked on a milk bottle for comfort. After graduating with honors, mom returned to Africa to retrieve her now 3-year-old son. Each one of his teeth was black, some decayed to the gumline. After a long journey to their new home in Portland, mom took her son to a dentist who told her all of the boy's upper and lower anterior teeth had to be extracted and all of the posterior teeth needed fillings or crowns.

I cried when I heard this mother’s story. For those of us in public health, these tears quickly turn to action. This is my passion: supporting patients who lack resources by getting them the care they need.

What’s your passion?

What moves you in your career? Your passion could be cosmetic dentistry. Helping to improve smiles and boosting confidence is your dream. Or perhaps your gift is identifying signs of occlusal dysfunction. Helping patients improve their bite and relieving jaw pain makes you so happy! Or perhaps it’s sleep-related issues. Helping patients breathe better brings you joy. Or research? Or education? The key to a happy professional life is to find YOUR passion and then use it to change lives, including your own. Go for it and don’t look back!

You are invited to join us Saturday, March 2nd from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM for our monthly Component Meeting and free CE! This month we will focus on a topic that applies to us all - Communication: Building Trust with Patients. No registration required.
As a dental provider, do you:
• Feel more comfortable delivering information than listening?
• Find yourself having the same conversations with your patients?
• Feel uncomfortable asking your patients difficult questions?

If you said yes to any of these questions, this meeting is for you!

Location is the Vanport Building located in downtown Portland. The address is 1810 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97202, Room 268. The easiest parking is located across the street from the Vanport Building, on 4th and Harrison in the CVS building. There is also parking between Montgomery and Mill on 4th Ave.

ODHA North West Component InsagramDon’t forget to follow the ODHA Northwest Component on Instagram! There you’ll find announcements, info on upcoming meetings and CE, and more! We will be adding spotlights on outstanding hygienists soon.

 

 

 

 

DeAnn Dardis

Warmly,

DeAnn Dardis, RDH, BSDH, EPP
North West Component Director

 

 

 

 

Metro East

Hello!

Metro East has been busy staying involved in the community and especially enjoying all of the student involvement from Portland Community College and Mt. Hood Community College students this month!

February’s meeting had a fantastic turnout of over 35 attendees!! We had a really fun “Black Box Q and A” where students were able to ask anonymous questions about the profession and RDH’s in attendance took turns answering the questions. It was informative and also really fun! We also put together hygiene bags for Rose Haven Women’s Day Shelter which will be delivered next week. Thank you to all who participated and contributed to the supply drive.

Next month’s meeting will be held at the same location on March 28, and Monica Emmons from Dentsply Sirona will be discussing all of the latest and greatest ultrasonic options and will be bringing instruments for a hands-on, one (1) credit workshop. All RDH’s and students are welcome to join! Watch for details in the next couple of weeks!

Last, but not least we wanted to share that there will be a NEW hygiene program opening in Portland!!! Hannah Rich, Director at Concorde Career College (and Pacific University graduate) has been working very hard to get this new CODA-accredited program up and running. See the announcement below!! We are so excited to add this program under the Metro East umbrella alongside Mt. Hood and Portland Community College!

New Hygiene Program Announcement!

In response to the growing demand for dental professionals in Portland and greater Oregon, Concorde Career College–Portland is pleased to announce the launch of our new Dental Hygiene Associate of Applied Science degree program. Our curriculum blends theory with hands-on lab and clinical experience. With this program launch, Concorde is opening a new Dental Hygiene Clinic. Our students, under the supervision of faculty and a licensed dentist, can gain clinical competencies while providing low-cost dental services to the community.

Concorde–Portland’s Dental Hygiene program received initial programmatic accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Our first cohort of students starts in April, and we will be hosting an open house later this spring. We look forward to partnering with the dental community! To learn more or tour the facility, please contact Hannah Rich, RDH, program director, at 503-281-4181 (main), 971-277-8989 (direct) or [email protected].

Heidi Klobes

 

Warmly,

Heidi M. Klobes RDH, BSDH
Metro East Component Director

 

 


Advocacy

License Portability & the DDH Compact

License portability allows a person with a license in one state to be authorized to practice in another state. Traditionally, dental hygienists have needed to obtain and maintain a license in each state where they want to practice. License portability will allow dental hygienists to practice in other states without obtaining additional licenses. An interstate compact is a legal, legislatively enacted contract between two or more states that can allow states to create reciprocal professional licensing so that a person with a professional license in one state may practice in another state without obtaining an additional license.

