ODHA is committed to providing advocacy, professional development and networking opportunities for dental hygienists and the dental hygiene profession.

December 2020

President's Message

Happy Holidays!

My name is Laura Vanderwerf, and I am your ODHA President for the 2020-2021 year.  Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to represent you, and the association.  I have been in the dental field for 21 years and a dental hygienist for the last six, graduating from Northern Virginia Community College in 2014. When my husband retired from the US Coast Guard, we returned to Oregon where we grew up. I currently work for a DSO at Intel in Hillsboro, taking care of their employees and families.

My goal for this next year is to grow our organization, and I have chosen the theme “Dare.” To accomplish this goal, we must first dare to dream. Dream of what we want the ODHA to look like…with active membership, goal setting advocacy, and valuable partnerships. Second, we must dare to succeed, since without daring we cannot take the first step to success.  And finally, I want to dare you, our members, to become involved…in your local component, in our various committees or as a member of our Board of Directors. 

Together we can do anything if only we dare!

Laura Vanderwerf, BSDH
ODHA President
#Dare

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2020-2021 ODHA Officers

Congratulations to our Elected Officers

Kimberly Dayton, Vice President	Elizabeth Wells, Secretary	Karan Bershaw, Metro East Component Director
Juanita Simpson, High Desert Component Director	Rachel Patrick, At-Large Director	Lisa Rowley, Advocacy Director
Tina Clarke, Student Relations Director	Jennifer Lusk, Alternate Delegate to ADHA	Krista Beaty, Alternate Delegate to ADHA

Our First 2020-2021 ODHA Board of Director's Meeting

Welcome back returning board members- Sandra Busch, Treasurer; Sandi Miles, At-Large Director; Lisa Rowley, Advocacy Director; and Paige Holt, South West Component Director, (missing- Kris Johnson, North West Component Director and Brenna Chavarin, Membership Director).

Welcome new board members- Kimberly Dayton, Vice President; Elizabeth Wells, Secretary; Karan Bershaw, Metro East Component Director; Juanita Simpson, High Desert Component Director; Rachel Patrick, At-Large Director and Tina Clarke, Student Relations Director.

ODHA members…please consider joining one of our committees:  Finance, Membership, Leadership Development, Nominating, Policy & Procedures and Bylaws, Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference, Student Relations or Advocacy.

Email me at: [email protected]

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Annual Awards

Lois Whitford Outstanding Dental Hygienist Award

One of the highest awards in the ODHA is the Outstanding Dental Hygienist Award. It was established at least 4 decades ago to honor those who have made amazing contributions to our profession. In 1997 the award was re-named the Lois Whitford Outstanding Dental Hygienist Award as Lois was one of the first recipients. The ODHA website has the names of past recipients, featuring winners who take on leadership positions within our professional organization on a state or national level. There are those, however, who are equally worthy of this great honor by their continuous support and activities behind the scenes, playing active roles ensuring the growth of our profession. 

Jan Young graduated from University of Oregon Dental School (OHSU) in 1965. Her mentors included Evelyn Hanlon, who was the program director, as well as one of the instructors, Rachel Espey, who later became program director. One of Jan's classmates, Jeanne Fox, served as ODHA President and went on to become ADHA President. Jan worked 35 years in a dental office and is now providing in facility and at home care for the geriatric and disabled populations.

After graduating, Jan immediately became involved with the Washington County Dental Hygiene Component (now Northwest Component.) She served as component Secretary and served several years as component President and delegate to the ODHA House of Delegates. Jan remains an integral part of her component, rarely missing meetings.

In April of 1982 a group formed to study the feasibility of having our own Political Action Committee. This committee would select political candidates who supported ODHA’s legislative goals. Barb Gambetti and Diane Hardiman led a committee to get this PAC up and working. On October 1, 1983 the RDH-PAC was established. Each ODHA Newsletter would have a “PAC Corner” with budget news and what amounts were granted to each legislative candidate. Each year a legislator would be selected as “Legislator of the Year.” These award recipients would bring greetings to the ODHA House of Delegates. Crucial to the RDH-PAC’s success was fundraising. Jan spearheaded the annual PAC Basket raffle. This popular event would raise monies to distribute to legislators.

Jan’s husband, Al Young served in the Oregon Legislature and was on the Joint Committee to review all State boards and Commissions. Sen. Dell Isham was the chair of this committee. In 1985, Jan was instrumental in hiring Dell as ODHA’s fist lobbyist. Rep. Jeff Gilmore carried the bill on the House floor and asked Jan to write his speech. He later became a lobbyist for OHSU. During this time the Oregon Board of Dentistry was granted a second RDH position. Jan claims that ODHA gave vision to the State as well as the Nation. Jan states “I am so proud of our Dental Hygienists here in Oregon. Working together we have a strong voice…Our Expanded Practice Dental Hygienist came from our work and dreams… Without ADHA it would be hard to accomplish what WE did.” Jan was one of the first three to earn her Limited Access Permit (now Expanded Practice Permit.)

Of all Jan’s accomplishments and activities, most impressive is her continuous membership in her professional association. That is 55 years! She is truly one of ODHA’s outstanding hygienists! 

For more information, click on Lois Whitford Outstanding Dental Hygienist Award.

2020 Lynn Ironside Access to Care Award

Linda Mann was chosen to receive the 2020 Lynn Ironside Access to Care Award. Linda is an expanded practice dental hygienist who currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach for Capitol Dental Care. Linda started the Capitol Dental Care Outreach Program 10 year ago by providing preventive dental care in Salem-area Head Start programs and in a pediatric medical office. Through her vision and leadership, the Capitol Dental Care Outreach Program has grown exponentially over the last 10 years. Today Linda manages a comprehensive outreach program that provides community-based preventive dental care for 12 counties in Oregon. She leads a team of more than 20 expanded practice dental hygienists who provide preventive dental care in WIC programs, Head Start programs, elementary and middle schools, medical offices, behavioral health clinics, low-income housing communities, a school-based health center, a hospital and a mobile dental van. In addition, her team participates in health fairs and community events during school breaks and throughout the summer.

Linda is co-investigator for Dental Pilot Project #200 that is training expanded practice dental hygienists to place interim therapeutic restorations for school children who do not have access to regular dental care. This project is using the “virtual dental home” model of care to demonstrate that expanded practice dental hygienists can provide this type of preventive dental care in non-traditional settings using telehealth to connect them with dentists in another location. Linda continues to be on the cutting edge of creating unique opportunities for expanded practice dental hygienists to provide access to care for underserved 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 carefor underserved patients. Nominations for this award are accepted through September 30^th each year. For more information, click on Lynn Ironside Access to Care Award. 

2020 ODHA Outstanding Partner Award

The Oregon Dental Association (ODA) was chosen to receive the 2020 ODHA Outstanding Partner Award. The ODHA appreciates that the ODA leadership reached out to us during the COVID-19 pandemic so that our associations could work together to address the concerns of our members during the re-opening of dental offices in Oregon. We also appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the ODA to advocate for acceptance of OSCE clinical board examinations for dental and dental hygiene licensure in Oregon. The ODHA values our professional relationship with the ODA and we look forward to continuing to work with the ODA on future projects. ODA Executive Director Dr. Barry Taylor accepted this award on behalf of the ODA.

The ODHA Outstanding Partner Award recognizes and honors an individual or organization in the community that has made a significant contribution in support of the dental hygiene profession in Oregon. Nominations for this award are accepted through September 30^th each year. For more information, click on Outstanding Partner Award. 

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Symposium on Workforce Models

Yadira Martinez Receives National Oral Health Award

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News

DECEMBER BOARD MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, December 18^th. This meeting will be held as a teleconference to comply with social distancing. Anyone may participate in the open session 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 participate in the open session of this or any future Board meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. Board meetings in 2021 are scheduled for the following Fridays: February 19, April 16, June 18, August 20, October 22 and December 17.

UPDATE ON CLINICAL BOARD EXAMINATIONS

During its meeting on Friday, October 23, 2020, the Oregon Board of Dentistry reversed its decision from August 21^st and pulled back the temporary rules that would have required clinical board examinations accepted for dental and dental hygiene licensure in Oregon to include a portion demonstrating psychomotor competency using a typodont or live patient. Because the Board reversed its previous decision on this issue, the licensure rules will remain as they were prior to August 21^st. Oregon will continue to accept OSCE clinical board examinations administered by national & regional testing agencies now and into 2021. The Board will continue to monitor this situation, but at this time there are no plans for any temporary or permanent rulemaking on this issue.

