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

President’s Message

Happy February! I hope everyone is enjoying the winter and all the outdoor activities available. As we move through the winter, let's start looking ahead to the spring and the upcoming opportunities to give back to our local community and our professional association.

This month, we celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month. I see this as an essential time to promote and encourage good oral health habits for children in our communities.

As dental hygiene professionals, we play a vital role in educating patients and parents on the importance of:

• Developing daily habits: beginning with strong oral health habits leads to a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

• Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is the best prevention.

• Establishing a dental home and ensuring children see oral health professionals as soon as their first teeth appear.

We should all explore alternative ways to engage within our communities and extend our reach as oral health advocates. Consider getting involved in:

• Community events focused on health and wellness.

• Social media campaigns to share educational tips.

• Local and regional groups, share resources and provide oral health perspective, education, and guidance.

• School programs to educate children, teachers, and parents.

• Collaborating with pediatricians and family medical providers to promote oral health.

Your efforts make a difference in shaping healthier, brighter smiles for generations into the future. Thank you for all you do to advance oral health and educate our communities.

Let’s make National Children’s Dental Health Month a success! 

Kimberly Perlot, MS, EPDH, DT

ODHA President 2024-2025 | To email Kim, click here.  

 Children’s Dental Health Month

February 2025 is National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM) brought to you by the American Dental Association (ADA). This month-long national event brings together thousands of dedicated professionals, health care providers and educators to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their caregivers, teachers and many others.

The NCDHM Program Planning Guide provides program coordinators, dental societies, teachers and parents with resources to promote the benefits of good oral health to children. The guide includes easy-to-do activities, program planning timetable tips, a sample NCDHM proclamation and more. 

To learn more about National Children’s Dental Health Month, visit ADA.org/NCDHM. You can also order FREE Posters or purchase Postcards, and download materials.

ODHA Advocacy Update

• HB 2676 – DDH Compact
• SB 532 – Dental Insurance Claims Payment
• SB 597 – Oral Health Care Coordination
• SB 609 – OHP Reimbursement

Component News  

METRO EAST COMPONENT

Well, it's February all! Feeling the love?

Over at Metro East we sure are!!! We had a fabulous turnout for our January CE learning about air-polishing and piezo with a hands-on workshop with Hu-FriedyGroup! Pizza was provided by Burkhart Dental Supply Co. and it was an all-around fun and enriching evening with friends! February’s CE offering will be soon!! 

Join us for your Cultural Competency 2 CE on February 12th at Mount Hood Community College from 6-8 PM to learn about how volunteering both locally and abroad can enrich your awareness of other communities and cultures (and bring joy to your life in new ways!). Check the calendar frequently for updates and invite a friend!! Click here to register (free for members, $20 non-members). If attending virtually, be sure to follow these virtual tips to ensure you receive your CE's.

A quick note about this month: it’s Valentine's day, which is always fun, but it’s also Black History Month! 

As hygienists, we have committed ourselves to being lifelong learners and this is something I remind myself often. If you feel that this topic is something you don’t know much about and want a reason to grow and become more informed, grab an interesting book and learn more about the history of our people from a new perspective! We have patients from many backgrounds and part of our process in patient care is connecting with those we serve. Black history is definitely something many people, from all backgrounds, don't know enough about. (History in general as well!). I will be practicing what I preach, and instead of reading my current favorite bedtime read (Between Two Worlds: Lessons from the Other Side) I will be visiting Powells and choosing a book that presents new ideas and perspectives to enrich myself and my understanding of others. I have a great list of books related to the topic that I will choose from, feel free to email me for suggestions.

Then there’s Valentine's day! This year, don’t forget to nurture yourself as well; give yourself grace and take care of your mind and body. 

Heidi Klobes, M.Ed., BSDH, RDH

Metro East Director | To email Heidi, click here.  

HIGH DESERT COMPONENT

I hope this finds everyone off to a fantastic start to 2025!  I’m looking forward to our first meeting of the year on Thursday, February 20th at 6:00 PM.  I will be sending you zoom links the week prior. ODHA’s leadership has been hard at work and I’m looking forward to updating the component on our progress. This meeting will be focused on brainstorming for this year. I would like to hear what the component needs from ODHA leadership, so please bring your suggestions. Some items I’ve been thinking about are:

• Continuing Education

• Social Event

• Coordinating sponsored luncheons

• Community Needs

Please brainstorm and bring your ideas! I look forward to seeing everyone!

Kim Pratt, MSAH, MAADH, RDH

High Desert Director | To emal Kim, click here.