The DDH Compact is an interstate agreement that will provide a pathway for dentists and dental hygienists to obtain authorization to practice in states where they are not already licensed. The DDH Compact will allow a dentist or dental hygienist who has a license in one participating state to apply for compact privilege in another participating state. The compact privilege will allow the dentist or dental hygienist to practice in the other participating state without needing to obtain a license in that state.

The Council of State Governments (csg.org) partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) to develop this new interstate compact. The CSG has developed model legislation that must be enacted by at least 7 states before the DDH Compact can go into effect. No substantive changes can be made to the language of the model legislation, or it may jeopardize that state’s participation in the DDH Compact. Only states that enact the legislation may participate in the DDH Compact. Iowa, Washington & Tennessee have passed this legislation, and legislation is pending in several other states. The ODHA is meeting with the Oregon Dental Association (ODA) to discuss partnering on this legislation for 2025.

For more information about the DDH Compact, please visit the ODHA website at https://ordha.memberclicks.net/advocacy-news

 


Oregon Board of Dentistry News Meetings in 2024

April 26
June 14
August 23
October 25
December 13

The Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings are in person but you also may join via Zoom.

Friday, April 26
8:00 - 9:00 am - Dental Assistant Workforce Shortage Advisory Committee meeting
9:15 am Board Meeting

Anyone may participate in Open Session portions of the Board meeting.

In-person meeting: 1500 SW 1st Ave Ste 770, Portland, OR 97201

 Zoom link will be posted approximately one week before the meeting on the Board website at www.oregon.gov/dentistry. Scroll down to About Us and click on Meetings. The public packet is usually more than 200 pages in length. We recommend that you review this document online, and only print pages if you need them.

If you would like to participate in the Open Session of this or any future board meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Karen Hall at [email protected] for more information.

 

Dental Hygienist Completes Service as Board Member


Alicia RiedmanCongratulations and Thank You to Alicia Riedman, RDH, EPDH who recently completed her service as one of the two dental hygienist members of the Oregon Board of Dentistry. Alicia served as a member of the Board for 9 years from April 2015 through February 2024. During her time on the Board, Alicia served as their 2020-2021 Vice President and their 2021-2022 President.

Alicia lives in Eugene & has worked for over 17 years as an expanded practice dental hygienist with the Community Health Centers of Lane County, a federally qualified health center. She works with a team of expanded practice hygienists who provide on-site preventive dental services to children in Head Start, Early Head Start, WIC, Relief Nursery, Summer Migrant Program, as well as to students in elementary, middle, and high school. Alicia uses portable dental equipment to provide oral health assessments, teeth cleaning, fluoride varnish, sealants, SDF and oral health instruction. As a third-generation dental professional, it is Alicia’s passion to provide dental care to these underserved children. In 2021 Alicia received the ODHA Lynn Ironside Access to Care Award.

 


 

In Memoriam

Audrey DicksonAudrey Dickson, RDH passed away on January 24, 2024 at the age of 86. She was preceded in death by her husband Jerry in 2013. She is survived by two children, her daughter Maija Dickson Rogers & her son O’Connell Dickson. Audrey graduated from the Dental Hygiene Program at the University of Oregon Dental School (now the Oregon Health Science University School of Dentistry) in 1956, & then worked for several years as a dental hygienist in an orthodontic office. She was one of the original faculty members for the Dental Hygiene Program at Mount Hood Community College (MHCC) along with their program director, Lois Whitford. Audrey taught dental radiology for dental hygiene students at MHCC, as well as for dental assistants through the Continuing Dental Education Department at OHSU.

Audrey was an active member of ODHA who served as Treasurer & Parliamentarian, & she helped establish ODHA’s political action committee (PAC). Audrey also served as Speaker of the House for the American Dental Hygienists’ Association for many years. Audrey was a Board Member for the Oregon Dental Hygiene Scholarship & Loan Fund, Inc. (ODHSLF), a private fund that provided interest-free loans for dental hygiene students. In 1985 Audrey received ODHA’s Lois Whitford Outstanding Dental Hygienist Award. Lori Killen Aus describes Audrey as “an incredible teacher, mentor and friend.”  (Pictured are (left)  Audrey Dickson and (right) Lori Killen Aus.)   