The ODHA has been working together with the Oregon Dental Association, the OHSU School of Dentistry and the Oregon dental hygiene programs for several years to move Oregon away from requiring live patient clinical board exams and to accepting OSCE clinical board exams for dental and dental hygiene licensure in Oregon. This is a great example of what can happen when professionals work together to advocate for change!

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Component News and 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!

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

• Free CE (Local Component CEs and many ADHA webinars)
• Networking leading to career growth
• Community volunteering opportunities
• Special ADHA Discounts (use link below)
  http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/74110_Membership_Affinity_Programs.pdf
• Access Magazine
• Discounted conferences
• And much more!

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Affiliated Organizations

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November 2020

President's Message

Greetings ODHA Members! 

This month marks my final letter to you as President of the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association. I would like to thank the association for this opportunity for growth and service. 

During this last year, everyone has been impacted in some way by the changes that our state has experienced as a result of COVID-19. Many of us have seen our work change in ways that we could have never imagined. Dental hygiene students have had their educational experiences altered. Dental offices have had to adjust their practices in order to meet the new infection control guidelines. Still, I see hope.

I began this year with the theme of “inspire.” In hindsight it may have been better to have had the theme of “adapt/endure/become resourceful.” Still, through all of the challenges I have sought to be an inspiration to others, and I have been inspired by all of you. I have been told stories of members who took the lead in their offices and found ways to comply with regulations and continue to provide critical services to patients. As always, many of our members find ways to serve the community and help those who are in need. Many were faced with additional challenges of reduced or eliminated hours and new demands at home to provide schooling to their children. All in all, our members each rose to their individual challenges and made choices to do the best they could with the circumstances they were given. To me, this is inspiring.

I have seen the association itself become resourceful and find ways to adjust to the changing circumstances. Providing access to continuing education and opportunities to engage with other members continued despite the challenges. This too has been a source of inspiration.

As I look back on the year, I consider what the greatest lessons have been. First and foremost, I would say that “doing the best that you can with what you have” was the lesson that I learned many times over this year. While circumstances provided challenges, they did not provide an excuse. Our members deserve my best efforts and it is my hope that I delivered.

If you are waiting for the perfect opportunity and timing in your life to volunteer, it will never happen. Everyone that is a part of the leadership within this association has a life and has to juggle all of their responsibilities. The rewards of volunteering far outweigh the costs. Through it all there are experiences that are gained, growth that occurs and lifelong friendships that are formed. Knowing that the work of the association will make a better path for the future of our profession is at the heart of what we do. I urge you to consider taking a leap of faith in your leadership journey!

With that I wish to bid you a farewell and once again thank you for this opportunity to be of service and be served by this role. I am greatly honored to have been your President!

Tiffany Foy, EPDH, MPH
ODHA President
#Inspire

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Vice President's Message

Thank you, Tiffany!

Hello to all of the amazing hygienists we have throughout our state.  I hope this finds you well in your personal lives despite all that we have been through in 2020.  As we wind down this year for the record books, we also slowly approach the end of our President's term.  Tiffany Foy's time may be winding down, but she has made sure to pack the time she has had in her position with wonderful work and accomplishments.

I would like to personally thank Tiffany for all of the effort she has put into our association and moving our profession forward.  When Tiffany's term first started, she was quick to welcome new members to our board and worked hard to get them up to speed and feel supported.  From there, it seemed she turned her attention to bringing people together.  In spite of everything shutting down during the pandemic, Tiffany kept chugging along with what I now see as the theme of unity, perhaps without even realizing it at the time.  She regularly plans and facilitates meetings with all of the Dental Hygiene Program Directors of Oregon and into Vancouver.  I've been fortunate enough to be able to attend many of these meetings and it is inspiring to see the information shared, the collaboration that occurs, and the support that is provided for all Dental Hygiene Students throughout our region!

Another way in which she has brought us together is when the State of Oregon began to open back up in early May, there was grave concern about how it was being done.  Tiffany utilized her resources to ensure we could meet with and combine forces with the Oregon Dental Association and Oregon Health Authority to ensure every hygienist's voice was heard in an extremely meaningful way,  For those of you who are grateful for the protections you enjoy in clinic that are keeping you, your patients, and your families safe, please know that we all owe Tiffany our gratitude for advocating on our behalf.

As COVID-19 prevented us from getting together, Tiffany quickly helped our association pivot to a distance format.  She didn't let the Coronavirus keep us from celebrating Senior Dental Hygiene Students in a Virtual Happy Hour and a graduation party!  Additional pivoting has occurred to help our association provide online continuing education and support for our members...she just never stops!

Tiffany also represented our constituent and association well at ADHA's House of Delegates.  Our voices were heard through her efforts and progress for all Dental Hygienists in our country was made.  I cannot stress how many hours of preparation and attendance are involved in this.

As we approach the time of the year in which we typically have our annual conference, this year will be much different.  Tiffany has helped us adapt and still support hygienists throughout the state.  We now have a Virtual Symposium, another first for ODHA!

Tiffany has kept our association afloat through a trying time and we could not have done it without her!  I am personally so grateful for her leadership and am saddened to see her time ending.  With her being able to do all that she has done in 11 short months, imagine what more she is capable of, especially when you consider that Tiffany did most of this while finishing a master’s degree in public health from A.T. Still University.  If there is an MVP award in Dental Hygiene, I know Tiffany would have my vote.  Best of luck in all of your future endeavors Tiffany, we wish you well and know you will do incredible things!

Kyle Johnstone, EPDH, MHA
ODHA Vice President

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Upcoming Events

Members and Students, join us for the 59^th Annual ODHA Member Meeting. We will celebrate 2020 accomplishments, talk about strategic initiatives and honor special guests, students and members for their commitment to the profession.

We will also be saying congrats and thank you to Tiffany Foy, ODHA’s 2020 President and welcoming Kyle Johnstone as 2021 President.

Registration is only open for members, students and special guests and there is no registration fee. Your Zoom link and password will be sent on Friday, November 13.

Register Today!

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ADHA District XII Fall Message

Looking Through the Lens

Looking Through the Lens

Cultural Competency training is something we as Oregon dental licensees are all starting to look at more closely since it is a mandatory requirement for renewing our license as of January 2021, as per the Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD). What exactly is cultural competence? According to the Center for Disease Control, “Cultural and linguistic competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations. 'Culture' refers to integrated patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups. 'Competence' implies having the capacity to function effectively as an individual and an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by consumers and their communities.”

Further, the CDC recognizes that cultural competence is a developmental process that evolves over an extended period. So unlike dental hygiene school, where we passed competencies to show we were competent, or proficient, cultural competence recognizes that a person or organization is on the continuum and may be at various levels of awareness, knowledge, or skills. We have alluded to this several times during this series.

Training such as Cultural Sensitivity, Cultural Awareness, Cultural Agility, Implicit Bias, Unintended Bias are all rooted in Cultural Competence training. During the last few months, we have looked at specific elements of Health Equity, Trauma Informed Care, Diversity and Inclusion, Oral Health Literacy, People First Language, and Cultural Sensitivity. These are all aspects of cultural competence. Individually, training in any one of these topics may work towards the CE requirement, check with the Oregon Board of Dentistry to make sure. According to the CDC, the training needs to emphasize the idea of effectively operating, either individually or as a group, in different cultural contexts, and include action or structural change. Enjoy learning about how we as individuals and dental teams can become more culturally competent in our care for our patients!

As always, wishing you the best, and enjoy the journey,
Karen Hall, RDH EPDH 

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ODHA Future Leader Award

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First Dental Therapist on East Coast

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 adopts and amends laws including 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. The portions of the Oregon Dental Practice Act that address the expanded practice permit can be found in ORS 680.200 and OAR 680.205. Please note that there are other portions of the Oregon Dental Practice Act and other state laws that address dental hygiene indirectly.

The Oregon Board of Dentistry interprets and enforces the Oregon Dental Practice Act. The Oregon Board of Dentistry adopts and amends administrative rules to further interpret the Oregon Dental Practice Act. Administrative rules can restrict or expand scope of practice, but they cannot conflict with the law. 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. The portion of the Oregon Administrative Rules that addresses the expanded practice permit can be found in OAR 818-035-0065. Please note that there are other portions of the Oregon Administrative Rules that address dental hygiene indirectly.

For more information about state regulation of dentistry, contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley.

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DO YOU HAVE IDEAS FOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES?

ODHA is now planning for the 2021 Oregon Legislative Session. 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.  