SOUTH WEST COMPONENT

As the new Component Director for the South West component, I would like to introduce myself. I am Alicia Riedman, RDH, EPDH. I have lived in Eugene since 2001, having moved from the East Coast. I graduated Lane Community College in 2006 and have worked for Community Health Centers of Lane County for 18 years providing outreach prevention services to children up to 16 years old at many school and preschool sites. I had the pleasure to serve on the Oregon Board of Dentistry for nine years, and now have the pleasure to serve ODHA! 

As I am just getting started in this new adventure, I welcome all suggestions! Please let me know how I can best serve and support you as a dental hygienist and ODHA colleague. I am looking forward to getting to know and work with all of  you whether in person, through Zoom, or email. Best wishes!

Alicia Riedman RDH, EPDH

South West Component Director | To email Alicia, click here.

NORTH WEST COMPONENT

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope everyone gets a day where they are surrounded by love and chocolate. We are thrilled to welcome Tana Spencer and Ashli Lockett to the NW component staff as our new chair and secretary.

• Tana Spencer, RDH, EPDH, FADHA, CDHC, CH-OSE works as an expanded practice dental hygienist for All Smiles Community Oral Health, providing valuable services through school-based sealant programs and dental screenings.

• Ashli Lockett, RDH, EPDH is a dedicated private practice dental hygienist based in Scappoose. We are excited to have their expertise and insights to help make our component meetings run smoothly!

We are excited to announce that the NW component of ODHA is back and ready to serve our members after a short holiday break. We look forward to our next component meeting. During this meeting, you can expect:

• Advocacy updates

• Help you navigating all the benefits that come with your ODHA membership

• Opportunities to share your experiences during our "Rant Night," a space for us to work through some of the frustrating situations we encounter as dental hygienists.

Keep an eye out for the date to join us for this engaging session!

Thank you for your ongoing support in making the NW component a wonderful place to learn and grow as dental hygienists. We are grateful for your partnership and look forward to working together to create more positive experiences.

Payton Cuellar, MPH, RDH, EPDH

North West Component Director | To email Payton, click here.

IMPORTANT UPDATES FROM THE ADHA

2025 ADHA House of Delegates

The 102nd ADHA House of Delegates (HOD) will be held virtually on Friday, June 27 & Saturday, June 28, 2025. The ADHA HOD sets the policy and direction for the profession of dental hygiene, and discusses and votes on issues of national and global significance. You can view ADHA’s current policies at the following link: ADHA Policy Manual.

The ADHA HOD is composed of elected delegates from each of ADHA’s constituent (state) associations. The number of delegates and alternate delegates for each state is based on the number of members for that state. ODHA has three delegates based on our membership. Our 2025 delegates are Sandra Busch, Laura Vanderwerf, and Lisa Rowley, and alternate delegates are Sara Hill, Mindy Davis and Tia Morehouse.

ODHA’s delegates & alternate delegates recently participated in their first District XI Delegates Meeting to review their responsibilities and the logistics of the ADHA HOD. ADHA’s District XI includes Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon & Washington. Our ADHA District XI Director is Pam Larrabee from Arizona. For more information, click here.  

ADHA IOH Foundation Research Grants Application Deadline

ADHA Institute for Oral Health (IOH) Foundation research grants support research projects conducted by dental hygienists and students pursuing a dental hygiene degree that will develop or expand the dental hygiene body of knowledge.Research grant applications are due February 28, 2025.

Research Grant Proposals should:

• Develop or expand upon the dental hygiene body of knowledge

• Promote the public’s oral health by improving dental hygiene education and practice

• Support the delivery of quality oral healthcare

To be eligible for an IOH research grant, the principal investigator (PI) must be a licensed dental hygienist or a student pursuing a dental hygiene degree and must be a professional or student member of ADHA.Current members of the ADHA IOH Board of Directors, ADHA Board of Trustees and Research Grant Review Committee may not apply as principal investigators, but may do so in another capacity (i.e. secondary investigator, mentor, etc.).Priority will be given to proposals addressing the ADHA National Dental Hygiene Research Agenda.

These research grants would not exist without the generous support of individuals like you. Each donation of any amount makes a difference. The IOH Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and all donations are tax deductible. Donations of $50+ appear on the Donor Honor Roll at the ADHA Annual Conference and the IOH Foundation Annual Report.

For more information about ADHA IOH Foundation research grants, click here. 

ADHA Adopts New Membership Category

ADHA has created a New Professional Member category for dental hygienists in their first two years of their career. New Professional Members will receive a 35% discount on their membership dues. Dental hygiene graduates from 2023 & 2024 can save 35% on their membership dues by joining ADHA now.