World Oral Health Day 

World Health Day 2024World Oral Health Day (WOHD) is celebrated globally each year on March 20. WOHD was launched by the FDI World Dental Federation to raise global awareness on the prevention & control of oral diseases. The purpose of WOHD is to empower people with the knowledge, tools & confidence to secure good oral health.

FDI relies on individual action worldwide to roll out World Oral Health Day in each country & create a truly global movement. FDI encourages you to use your local expertise to create awareness and promote WOHD in your community.

The campaign theme for 2024 through 2026 is “A Happy Mouth is … A Healthy Body.” WOHD hopes to motivate people to value and take care of their mouths and understand that by doing so they can also help protect their general &-being.

A variety of resources are available to promote World Oral Health Day including fact sheets, message cards, posters, & social media tools. All content is free to use by everyone as long as it's used in its original form (no modifications allowed) & doesn't promote a product or a business (i.e. dental practice).

 


National Emerging Leader Award


Daniel Martinez TovarCongratulations to Daniel Martinez Tovar, EPDH, MBA on being one of 12 national recipients of a 2024 Emerging Leader Award from the Geiger Gibson Program. These awards recognize and celebrate young leaders whose work and dedication have helped further the health center mission of health care and better health for medically underserved people. Candidates for this award are nominated by the leaders of their health center, primary care association or network, and awardees are selected by a committee drawn from senior health center movement leadership. For more information about this award program, click on Geiger Gibson Emerging Leaders Award. Daniel received this award during the 2024 Policy & Issues Forum sponsored by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) that was recently held in Washington, D.C. For more information about this organization, click on NACHC.

Daniel is currently the Dental Senior Manager for the Multnomah County Health Centers where he is responsible for ensuring that patients receive high-quality, patient-centered oral healthcare. In addition to this full-time position, Daniel is an adjunct faculty member in the Dental Hygiene Program at Mount Hood Community College where he is a classroom teacher for courses in community dental health and research, and a lab instructor for dental radiology and restorative expanded functions. Daniel previously worked with the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center as an expanded practice dental hygienist in their School-Based Health Centers and School Sealant Program, and later served as Dental Operations Manager for their Hillsboro Dental Clinic.

 

 


 

Upcoming Events

Dental Assistants Recognition Week | March 3-9

Dental Assistants Resignation WeekDental Assistants Recognition Week is observed each year during the first full week of March to celebrate the commitment & dedication that dental assistants exhibit throughout the year. This year’s celebration will be held March 3-9, 2024, You can find DARW information at www.adaausa.org/aws/ADAA/pt/sp/DARW.

Today’s dental assistants strengthen the entire dental practice & enhance the patient care experience. Dental assistants are committed to professional development & quality dental care. Whether working chairside during patient care, managing the business office, teaching future dental assistants, or working in insurance or sales, dental assistants are vital to the success of dentistry.

Please be sure to celebrate & recognize the dental assistants who work with you during the Dental Assistants Recognition Week!

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ADHA Annual Conference | July 26-28 | New Orleans

ADHA Annual Conference 2024

Join dental hygienists from across the country to celebrate excellence with keynote speakers, continuing education, product presentations & networking events.

The following continuing education courses will be presented by ODHA members this year:

  • Social Determinants of Health Screening in Today’s Dental Hygiene Practice // Darlene Swigart, RDH, MS, Oregon Institute of Technology
  • Speaking Alzheimer’s/Dementia as a Second Language: A Study in Cultural Competency // Lori Killen Aus, RDHEP, MA, FADHA, Oral Health for Life, LLC

The ADHA 2024 Annual Conference will be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. ADHA recommends that you stay at one of the hotels in their Official Hotel Block that are located conveniently close to the convention center. They have several hotel options for you to choose from including the headquarter hotel Hilton Riverside & other more budget-friendly hotels. For more information see: www.adha2024.org

The ADHA 2024 Virtual House of Delegates Meeting will be held Friday, June 28 through Sunday June 30, 2024. Members who are not delegates or board members may attend the meeting as a guest observer. For more information, see www.adha.org/about-adha/house-of-delegates

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Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference | November 1 - 2, 2024 | Salem Convention Center

2024 ODHA Dental Hygiene Conference - SAVE THE DATE!

 

 


Leadership

Expand Your Professional Network
The ADHA Professional Fellows Program is your opportunity to expand and enrich your connection to an elite nationwide network of dental hygienists who share your passion for advancing oral health. Don't miss your chance to collaborate and share valuable skills and expertise.