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY - DECEMBER BOARD MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, December 18^th. This meeting will be held as a teleconference to comply with social distancing. Anyone may participate in the open session 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 participate in 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 News and 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 Update

• CE Webinar Course: Human Trafficking and Suicide Prevention 
• Speaker: Michelle Kennedy, RN, BSN, CEN
• Date: November 19, 2020
• Time: 7-9 pm, PST
• Cost: Member $15 | Non-Member $50 | All Students Free
• CEU Credits: 2

Michelle is a nurse and has been working in the Emergency Department and has experience at a surgery center and as a clinical instructor through Linfield's nursing program. She has been working with survivors of sex trafficking for seven years and for the last six years has given presentations on sex trafficking to health care providers, educators, and community groups.

This lecture will discuss sex trafficking in our region and examine causes of trafficking as well as how we can respond as citizens. It will also examine how to identify survivors of trafficking as they come in contact with healthcare professionals and appropriate responses and referrals.

Objectives:

1. To verbalize the role and frequency of sex trafficking occurring in the Portland Metro area
2. To identify risk factors for being trafficked
3. Identify how to reduce instances of trafficking in our community
4. How to identify survivors of sex trafficking in a professional setting
5. Verbalize appropriate referrals and resources for survivors 

Register Today!

Welcome our new members!

Metro East Component

• Yvette Hey                  
• Katelyn Thompson

North West Component

• Shannon Eckes           
• Necia Egan                 
• Roseanne Federico
• Dusty Lawelin            
• Allyson Mastrude       
• Stacy Mills                  
• Dora Sandoval

South West Component

• Debbie Jensen

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

• Free CE (Local Component CEs and many ADHA webinars)
• Networking leading to career growth
• Community volunteering opportunities
• Special ADHA Discounts (use link below)
  http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/74110_Membership_Affinity_Programs.pdf
• Access Magazine
• Discounted conferences
• And much more!

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Affiliated Organizations

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October 2020

President's Message

Greetings ODHA Members! 

I hope you are doing well and enjoying the fall season. It is one of my favorite times of the year with the crisp air and beautiful changing colors. Perhaps you are wearing a warm cozy sweater and drinking your favorite fall drink as you read this. This month our association is taking nominations for a variety of awards and I would like to highlight a couple trail blazers in our professional association.

The Lynn Ironside Access to Care Award recognizes an ODHA member who has made a significant contribution to increasing the access to dental care for underserved patients. This award was established by ODHA in 2016 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.

The Lois Whitford Outstanding Dental Hygienist Award honors members of ODHA who have made exceptional contributions to dental hygiene on the local, state, and national levels for an extended period of time; and who are known widely for their achievements and service. It is a prestigious award, which will be presented only when warranted by the accomplishments of an Oregon dental hygienist. Lois Whitford was an influential leader and educator. She was devoted to improving the dental health of the public, to improving access to care and to improving education of the dental hygienist. This award is not related to the Lois Whitford Memorial Scholarship.

Throughout this year my theme has been about inspiration. ODHA has an inspiring history that is sometimes forgotten during busy times like these. Reading about Lynn and Lois have been inspiring to me. I encourage you to review their history and experience the same inspiration.

Over the course of our careers it is common for our passion to fade and periodically it helps to look at others who have made strides in our profession. This allows us to examine our own careers and think about changes we can make to create a difference in our communities. Lynn was known for the role of ODHA “change agent” when it came to her commitment to her advocacy work. As a public health dental hygienist, I am extremely appreciative for the hard work that Lynn persevered to allow me to do what I love, working in the community. Are there ways that you can help to move our profession forward or ways to reach a broader scope of patients in your community?

Lois was also involved in leadership on the local, state and national levels of our professional association. She was a devoted educator and a tireless advocate. Lois was well known as being a problem solver and always brought hope to those around her. She was greatly respected and admired by her dental hygiene students. Are there ways that you can participate in services within our association that will benefit the future of our work? Are there opportunities for training, teaching or just being a mentor for others?

Only a few awards will be given each year. But each of us can demonstrate commitment and passion for our work that will provide the feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment in the services that we provide.

Please take some time this month to think of and nominate individuals that represent these inspiring Oregon dental hygienists. You can find more information about the awards and nominate here. Also, while you are on the website, be sure to check out ODHA’s advocacy history.  I promise that you will be inspired! Until next time, be well and stay safe.

Tiffany Foy, EPDH
ODHA President
#Inspire

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Upcoming Events

2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Virtual Symposium

The NEW 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Virtual Symposium will be held on Saturday & Sunday, October 24 & 25, 2020. 

Visit our Virtual Symposium Page for Details

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

National Dental Hygiene Month

 Looking Through the Lens

Looking Through the Lens

For months now we have been Looking Through the Lens of cultural competency in various aspects. We have delved into Trauma Informed Care, Health Equity, Respect and Inclusivity through professional values, Oral Health Literacy, People First Language, and Cultural Sensitivity.

This month we are going to be Looking Through the Lens of cultural competency in a broader sense. COVID-19 and the recent wildfires have caused an incredible amount of stress and anxiety for Oregonians. Ratcheting up our empathy for our patients during this hard time of not knowing the present and the future is exactly what we can do as dental hygienists to be more sensitive to the psychological strain the last 7 months have caused. Uncertainty with jobs, schools, health, family members’ safety - the list is endless.

Dental hygienists play an important role in assessing the impacts these stressors play on the patients. As often the first to see the patients, dental hygienists are the first to evaluate the demeanor of the patient, assess their overall well-being, review their medical history, and assess the oral condition of the mouth. Research suggests a strong association between oral health conditions like erosion, caries, and periodontal disease and mood conditions like stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness¹. Recognizing that these conditions may be related to the additional stress COVID-19 and the wildfires have added to families is vital to discussions with patients.

With the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on mental health, pandemic-related increases in oral health risk factors, and anticipated declines in per capita dental visits, increasing integrated practice and referrals between dental providers and behavioral health providers will be prudent². Oral health providers do not always know the best way to refer patients to mental health or behavioral health specialists to guide their patients through difficult times. Most of the time, these referrals are made through the primary care provider. Oftentimes Behavioral Health Specialists work within the primary care clinics, or in close proximity of the primary care clinic.

While all Oregonians have been affected by COVID-19 and the wildfires, it is important to highlight that populations vulnerable to COVID-19, including those in low socioeconomic groups, minority groups, older adults, low-literacy individuals, those in rural areas, and the uninsured are also at increased risk for oral disease and associated systemic health problems³. For these populations, the stressors may be even more amplified. Fortunately, CCO’s have built-in systems to help members get wrap-around services which include behavioral health management. Federally Qualified Health Centers also have Behavioral Health Specialists who work within the primary care settings to provide specialized care to help manage situational stress and help with social service navigation.

Empathy is something dental hygienists have in aces, even underneath our “Hazmat suits”.   Look for signs of stress, demeanor change, and anxiety from the moment you greet your patient. Look for signs of stress in the mouth- wear spots, abrasion, unusual gingivitis or bone loss. Be ready to make a referral for a behavioral health specialist to help your patient through difficult times. You can do this.

You are a superhero.

Thank you, Kelli Jaecks, for your blog.

Doing our best,
Karen Hall, RDH EPDH 

¹ Kisely S. No mental health without oral health. Can J Psychiatry 2016;61(5):277–82
²The Oral Health and COVID-19: Increasing the Need for Prevention and Access COMMENTARY-Vol17- August 13, 2020
³The National Academies, Institute of Medicine and National Research Council, Committee on Oral Health Access to Services. Improving access to oral health care for vulnerable and underserved populations 

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ODHA Future Leader Award

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Board Member Profile

Brenna Chavarin, BS, EPDH is serving as Membership Director for ODHA. She graduated from Oregon Institute of Technology in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene and is currently working towards a Master’s in Allied Health through Oregon Institute of Technology. Not long after beginning her career, she was asked to transition from a full-time clinical hygienist into a part-time community outreach hygienist position and was excited to serve the community in a new way. Gradually this turned into a full-time position extending free services to many locations in Klamath, Jackson, and Josephine Counties. It was here that she found her passion.

In August of 2017, she was able to open an outreach organization, Konnect Dental Kare, whose mission is to bridge the gap between the community’s dental needs and dental care providers. This is done by offering education, free cavity prevention services, and connecting families back to their dental home. She is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve her community and help provide oral health care to this capacity. 

Brenna also works in the Klamath Falls Oregon Institute of Technology’s dental clinic as an adjunct instructor. She loves this position as she desires to help dental hygiene students think outside the box of what a dental hygienist can accomplish and to encourage future leaders of her profession. She believes ODHA membership as students and professionals is vital as it provides advocacy, promotes leadership skills, and creates a sense of community for upcoming, active, and retired dental hygienists across the state. 