As an ADHA professional member, new graduates will enjoy support, money-saving discounts, educational programs, incredible networking and leadership connections. When they join ADHA, they will be surrounded by professional expertise and support from the national level all the way to their local community.

Please share this information with new dental hygiene graduates and encourage them to join the ADHA at www.adha.org/membership. 

ADHA Opposes Dental Access Model Act

The ADHA has issued a position statement strongly opposing the Dental Access Model Act developed by the American Dental Association. The ADA has developed this model legislation to serve as a guide for state legislators who are looking for ways to address the dental workforce shortage.

One component of this model legislation recommends the creation of an oral preventive assistant who could take and record periodontal probe readings, document areas of periodontal concern, and perform supragingival scaling and polishing on periodontally healthy patients or patients with reversible gingivitis.

The ODHA has sent a letter to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) expressing our strong opposition to this model legislation, and has adopted the following policy statement:

The Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association supports state laws and regulations which require that scaling above and below the gumline be performed only by licensed dental hygienists, dental therapists and dentists who have completed a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accredited education program for performing this procedure. The Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association is strongly opposed to the training and use of scaling assistants in Oregon.

The ADHA and ODHA are advocating for you and the dental hygiene profession. You can help us by maintaining your ADHA membership and encouraging your colleagues to join ADHA. Learn more about ADHA membership at www.adha.org/membership.  

Questions? Please click here to contact ODHA's Advocacy Director Lisa Rowley.  

ADHA Podcasts

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) offers a wide variety of podcasts that address current issues and best practices for dental hygienists. Some recent topics include:

• Fluoride: Battling Misinformation and More (episode 154)

• Looking Back, Moving Forward: A Year-End Fireside Chat with your 2024-2025 ADHA Officers (episode 153)

• Interdisciplinary Diabetes Care: A Team Approach (episode 151)

• On Policy, Workplace & Professional Autonomy (episode 150)

• Drop the Drill: Minimally Invasive Dentistry (episode 148)

For more information, visit www.adha.org/pod. 

 INDUSTRY EVENTS

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet via Zoom on Friday, February 28, 2025. Anyone may participate in the Open Sessions 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 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 Sessions of this or any future board meeting, email ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. Upcoming Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on the following Fridays:  April 25, June 13, August 22, October 24 and December 12.

National Mobile & Teledentistry Conference

The 6th Annual National Mobile & Teledentistry Conference will be held Thursday, February 27 – Saturday, March 1, 2025.This year they are supporting local businesses and partnering with two separate venues located in SE Portland.

The conference will be held at Portland’s iconic Jupiter Hotel located at 900 E. Burnside Street, Portland. You can book your overnight room now. Use promo code NMTC2025 to take advantage of the room block. 

This conference will include a wide variety of presentations and exhibitors. The Denobi Awards Gala will be held on Saturday night at The Evergreen located at 618 SE Alder Street, Portland. For more information about the 2025 NMTC, click here. 

Dental Assistants Recognition Week

Dental Assistants Recognition Week, also known as DARW, is designated by the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) as the time to acknowledge & recognize dental assistants as valued members of the dental team. DARW 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 2-8, 2025.

Now more than ever dental assistants are essential to the practice of dentistry. 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 dentistry.

Start planning now for ways to celebrate & recognize the dental assistants who work with you during the 2025 Dental Assistants Recognition Week.

2025 Oregon Dental Conference 

Register today to join thousands of dental professionals at Oregon's premier dental conference. At ODC you can earn high-quality dental CE, shop all things dentistry in the exhibit hall, and enjoy special events all while building relationships with your Oregon dental community! Early bird registration deadline is February 21st.

ODHA is a partner group for this conference and is hosting a “Hygiene Connection Lunch: Get to Know Your Colleagues” event 11:00 AM-12:30 PM on Saturday, April 5th. All dental hygienists are invited to attend.

This year’s ODHA speaker is Joy Moeller, RDH, AOMT-C, COM who will present “Updated Myofunctional Therapy & Current Evidence Based Science” 8:00 -11:00 AM and 2:00-5:00 PM on Thursday, April 3rd. To learn more about this year's conference, click here.  

2025 ADHA Annual Conference

Get ready to live the dental hygiene dream with us as we bring ADHA’s Annual Conference to the California coast Saturday, October 4 – Monday, October 6, 2025 in Long Beach, California. Join oral health professionals from across the country to connect, share expertise and soak up good vibes before returning home refreshed and inspired. This is the one event you just can’t miss! 

ADHA2025 registration opens May 2025. For more information, click here.