Applications Now Being Accepted

 

More information here

 


 

Career Center

Visit the ODHA Career Center to find out about recent job openings like these:

Featured Job Opening

Dental Hygienist – Lakeside, MT
https://ordha.mcjobboard.net/jobs/131198

Lakeside Dental is located in beautiful Lakeside, Montana on the shores of Flathead Lake and just 15 miles south of Kalispell, MT.  Our long-established practice is urgently seeking both a FULL TIME (4 days/week) and a PART TIME dental hygienist.  Our practice has a small town feel while offering our patients comprehensive dental services with state-of-the-art technology.  We have a wonderful, hard-working dental team that delivers trusted patient care in a fun, supportive environment.

 

Northwest Human Services

Dental Hygienist - Salem

 Willamette Dental Job Openings

Traveling Dental Hygienist - Hillsboro

Dental Hygienist - Durham

Dental Hygienist - Grants Pass

On-Call Dental Hygienist - Bend

Dental Hygienist - Portland

Dental Hygienist - Corvallis

Lead Dental Hygienist - Bend

Dental Hygienist - Hillsboro

 


 

 

Access your CE Credits
Benefits of Membership

 

Our Partners

 


ORHA

 


February 

President’s Message

Hello ODHA members!

Winter is in full swing, thankfully the days are getting longer and Spring is just around the corner.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month.

Certainly, promoting children's oral health awareness is important. As a dental hygienist in Oregon, you can play a significant role in this. Here are some ways to raise awareness about children's oral health:
Educational Workshops: Consider hosting workshops or seminars for parents and teachers in your community. Discuss topics like proper brushing techniques, the importance of regular dental check-ups, and the role of diet in oral health.

School Visits: Collaborate with local schools to visit classrooms and educate children about oral hygiene. You can demonstrate the correct way to brush and floss and provide tips on maintaining a healthy smile.

Social Media Presence: Utilize social media platforms to share informative content about children's oral health. Post tips, infographics, and videos that parents and caregivers can easily access and share.

Community Events: Participate in community health fairs or events where you can set up a booth to offer free dental screenings and distribute educational materials.

Collaborate with Pediatricians: Partner with pediatricians in your area to ensure that parents receive oral health information during routine well-child visits.

Online Resources: Create a website or blog with resources, articles, and FAQs about children's oral health. This can be a valuable reference for parents seeking information.

Local Networking: Connect with other healthcare professionals in your region, such as pediatric dentists and family doctors, to coordinate efforts in promoting children's oral health.

Engage in Advocacy: Get involved in local or state-level initiatives that aim to improve children's oral health policies, access to dental care, and education.
Remember that raising awareness is an ongoing effort, and your expertise as a dental hygienist can make a significant impact on children's oral health in your community.

Karan BershawWarm regards,
Karan Bershaw, MS, RDH, EPDH, FADHA

 

 

 

 


Component News

North West

Hello ODHA friends,

The Northwest component has exciting news for 2024!

We will begin our monthly component meetings in February! Please join us on the first Saturday of each month from 10 AM to 12 PM to connect with colleagues and learn. The first hour will be for networking and discussing component business. The second hour will be for learning. We are working on one (1) CE credit to be awarded to members attending the second hour. Final details will be shared when you email us to register!

Starting in the Spring, we will offer social gatherings! Socials will take place once each quarter and be in lieu of the monthly meeting.

So far, this is the 2024 Northwest Component lineup (more information will be added to the ODHA calendar once details are finalized):

Monthly Meetings and CE
Feb 3 - Staging and Grading Perio
March 2 - Communication & Building Trust with Patients
May 4 - Abuse and What it Means to be a Mandatory Reporter
June 1 - Working with the LGBTQ+ Community

Quarterly Social Events
April 6 - Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
Sept 7 - Swan Island Dahlia Festival
Dec 7 - Silverton Christmas Market

We have plans to start an ODHA Instagram page and one of the features will be spotlights on amazing hygienists in the North West Component. If you would like to nominate an outstanding hygienist, please email me at [email protected]. I can’t wait to see the nominees!