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Important Deadlines Approaching!

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

ODHA is seeking passionate and engaged members to join the 2020-2021 ODHA leadership team.  No matter what your experience or location, we need you to help build our future together!  We want to hear your thoughts and work in partnership with you to guide our association and advance our profession. 

Complete the Interest form or nominate someone today!

Testimonial from one of our At-Large Directors

The At-Large Director position is one of the ODHA’s 13 Board positions. This position is a great ‘stepping stone’ for learning about specific responsibilities of each Board position and Regional Component leadership positions. It is also the most flexible Board position as it allows you to become involved in various Committees and/or projects. Currently, I am one of the At-Large Directors. Being an At-Large Director has been a fun, professionally edifying, and personally rewarding experience for me.

If you have thought about becoming involved with the ODHA Board of Directors but have not felt ready to pursue an Officer position, the At-Large position would be a good starting point. As an At-Large Director, you will learn first-hand how Board members continually strive to serve Oregon’s RDHs through legislative advocacy actions, educational offerings, and networking opportunities. Please consider applying for this or other Board of Directors positions. Your participation as an ODHA member will help our State professional organization be even better! 

--Sandra Miles, RDH, MSDH

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REGISTER TO VOTE BY OCTOBER 13

The next U.S. General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. To be eligible to vote in this election, you must be registered by Tuesday, October 13, 2020.  You can register to vote online.

All elections in Oregon are conducted by mail. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters approximately two weeks before the election. You can return your ballot by mail, take it to your local election office, or drop it in one of the many drop boxes throughout the state.  Your ballot must be physically received by 8:00 PM on November 3.  Postmarks do not count.  If you have questions about voting in Oregon you can call 1-866-673-8683 or call your county election office.

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Meet our ADHA District XII Trustee

Oregon Board of Dentistry News

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY - OCTOBER BOARD MEETING

The next meeting of the Oregon Board of Dentistry will be held on Friday, October 23, 2020 This meeting will be held as a teleconference to comply with physical distancing. Anyone may participate in the open session 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 participate in the open session of this or any future board meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. Upcoming Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on December 18.

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LICENSING, STANDARDS & COMPETENCY COMMITTEE MEETING

The Licensing, Standards & Competency Committee of the Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet 5:00-7:30 PM on Wednesday, October 7, 2020. This meeting will be held as a teleconference to comply with social distancing. The agenda and public packet for this committee meeting are posted on the Board website. Scroll down to About Us and click on Meetings. The Public Packet is 186 pages so we recommend that you only print pages if you need them.

The Licensing, Standards & Competency Committee will review, discuss and possibly make recommendations to the Board regarding 24 different issues including Infection Control Guidelines, Authorization to Practice, Clinical Board Examinations, Prohibited Acts and Unprofessional Conduct. Susan Kramer, RDH is the ODHA representative on the Licensing, Standards & Competency Committee of the Board so she will participate in this meeting. This will be an open meeting so anyone may participate. If you plan to participate in this committee meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. Future Board meeting dates are October 25, and December 13.

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Component News and 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 Update

Metro East is planning a webinar on Thursday, November 19, 2020, from 7:00 PM -9:00 PM. Our guest speaker will be Michelle Kennedy, RN, BSN, CEN. Michelle is an emergency department nurse as well as a clinical instructor through Linfield's nursing program.  She has been working with survivors of sex trafficking for seven years and for the last six years has given presentations on sex trafficking to health care providers, educators, and community groups.  She will be presenting mostly on human trafficking and some on suicide prevention.

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

• Free CE (Local Component CEs and many ADHA webinars)
• Networking leading to career growth
• Community volunteering opportunities
• Special ADHA Discounts (use link below)
  http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/74110_Membership_Affinity_Programs.pdf
• Access Magazine
• Discounted conferences
• And much more!

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Affiliated Organizations

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September 2020

President's Message

Greetings ODHA Members! 

This month I would like to share a special message to the graduating dental hygiene students in Oregon. My hope is that dental hygienists at all stages of their career will find this advice helpful too.

The ODHA is committed to advocating for you during this transition and we look forward to supporting you as you move forward in your dental hygiene career! You are not alone. Know that professional members of the ODHA and the ODHA leaders are fighting for you to have access to fair, ethical and quality board examinations. Despite the recent setbacks, this is an exciting time for dental hygienists. The opportunities are truly endless. You are the future of our wonderful and rewarding profession.

My background: I live in Bend and graduated from the Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) La Grande in 2011. I work as a public health dental hygienist and provide on-site preventive services at places like the elementary schools, WIC, Head Start, etc. This month marks my 9th year of working for the same employer (Advantage Dental from DentaQuest) who hired me after I completed dental hygiene school. This job has transformed into a dream career working in the community. This opportunity helped me find a passion for public health, which has led me to getting a master’s degree in Public Health. Getting involved in ODHA on a local level and then at the state level led me to where I am now as the President of the ODHA. It has all been about finding a way to be of service and bring value. My journey has been a pleasure and it's had challenges along the way. It is far from over and I look forward to opportunities that I could have never imagined when I first began.

You are not alone
I remember the excitement and a little fear of the unknown as I pursued the path of working in this career. School set me up for success, but when I was done, I felt alone. I found connection and support in my ODHA membership and was able to learn from other professionals as I became more comfortable in my new role. Mentors assisted me and encouraged me to take on new challenges and grow. We can do the same for you as well!

Career opportunities are endless
You don’t have to limit yourself to private practice. We are fortunate in Oregon that our scope of practice allows us to work in various settings such as working with kids in the schools or caring for the elderly in nursing homes. Find what you are passionate about and go for it! Networking opportunities allow you to stay connected with other dental hygienists across the state and inform you about community service and (of course) finding a job. Getting involved with the association or other areas of service may open doors you never knew existed. I suggest that you start with a positive “yes I can” attitude and have an open mind. I am certain that this will yield many more opportunities as it has helped me over the years.

Never stop learning and stay connected
The Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference (ODHC), ADHA Annual Conference and local continuing education events are great places where you can connect with fellow dental hygienists and reignite your passion for the profession. It is also important to stay informed. The ODHA is the best organization available to support our profession and keep us informed on the latest trends, opportunities and changes within the profession and in particular within the state of Oregon. ADHA and ODHA are working to move our profession forward but we need your support through membership to do this work. No one else is going to advocate for our profession, we have to be the ones that do that. Supporting our professional association helps change policies and laws that allow us to integrate into other health fields that provide more access to care and therefore career opportunities.

Let’s stay connected – be sure to follow the ODHA Facebook page, read our newsletters and check the website often for more information. Also, note that we have a COVID-19 resource page, a calendar of events and a lot of other important resources.

ODHA wants to become an integral part of your journey while you become the future of our profession!

Tiffany Foy, EPDH
ODHA President
#Inspire

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Upcoming Events

MEMBERS ONLY | ODHA Bylaws Committee Listening Session

Thursday, September 10, 2020
6:15 pm - 7:00 pm

Join the ODHA Board and Bylaws Committee to learn about proposed changes to simplify the election process and create more leadership development opportunities. You will need to register for this ahead of time at www.odha.org.

Due to the current situation, voting for bylaw amendments will be done using an electronic ballot. You will receive an email link to approve the changes on Friday, September 11th. Ballots must be received by Friday, October 9 at 5:00 pm. When voting, please consider the extensive work done by your Bylaw Review Committee.

Additionally, once these bylaws are approved, the new Board officer election and ballot process will be approved. Then, the Nominating Committee will present the slate (contested or uncontested) of candidates to approve to the 2021 ODHA Board of Directors no later than Friday, October 16, 2020.

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2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Virtual Symposium

The NEW 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Virtual Symposium will be held on Saturday & Sunday, October 24 & 25, 2020.
The Oregon Dental Hygiene Virtual Symposium is a new education program of the Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association. Future dates will be September, before License Renewal. Due to impacts of COVID-19, the ODHA’s annual Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference will be postponed to November of 2021. The ODHC is a multi-day, multi-track program with a focus on professional development programming including:  leadership, work-life balance and negotiating skills. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

 Looking Through the Lens

Trauma Informed Care

Traumatic events in a person’s life can have lasting effects on the health and well-being of individuals and society as a whole. Research such as the Adverse Events Study has provided incredible insight into the life-long effects of childhood trauma on the health challenges facing those who have had trauma in their childhood, and especially those with compounding trauma¹. Exposure to elder abuse, sexual assault, interpersonal abuse and exposed to combat are also extremely common in the US and global traumatic event which have adverse influences on physical and mental health^2,3 and attitudes towards medical care^4-6. In a 2007 study of 281 women,  women exposed to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) exhibited several long-term effects on dental care in terms of major psychological strain during dental treatment (36.5%/18.8%; P<.005) and preference for a female dentist to a male dentist (29.4%/8.2%; P<.0001). Women with CSA experiences considered four of five defined stressors associated with dental treatment as more intense. Of these women, 28% suffered from memories of their original abuse situations during dental treatment. The author concludes that approximately 20% of our female dental patients may have compounding dental fear related to sexual abuse related to dental experiences⁷.

Just as we develop Universal Precautions for infection control, it is imperative we develop UNIVERSAL TRAUMA PRECAUTIONS  since we do not know which of our patients may have experienced trauma. Trauma Informed Care starts with having basic principles in place.

• Patient centered communication skills
  • Ask your patient what will make them more comfortable
  • If a patient is anxious, help them brainstorm ways they have coped with past stressful or anxiety-producing situations
  • Explain that you will be using a tell-show-do approach
• Health effects of trauma
  • Help your patients identify negative coping behaviors (e.g. smoking)
  • Does not require you to delve into your patient’s trauma history
• Active collaboration with patients

One thing I notice when I look at these basic elements of Trauma Informed Care is that this is not much different than what dental hygienists do on a patient by patient basis!

As we renew our commitment to adhere to universal infection control in the COVID-19 age, let's renew our commitment to universal precautions to Trauma Informed Care so that we are providing heightened sensitivity to those with increased dental phobias due to past traumas.

1. Felitti VJ, Anda RF, Nordenberg D, et al. Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study. Am J Prev Med. 1998;14(4):245-258
2. Havig K. The health care experiences of adult survivors of child sexual abuse: a systematic review of evidence on sensitive practice. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2008;9(1):19-33.
3. Thoits PA. Stress and health: major findings and policy implications. J Health Soc Behav. 2010; 51(suppl):S41-S53.
4. Morse DS, Lafleur R, Fogarty CT, Mittal M, Cerulli C. “They told me to leave”: how health care providers address intimate partner violence. J Am Board Fam Med. 2012;25(3):333-342. 
5. Ullman SE. Talking About Sexual Assault: Society’s Response to Survivors. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2010.
6. Spelman JF, Hunt SC, Seal KH, Burgo-Black AL. Post deployment care for returning combat veterans. J Gen Intern Med. 2012;27(9):1200-1209.
7. Jeffreys MR. Teaching Cultural Competence in Nursing and Health Care. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company; 2010
8. Leeners B, Stiller R, Block E, Gorres G, Imthurn B, Rath W. Consequences of childhood sexual abuse experiences on dental care. J Psychosom Res. 2007;62(5):581-588. https://www.brighamandwomens.org/assets/BWH/womens-health/connors-center/pdfs/tic-in-medicine-raja-2015.pdf

Doing our best,
Karen Hall, RDH EPDH 

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ODHA Future Leader Award

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Important Deadlines Approaching!

EPDH DIRECTORY UPDATE

Each October, ODHA will be updating our EPDH Directory that is found on our website. 

If you would your information included on this page please provide the following information, updated information or if you would like your name removed from the list please email us this information:

• Name:
• Contact:
• Service Territory:
• Area of Specialty: 

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REGISTER TO VOTE BY OCTOBER 13

The next U.S. General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. To be eligible to vote in this election, you must be registered by Tuesday, October 13, 2020.  You can register to vote online.

All elections in Oregon are conducted by mail. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters approximately two weeks before the election. You can return your ballot by mail, take it to your local election office, or drop it in one of the many drop boxes throughout the state.  Your ballot must be physically received by 8:00 PM on November 3.  Postmarks do not count.  If you have questions about voting in Oregon you can call 1-866-673-8683 or call your county election office.

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY - OCTOBER BOARD MEETING

The next meeting of the Oregon Board of Dentistry will be held on Friday, October 23, 2020 This meeting will likely be held as a teleconference to comply with physical distancing. Anyone may participate in the open session 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 participate in the open session of this or any future board meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. Upcoming Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on December 18.

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DENTAL HYGIENE LICENSE RENEWAL - DUE SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

If you received your initial Oregon dental hygiene license in an even year, your dental hygiene license will expire on September 30, 2020. Dental hygienists whose licenses will expire on September 30, 2020 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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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 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.

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PSYCHOMOTOR SKILLS TESTING FOR CLINICAL BOARD EXAMINATIONS

The Oregon Board of Dentistry has adopted rule changes that will require clinical board examinations that are accepted for dental and dental hygiene licensure in Oregon to include a psychomotor skills component that uses a typodont mounted in a manikin or a live patient. The Board adopted these rule changes to go into effect January 31, 2021.

The Board adopted these rule changes in spite of the overwhelming opposition that they received from the Coalition for Modernizing Dental Licensure, the Oregon Dental Association, the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association, the Dean of the OHSU School of Dentistry, and the Oregon Dental Hygiene Program Directors, as well as opposition from individual dentists, dental hygienists, educators & students. The Board also received clarification from Representative Andrea Salinas that the legislative intent of SB 824 passed in 2019 “was to allow an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) test for licensure, not require an examination of hand/dexterity skills.”

Although this is a disappointing outcome, these rule changes will not go into effect until January 31, 2021. This means that dental and dental hygiene students who graduate in 2020 and who have already passed an OSCE clinical board examination will not be required to pass a clinical board examination that uses a typodont mounted in a manikin or live patient in order to be eligible for licensure in Oregon. This also means that we have more time to develop strategies for addressing these rule changes.

The ODHA will continue to work with the ODA and our other partners to move Oregon away from psychomotor skills testing for clinical board examinations that are accepted for dental and dental hygiene licensure in Oregon.

Thank You to everyone who submitted comments to the Board in opposition to these rule changes! We are counting on you to help again in our next steps!!!

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Component News and 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!

South West Component Update

Hygiene renewal is upon us. In case you need CPR there is a local company able to accommodate us here in Southern Oregon. They can accommodate Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Roseburg counties. 

I have taken this CPR class before online and then in person in the past. I actually felt more prepared with the personal instruction and I was done in 1 hour with the in-person training. They are always willing to answer questions and give more guidance if needed.  

Lisa Mendenhal, owner and Stephanie Gotzman explained more about the business: First Response First Aid and CPR, LLC has been in business for over 30 years in Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Roseburg counties. We teach all levels of CPR from Basic Life Support for healthcare providers to Pediatric CPR and First Aid for daycare providers and everything in between. We offer instructor lead course and also hybrid training which is a portion online and a portion with our instructor for the skills and issuance of certification cards. We comply with all of the COVID-19 precautions set out by American Heart Association as well as CDC. Contact Lisa Mendenhall at 541-822-1362 or Stephanie Gotzman 541-778-3500.

Paige Holt RDH Director SW

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

• Free CE (Local Component CEs and many ADHA webinars)
• Networking leading to career growth
• Community volunteering opportunities
• Special ADHA Discounts (use link below)
  http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/74110_Membership_Affinity_Programs.pdf
• Access Magazine
• Discounted conferences
• And much more!

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Affiliated Organizations

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August 2020

President's Message

Greetings ODHA Members! 

This month I would like to discuss the concept of essentialism which is defined as the continual pursuit of 1) what is essential, 2) the elimination of what is not essential, and 3) the creation of a system of execution of what is essential. I have been reading a book by Greg McKeown called Essentialism. This book has been life-changing and has inspired me to ask myself some challenging questions. What is essential in our life? In our career? In the organizations we lead? After reflecting on what these past few months have taught me, I have learned that being busy is not essential in my life. I want to focus and spend my time on what truly matters and will make the greatest impact.

As President of ODHA, I had a vision that this year would be both productive and effective. Now, I am taking a step back to re-evaluate what is truly essential in our association as a leader. I am learning that as an association we can do anything, but not everything. I truly believe that we may be more effective leaders, clinicians, and educators when we do less, but better. Therefore, what are the things during your day that are truly essential? What is that one message you need to give to that specific patient or student? What is the one service that would greatly impact your patient’s oral health? How can you do less but better when it comes to patient care or in your personal life?

Last weekend, the ODHA Board of Directors had our fourth board meeting of the year. During the meeting, we spent time creating our strategic plan and updated our mission, vision, and goals. The leadership team had to consider what we want the future of ODHA to look like and what essential tasks need to be accomplished in order to create the greatest impact. The strategic planning meeting started by listing out all of the ODHA accomplishments during the past year. We are excited to share the list with you during our annual meeting! This year we are focusing on leadership development, exploring ways to connect with members virtually, and advocating for our graduating students. Below includes ODHA’s updated mission, vision, and goals.