DeAnn Dardis

Warmly,

DeAnn Dardis, RDH, BSDH, EPP
North West Component Director

 

 

 

South West

I'm very excited to represent the South West Component!

This is my first time in a leadership position at the state level and I have big plans for the coming year! My goal is to get more involvement in our area and build a supportive network of colleagues. In my opinion, dental hygiene is equally challenging and rewarding and I would love to support you.

Dental decay is present in over half of children ages 6-8, and near 60% in 12-19 year olds in their permanent dentition. Every encounter with our pediatric population is an opportunity to educate and we can encourage parents and caregivers during each visit as well. I challenge you to get back to the basics in your dialogue, to include healthy nutritional choices.

I'm really proud of how hard we work as dental hygienists and how much of an impact we truly make in those we serve.

Tommie KellHappy National Children's Dental Health Month!"
Tommie Kell, EPRDH, OMT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metro East

Hello ODHA!

Metro East is back!! We had our first, “in-person” regular component meeting of the year in January and we had an AMAZING turnout. Over 30 attendees! We discussed our vision for the year and what meetings would encompass moving forward. Here are the details:

Meetings will be the 4th Thursday of every month from 6:15 - 7:15 pm, short and sweet! (you can stay longer for the “less-meaty” parts like socializing and networking, but the first hour will be purposeful and include:

  • CE
  • Study Club topics
  • Community service organizing

Speaking of community service organizing….our next meeting will be Thursday, February 29th (this is the 5th Thursday of the month and the only meeting as such) and we will all be bringing our extra hygiene supplies to bag up for Rose Haven Day Shelter for Women and Children which is our community focus for the year!! We will have the most updated info on our meetings on the ODHA calendar so be sure to check there first and mark your calendars so you can be there with us as often as possible! 

If your office has any extra supplies that are taking up space we would LOVE for you to come to the meeting in February and help us help our neighbors at Rose Haven!! We do ask that you email [email protected] so that we can share our spreadsheet with you for tracking contributions before the meeting. 

If you are joining us in February, please RSVP to [email protected] by February 27th.

Everyone is encouraged to bring a dish or a treat if possible as this will be right after work for many. Drinks and dessert are provided. Also, our meeting schedule for the the rest of the year is as follows; topics are being worked on as we speak!

All meetings are from 6:15 - 7:15 pm

February 29th
TOPIC: bringing and bagging supplies for Rose Haven, Black box Q&A for all participants to ask questions about anything at all related to the field of dental hygiene anonymously!

Save the date for future meetings: March 28, April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25, August 27 and September 26

*No meetings happening in October or November as we will be in full Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference planning mode as well as the holidays! 

Happy February to all! LOVE your neighbor!! Please feel free to join meetings and help us support each other and Rose Haven Women’s Shelter this year!

Heidi Klobes

 

 

Warmly,

Heidi M. Klobes RDH, BSDH
Metro East Component Director

 

 


Advocacy

License Portability & the DDH Compact

License portability allows a person with a license in one state to be authorized to practice in another state. Traditionally, dental hygienists have needed to obtain and maintain a license in each state where they want to practice. License portability will allow dental hygienists to practice in other states without obtaining additional licenses. An interstate compact is a legal, legislatively enacted contract between two or more states that can allow states to create reciprocal professional licensing so that a person with a professional license in one state may practice in another state without obtaining an additional license.

The DDH Compact is an interstate agreement that will provide a pathway for dentists and dental hygienists to obtain authorization to practice in states where they are not already licensed. The DDH Compact will allow a dentist or dental hygienist who has a license in one participating state to apply for compact privilege in another participating state. The compact privilege will allow the dentist or dental hygienist to practice in the other participating state without needing to obtain a license in that state.

The Council of State Governments (csg.org) partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) to develop this new interstate compact. The CSG has developed model legislation that must be enacted by at least 7 states before the DDH Compact can go into effect. No substantive changes can be made to the language of the model legislation, or it may jeopardize that state’s participation in the DDH Compact. Only states that enact the legislation may participate in the DDH Compact. Iowa, Washington & Tennessee have passed this legislation, and legislation is pending in several other states. The ODHA is meeting with the Oregon Dental Association (ODA) to discuss partnering on this legislation for 2025.