Mission - ODHA is committed to providing advocacy, professional development and networking opportunities for dental hygienists and the dental hygiene profession.

Vision - ODHA is a community where all dental hygienistscan find engagement, inspiration and empowerment.

Goals

1. Advocate for the dental hygiene profession.
2. Promote professional development and leadership.
3. Provide support and networking opportunities.
4. Enhance organizational effectiveness.

I hope you are enjoying these monthly messages and finding some inspiration. These messages have allowed me to explore what I am learning as a leader and share those experiences with you. Until next time, be well and stay safe!

Tiffany Foy, EPDH
ODHA President
#Inspire

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Upcoming Events 

2020 Annual Conference - Oregon Public Health Association

The Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA) will hold their 2020 OPHA Annual Conference & Meeting in a virtual format on Monday & Tuesday, October 12 & 13, 2020. 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.

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. All dental hygienists are invited to participate in the 2020 OPHA Annual Conference & Meeting. For more information about OPHA & this conference click on www.oregonpublichealth.org.

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2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference

The 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference (ODHC) will be held on
Saturday & Sunday, October 24 & 25, 2020.
This will be a virtual event - mark your calendars & watch for information coming soon!

Do you know a great speaker you wish you could see at a CE event?  ODHA is looking for recommendations for speakers to invite to the 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference. Email [email protected] with your recommendations!

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BE ON THE LOOKOUT!

The ODHA bylaw review committee has been working hard to update our bylaws and have presented their recommendations to the Board of Directors for approval.  We will be emailing our members soon for review and comments.

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 Looking Through the Lens

Health Equity

What does Health Equity look like in the dental office setting?

These pictures depicting health equity help us to understand that it is important to make health available and equitable to everyone.

There are some dental clinics that are naturally more suited to equitable health than others. Federally qualified health centers, community health centers and other such clinics generally make huge efforts to accommodate persons with physical limitations. They also are generally financially structured to treat patients regardless of the patients' ability to pay since they often bill private and public insurance as well as use a sliding fee scale schedule.

But for general/family practice, incorporating Health Equity looks different but can still be accomplished.

Volunteering- volunteering with Medical Teams International, Compassion Clinics and other organizations which offer free dental services is one way the dental team can help the local community access free or low-cost dental care. Either volunteering days with the organizations or as a referral site to provide additional treatment to patients in need are ways to increase Health Equity in the community.

Care Credit- offering payment plans or care credit is a common way for dental offices to extend dental services to patients.

ADA-friendly- In addition to meeting ADA codes for access, making sure the staff and office is welcoming for persons who have physical limitations. If a space makes them feel “singled out” or “fussed over” they may feel unwelcome.

Please share some of your ideas with me at [email protected] and I will share your ideas in next month’s article!

Doing our best,
Karen Hall, RDH EPDH 

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Future Leader Award

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ODHA Congratulates the Class of 2020 during virtual celebration!

The ODHA Class of 2020 Graduation Celebration event so much fun! We had almost 60 people registered for the event that was held virtually on Thursday, July 16^th from 6-6:30 pm. The ODHA Membership Committee organized the event and the goal was to recognize and celebrate the Oregon dental hygiene class of 2020. The event’s charismatic speaker, Kelli Swanson Jaecks gave an inspiring commencement speech for the graduating dental hygiene seniors. Kelli is a previous president of both the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association and American Dental Hygienists’ Association. One student from each class gave a celebratory toast to their fellow classmates:

• Rachel Reich from Portland Community College
• Allison Wood from OIT Klamath Falls
• Briana Underwood from Mt Hood Community College
• Carlin Chung from Pacific University
• Kyndall Marelich from OIT Chemeketa

The giveaway winners included Kyndall Marelich (OIT Chemeketa), Allison Wood (OIT Klamath Falls), Alli Sauer (Pacific University), Briana Underwood (Mt Hood Community College), and Elizabeth Marquez (Portland Community College). The giveaways included a tumbler with an “RDH” sticker and some fun ODHA swag. The grand prize winner was Allison Wood from OIT Klamath Falls. Allison won a complimentary registration for the 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference. Congratulations to the Oregon dental hygiene class of 2020! The ODHA supports all dental hygienists at all stages of their career.

Lane Community College

Mt. Hood Community College

Oregon Institute of Technology - Chemeketa

Oregon Institute of Technology - Klamath Falls

Pacific University

Portland Community College

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ODHA Board of Directors Adopts Policy on Clinical Board Examinations

At their meeting on July 11, 2020, the ODHA Board of Directors adopted the following policy statement:

The ODHA supports elimination of psychomotor skills testing from clinical board examinations that are required for dental and dental hygiene licensure.

Rationale: Graduates of accredited dental schools and dental hygiene programs have already demonstrated their psychomotor competency during their educational program. A clinical board examination cannot effectively evaluate psychomotor competency in dentistry. Clinical board examinations should evaluate clinical judgement and decision-making skills to determine if candidates for dental and dental hygiene licensure are ready to provide safe patient care. The best way to evaluate clinical judgement and decision-making skills of candidates for dental and dental hygiene licensure is through the use of OSCE clinical board examinations. An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a non-patient, multiple-choice written or computer-based examination that provides an objective and consistent way to accurately and reliably determine if a candidate has the clinical judgement and decision-making skills needed to provide safe patient care.

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Board Member Profile

Lisa J. Rowley, RDH, MS currently serves as your ODHA Advocacy Director. Lisa began her career in dental hygiene with an associate degree in dental hygiene from Bergen Community College in New Jersey. She went on to complete a bachelor of science and master of science degree in dental hygiene from Old Dominion University in Virginia, and later completed a second master of science degree in organizational management from College Misericordia in Pennsylvania.

Lisa has spent most of her career working in dental hygiene education. She worked with Luzerne County Community College in Pennsylvania for 17 years first as a faculty member and then as program director for their dental assisting and dental hygiene programs. Lisa developed the BSDH program at Pacific University and became its founding director in 2005. She has stepped down as program director, but continues to be a faculty member at Pacific.

Lisa believes that dental hygienists should have a basic understanding of the regulatory process and develop skills to successfully advocate for change.  She is committed to protecting and expanding the scope of practice for dental hygienists in Oregon, and she believes that everyone should play an active role in promoting health equity and increased access to health care.

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Oregon Dental Association - New Executive Director

Barry J. Taylor, DMD has been named as the new Executive Director for the Oregon Dental Association (ODA) effective July 13, 2020.

Dr. Taylor is known as an innovative leader and passionate advocate for the Oregon Dental Association, serving as its President and prior to that, serving as the Editor. He is also an Assistant Professor in Restorative Dentistry at the Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry and in private practice at Woodburn Community Dental.

Dr. Taylor’s extensive involvement in organized dentistry for 25 years includes other leadership positions with the Oregon Academy of General Dentistry, the American College of Dentists, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the American Dental Association

Dr. Taylor has stepped down from his position as the 2019-2020 ODA President.  Dr. Brad Hester, who was ODA President-Elect, will complete the remainder of Dr. Taylor’s term as ODA President.

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY - AUGUST BOARD MEETING

The next meeting of the Oregon Board of Dentistry will be held on Friday, August 21, 2020. This meeting will likely be held as a teleconference to comply with physical distancing. Anyone may participate in the open session 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 participate in the open session of this or any future board meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. Upcoming Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on October 23 and December 18.

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PROPOSED RULE CHANGES FOR CLINICAL BOARD EXAMINATIONS

The Oregon Board of Dentistry has proposed rule changes that would require clinical board examinations that are used for dental and dental hygiene licensure in Oregon to include a psychomotor (hands-on) component that uses a typodont mounted in a manikin or a live patient. The Board will vote on these proposed rule changes at their August 21 meeting and if adopted these rules would go into effect September 1, 2020.

Graduates of accredited dental schools and dental hygiene programs have already demonstrated their psychomotor competency during their educational program. Clinical board examinations should evaluate clinical judgement and decision-making skills to determine if candidates for dental and dental hygiene licensure are ready to provide safe patient care in a variety of situations. The best way to evaluate clinical judgement and decision-making skills is through the use of OSCE clinical board examinations.

An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a non-patient, multiple-choice written examination that provides an objective and consistent way to accurately and reliably determine if a candidate has the clinical judgement and decision-making skills needed to provide entry-level safe patient care. Candidates are presented with a wide variety of patient scenarios to determine if the candidate will be able to provide safe care to different types of patients who have different medical and dental conditions. Every candidate is presented with the same evaluation conditions and the same evaluation criteria are used for every candidate.