For more information about the DDH Compact, please visit the ODHA website at https://ordha.memberclicks.net/advocacy-news

 

Extraordinary Outreach Opportunity

There are openings for dental hygienists who would like to take a week off and have an amazing time providing oral health care to grade school children in Santa Catarina Mita, Guatemala. Nuevas Sonrisas volunteers provide preventive, routine, and urgent dental services to about 800 students, classroom education, fluoride applications, and distribution of toothpaste and toothbrushes for approximately 3,100 students. We reach about 800 parents with education and toothbrushes as well.

The 2024 trip is scheduled for March 2-10. Many volunteers choose to stay a couple of extra days in the beautiful colonial city of Antigua following our work week.

There will be at least two orientation sessions prior to the trip to prepare volunteers. Each volunteer is responsible for their own airfare. The cost for the trip will be $475 in addition to the airfare. We look forward to hearing from some adventurous, fun loving, and flexible dental hygienists! You will return tired, but with warm feelings from the many smiles and hugs of the children and knowing you have helped to improve the lives of many.

Please contact Sue Sanzi-Schaedel at [email protected] or by phone at 503-804-3210

 

National Children’s Dental Health Month

The American Dental Association offers free posters, postcards, and kids activity sheets for order on their website.

Check Them All Out Here

 

 


Oregon Board of Dentistry News Meetings in 2024

February 23
April 26
June 14
August 23
October 25
December 13

The Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings are in person but you also may join via Zoom.

Friday, February 23
8:00 - 9:00 am - Dental Assistant Workforce Shortage Advisory Committee meeting
9:15 am Board Meeting

Anyone may participate in Open Session portions of the Board meeting.

In-person meeting: 1500 SW 1st Ave Ste 770, Portland, OR 97201

 Zoom link will be posted approximately one week before the meeting on the Board website at www.oregon.gov/dentistry. Scroll down to About Us and click on Meetings. The public packet is usually more than 200 pages in length. We recommend that you review this document online, and only print pages if you need them.

If you would like to participate in the Open Session of this or any future board meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Karen Hall at [email protected] for more information.

 


Upcoming Events

Dental Assistants Recognition Week | March 3-9

Dental Assistants Recognition Week is observed each year during the first full week of March to celebrate the commitment & dedication that dental assistants exhibit throughout the year. This year’s celebration will be held March 3-9, 2024.

Today’s dental assistants strengthen the entire dental practice & enhance the patient care experience. Dental assistants are committed to professional development & quality dental care. Dental assisting continues to diversify & expand as a healthcare profession. Whether working chairside with a dentist, taking x-rays or managing the business office, teaching or working in insurance or sales, dental assistants are vital to the success of the dentistry.

Start planning now for ways to celebrate & recognize the dental assistants who work with you during the 2024 Dental Assistants Recognition Week.

___

ADHA Annual Conference | July 26-28 | New Orleans

ADHA Annual Conference 2024

 

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Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference | November 1 - 2, 2024 | Salem Convention Center

2024 ODHA Dental Hygiene Conference - SAVE THE DATE!

 

 


Leadership

Expand Your Professional Network
The ADHA Professional Fellows Program is your opportunity to expand and enrich your connection to an elite nationwide network of dental hygienists who share your passion for advancing oral health. Don't miss you chance to collaborate and share valuable skills and expertise.

Applications Now Accepted

 

More information here

 


 

Career Center

Visit the ODHA Career Center to find out about recent job openings like these:

Featured Job Opening

Dental Hygienist – Lakeside, MT
https://ordha.mcjobboard.net/jobs/131198

Lakeside Dental is located in beautiful Lakeside, Montana on the shores of Flathead Lake and just 15 miles south of Kalispell, MT.  Our long-established practice is urgently seeking both a FULL TIME (4 days/week) and a PART TIME dental hygienist.  Our practice has a small town feel while offering our patients comprehensive dental services with state-of-the-art technology.  We have a wonderful, hard-working dental team that delivers trusted patient care in a fun, supportive environment.

Willamette Dental Job Openings

Traveling Dental Hygienist - Hillsboro

Dental Hygienist - Durham

Dental Hygienist - Grants Pass

On-Call Dental Hygienist - Bend

Dental Hygienist - Portland

Dental Hygienist - Corvallis

And more can be found here on our website: https://ordha.mcjobboard.net/jobs