The ODHA is working together with the ODA, the OHSU School of Dentistry and the Oregon dental hygiene programs to coordinate our response to these proposed rule changes. Please be sure to respond to ODHA Advocacy Alerts about this issue.

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DENTAL HYGIENE LICENSE RENEWAL - DUE SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

If you received your initial Oregon dental hygiene license in an even year, your dental hygiene license will expire on September 30, 2020. Dental hygienists whose licenses will expire on September 30, 2020 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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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 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.

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Component News and 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!

South West Component Update

Missing my fellow hygienists,

Everyone have Zoom burnout!? I love that this is available and easy to do but I miss you all!! I can’t wait to get together with you. Even virtually. I hope to see you all at the Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference this October. SW CE is coming but still TBA for now. 

We are all so busy with this new normal and trying to figure this out and topics to bring to you. Please be patient. We will be getting online again soon. This new normal is exhausting isn’t it!? I find I am learning several things daily. How about you? 

Paige Holt RDH Director SW

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

• Free CE (Local Component CEs and many ADHA webinars)
• Networking leading to career growth
• Community volunteering opportunities
• Special ADHA Discounts (use link below)
  http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/74110_Membership_Affinity_Programs.pdf
• Access Magazine
• Discounted conferences
• And much more!

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Affiliated Organizations

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July 2020

President's Message

Greetings ODHA Members! 

Hopefully you find yourself enjoying some beautiful summer weather and you now find yourself back at work. Over the past couple of months, we've talked about the importance of preparing to go back to work by honing our skills and about caring for ourselves in ways that will leave us rejuvenated prior to that return. This month we want to explore a few different ideas that revolve around the concept of connection in the community of our association.

Oregon is a geographically large state and connections with other members in our association has often required long distance travel in order to see one another face to face. The situation with COVID-19 has caused everyone to re-think the ways in which we connect with one another and many technological resources are available to help with that. Skype and Zoom and other tools have started to become commonly used as we become more comfortable with these resources and the ways in which they help us feel connected. ODHA has implemented virtual meetings and events that help members stay connected with other members. 

So, “why should we make an effort to stay connected?”

Perspective and Support: Spending time with fellow dental hygienists allows you to compare your experience with theirs and evaluate your situation.  Are there challenges you are facing?  Spending time with fellow professionals allows you to hear about other experiences and solutions that have been used.

Trends and Information: We all want to be our best in this profession and learn about the latest trends and other information which can be of benefit to ourselves and our patients.  When we are connected, we can share with others our best practices and trends that we see taking place so we're all able to learn from each other's experiences and information.  

Inspiration: I have heard it said by others and I have experienced it myself - When I attend a conference or meet with other members, I feel a connection with this profession and my feelings towards my work are re-inspired. I find that when I return from a conference or some other place in which I connect with other members, my view towards myself and the work that I do takes on a new importance and I feel invigorated to perform at my best again.

There are ODHA events that are currently scheduled and items which will be added in the future. All of these are additional opportunities for us to connect with others in the profession. Our annual conference is scheduled for October 23rd and 24th. At this time, we believe it will be a virtual event. We are in the process of exploring various ideas which include virtual continuing education; new member meetings; and celebration for recent graduates. Be sure to check our website often for updates on events. Remember that we are all in this new season and you are not alone. ODHA is YOUR association and includes a wonderful community to connect with! We are here for YOU!

Tiffany Foy, EPDH
ODHA President
#Inspire

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Upcoming Events

2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference

The 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference (ODHC) will be held on Friday & Saturday, October 23 & 24, 2020.
This will be a virtual event - mark your calendars & watch for information coming soon!

Do you know a great speaker you wish you could see at a CE event?  ODHA is looking for recommendations for speakers to invite to the 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference. Email [email protected] with your recommendations!

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 Looking Through the Lens

We Cannot Be Divided; We Must Be United.

A message to our dental hygiene community

June 4, 2020

George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. The list of Black lives unjustly taken goes on. We must say their names. We must know their stories. And we must acknowledge the tragic events that ended their lives and forever silenced their voices. 

As our communities react to their senseless and brutal deaths, we mourn these losses with you. We are here to support the entire dental hygiene community and our staff as we process this pain together. Too many Black lives have been lost. Too many Black voices have been silenced. Too many marginalized communities have been carrying the burden of fighting for equity.

We must confront a reality we can no longer avoid: the lives of Black Americans and other people of color have been devalued through systemic and institutional racism for far too long. 

ADHA’s core values and code of ethics include respect for all human beings and a commitment to justice and fairness. 

This is an extremely difficult time. But this is not the time for silence. This is the time for deep reflection and thoughtful conversations. This is the time for action. 

We must listen more deeply. We must seek ways to do and be better in service of a more inclusive and equitable oral health care system. We are committed to creating ways for our staff and the dental hygiene profession to engage in discussion, and to pursue action against racial injustice.

We are a community that will not tolerate acts of racism, discrimination or violence of any kind. 

We will treat each other with courtesy and respect, encourage constructive dialogue, and assume good intent in all interactions.

We will strive for more equitable access to quality oral health care for all people, increasing awareness of the benefits of prevention, education, and research for the greater good. 

We will nurture a diverse and inclusive environment that advances curiosity, courage, innovation and accountability.

We cannot be divided; we must be united.

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Future Leader Award

We are happy to announce the 2020 ODHA Future Leader Award recipient from OIT Chemeketa is Kyndall Marelich!

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Celebrating 2020 Graduates!

2020 OIT Chemeketa Community College

Congratulations Chemeketa’s Dental Hygiene Class of 2020 Graduates!

• Elizabeth Abbott “Jordan”
• Olivia Burger
• Estefania Cabrera
• Madison Clark
• Brittany Eggers
• Melissa Goyins
• Mackenzie Hosley
• Katherine Li
• Kyndall Marelich (ODHA Future Leader Award)
• Maira Martinez
• Kieu Van Moisan
• Marcela Ortiz Ramirez
• Samantha Phillips
• Michelle Robinson
• Gemma Sanchez
• Kyla VanSpeybrock
• Mary Watson
• Carissa Welding
• Danielle Wiles
• Lindsay Wilkerson

Congratulations to Dental Hygienists who have Completed Advanced Degrees

Join ODHA in congratulating the following dental hygienists who completed advanced degrees this year!

Laura Vanderwerf completed a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) degree from the Oregon Institute of Technology. Laura lives in Hillsboro and is a clinical dental hygienist at the Ronler Acres campus of Intel. Laura is the 2019-2020 Secretary for ODHA.

Tiffany Foy completed a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the A.T. Still University. Tiffany lives in Bend and is a Regional Community Expanded Practice Dental Hygienist for Advantage Dental from DentaQuest. Tiffany is the 2019-2020 President for ODHA.

Kristen Simmons completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Education & Leadership from Pacific University. Kristen lives in Hillsboro and is the Chief Operating Officer for the Willamette Dental Group. Kristen is a Past President of ODHA.

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Board Profile

Lori Killen Aus - I have been an active member of ADHA/ODHA since 1980. I have a deep passion for my profession. I was in the first wave of LAP's (now EPDH's) and have been utilizing the last 10 years conducting free oral health clinics for the underserved and un-insured. I love taking student dental hygienists on rotations in Compassion Clinics or through other free clinics. My heart is in elder care and those with disabilities. This takes me into adult foster homes, skilled nursing facilities and private home bound. I am becoming proficient in speaking Alzheimers, and others with challenges and disabilities. One of my favorite things to do is to take students (or RDH's) with me to these locations as well. I love teaching/presenting the many possibilities that our incredible profession has to offer.  

Likes: family, granddaughters! serving vulnerable populations, camping, fly fishing, travel
Dislikes: watermelon
Hobbies: gourmet cooking, knitting, reading, piano

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY - AUGUST BOARD MEETING

The next meeting of the Oregon Board of Dentistry will be held on Friday, August 21, 2020. This meeting will likely be held as a teleconference to comply with physical distancing. Anyone may participate in the open session 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 participate in the open session of this or any future board meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. Upcoming Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on October 23 and December 18.

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SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE MEETING NOTICES

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

Go to the Board website. Scroll down to the Resources column at the bottom of the home page and click on More. Scroll down to the bottom of the left side column and click on 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. Check one of the boxes to indicate if you would like to receive this information by mail or email. Then click Submit.

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Oregon Delegates to 2020 ADHA House of Delegates

The 2020 ADHA House of Delegates meeting was held June 13 & 14, 2020 in a virtual format. The ADHA House of Delegates sets policy and direction for the dental hygiene profession and meets each year to discuss and vote on issues that affect dental hygiene on a national level. The House is composed of delegates who are elected to represent their states at this meeting.

The ODHA thanks the following members who participated as delegates representing Oregon during this national meeting:

• Laura Vanderwerf, Delegation Chair
• Paige Holt, Delegate
• Kyle Johnstone, Delegate
• Tiffany Foy, Alternate Delegate
• Brandy Cowen, Alternate Delegate
• Jennifer Lusk, Alternate Delegate

"It was exciting to be able to attend ADHA's First Virtual House of Delegates! I was very impressed by the dedication and countless hours spent by the Oregon and District XII delegates! Hearing the passion in the voices of dental hygienists from across the country was inspiring! As we plan ODHA's annual conference and meeting, I was able to take back ideas that will make our virtual events a success too." 

--Tiffany Foy, ODHA President, Alternate Delegate

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“This past weekend I attended the ADHA Ninety- seventh Annual Conference HOD, as delegate for Oregon. Ever been on a Zoom meeting for eleven and a half hours? I can say I have; Saturday was a long day. So was Sunday’s Zoom meeting (7 hours). I am glad we also had a chance to do a mock HOD meeting the prior weekend for three hours. We learned how to vote virtually and how we would interact and do business. 

We also celebrated Saturday, June 13th at our D12 Zoom meeting, Annette Lincicome, for being our district twelve’s trustee the last four years. While voting in Jennifer Frame our new D12 trustee. 

What I experienced the last two months of prep is that we have a very dynamic and strong responsible D12 team as always. With creative ideas to get the job done and prepare for the HOD. As in years past I feel honored to be a delegate and work with all of D12, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington. Including Annette Lincicome for her guidance. On to Arizona next year 2021.”

--Paige Holt, Delegate

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“Representing Oregon and Oregon Dental Hygienists has been such an honor. Working with my fellow delegates and helping lead the ADHA into the next year.

Although this year wasn’t what we were expecting…it wasn’t the trip to New Orleans, socializing, networking and collaborating with other hygienists from across the nation, instead we were able to experience our technology at its finest. Taking care of our Association business, working on proposals and bylaws, voting for our next leaders, all online through virtual platforms, made our hard work in preparation all worth it.

I want to thank our current Delegates, Kyle Johnstone and Paige Holt for virtually sitting beside me, and our alternates, Tiffany Foy, Brandy Cowen and Jennifer Lusk for being present and available if we would have needed them. Thank you to our outgoing District XII Trustee, Annette Lincicome your mentorship was very appreciated as I represented Oregon these past couple of years and Good Luck to our incoming Trustee, Jennifer Frame, I know you will do a great job helping prepare future delegates for ADHA’s Annual HOD.”

--Laura Vanderwerf, Delegate Chair

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If you are interested in experiencing the thrill of representing ODHA at ADHA’s House of Delegates next year…check out ODHA’s leadership page and fill out a bio-data form.

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Component News and 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!

Welcome our new members!

Metro East Component

• Corrie Anderson
• Diana Barajas Lopez
• Negene Engel
• Tiffany Humphrey
• Igor Sotnikov
• Gisela Zepeda

North West Component

• Lucy Bochsler 
• Jamie Brandtner
• Jodi Budd 
• Katie Dorris     
• Sheneice Francis
• Perla Gilfillan
• Mayra Godwin 
• Marie Hatton 
• April Johnson   
• Heidi Klobes 
• Ashli Lockett    
• Jody Lucas  
• Kimberly Perlot  
• Leslie Plotts  
• Sarah Ross
• Stephanie Russell 
• Preslie Shao  
• Amanda Yoder 

High Desert Component

• Brittaniy Buckingham   
• Keely Linden 

South West Component

• Payton Cuellar 
• Andrea Fletcher   
• Lisa Lindley
• Christianna Reaney
• Kaylynn Walls 

South West Component Update

Greeting fellow Hygienists,

Here is a review of activities held by South West component. In May a few members and non-members from South West component, along with several others from around the state, joined the “Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen Sedation in Adults and Children”, by Gail Aamodt, RDH, MS and Monica Sarmiento through Zoom held on 5/21/2020. I heard from a non-member from South West, that this was her first Zoom meeting and “she loved the presentation and would like to attend more meetings like this.” Remember you can attend CE as a member or non-member. Watch for the emails promoting CE or visit our ODHA website calendar, “like” us on Facebook, and join us on Instagram to stay connected.

I have had the opportunity to talk with several hygienists’ in southern Oregon these past few weeks as we reopen. It seems now more than ever we want to reach out to each other and discuss what is going on and how we are dealing with the stress and issues regarding the new normal in the office. We want to discuss the new PPE and how to deal with wearing it, source it and what others are doing procedurally in the office to stay safe. To that end, in May, South West component held “A Cup of RDH Talk,” on Friday, May 15th via Zoom.  We talked about staying connected and discussed how hygienists’ and offices are reopening and dealing with the changes. Would this be something you would like to attend monthly? Please contact me with topic ideas.

Lastly, the Leadership meeting that was going to be held on June 4th, 2020 was postponed and will be rescheduled after the ODHA Leadership Component meeting. TBD.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Paige Holt RDH- SW Director

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

• Free CE (Local Component CEs and many ADHA webinars)
• Networking leading to career growth
• Community volunteering opportunities
• Special ADHA Discounts (use link below)
  http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/74110_Membership_Affinity_Programs.pdf
• Access Magazine
• Discounted conferences
• And much more!

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Affiliated Organizations

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June 2020

President's Message

Greetings ODHA Members! 

If it hasn’t happened already, many of you will be returning to your place of work in the near future. With that in mind this month’s theme is leadership.

First let’s talk about what leadership is and isn’t. We are not suggesting that you try to take charge of decisions or give directions to people if that’s not already your role. What we are suggesting is that you become a valued resource that can help guide the dental office particularly when it comes to infection control protocols and returning to a fully functional practice. 

We understand that some of you are struggling with how to best approach your employer to discuss the details of when reopening takes place and best practices to be followed. We would like to help guide you with talking points and resources so that you can help influence and direct your dental teams with useful information and possibly shape your future as well as that of others. 

Clearly every situation will differ, and you will need to navigate through your particular circumstances to determine what is right. You, of course, need to also be an advocate for your own safety. One especially good resource is provided by the ADHA which includes things to consider prior to opening (link is provided here). Additionally, we are very pleased to provide a resource page on our ODHA website that I think you will find especially useful (link is provided here). 

While it may be difficult to have the conversations, it is important for you to understand the magnitude of the exchange. As dental hygienists, we know too well how our work impacts our patient’s overall health and our role as a valuable prevention specialist. Our patients have neglected dental hygiene services during the last several months and many are happy to make an appointment and get their needed services. Many of the same people are looking to your office for guidance and assurance to know that they are being treated with the most appropriate protocols and that there is a reasonable concern for their well-being. While you have routinely met this need throughout your career, it is now especially important to consider the possibility of being a valued resource. As a resource you can guide the conduct and influence the decisions that help put the best protocols into place for the well-being of the patient as well as the practice. I think that many of you will find that your employer wants to do the right thing and will welcome a resourceful and enthusiastic team member who can be a part of the solution and guide others to participate in the methods that will work best for everyone.

I am confident that Oregon dental hygienists are resilient and will become stronger because of the challenges you are facing. This is a perfect time to be leaders in your dental teams, leaders in your community, and leaders in your association. We are stronger, together.

Tiffany Foy, EPDH
ODHA President
#Inspire

May 17, 2020 Board of Directors Meeting

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Upcoming Events

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2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference

New Month, New Location!

The 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference (ODHC) will be held on Friday & Saturday, October 23 & 24, 2020 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Washington Square in Tigard, OR. Mark your calendars & watch for information coming soon!

Do know a great speaker you wish you could attend at a CE event?  ODHA is looking for recommendations for speakers to invite to the 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference. Email [email protected] with your recommendations!

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 Looking Through the Lens

Oral Health Literacy

No doubt many of you have been homeschooling children in the last couple of months. Or perhaps you have been asked by friends to help with a health unit for someone else’s child, drawing on your vast oral health knowledge and resources. I have written and sent out five age-appropriate lessons for kids of various ages using oral health literacy materials and books I have found. There are great resources available to use so the wheel need not be reinvented unless one has the energy and desire to do so.

But one thing I struggle with finding is oral health books for kids which demonstrate oral health literacy. To be oral health literate, the books must use simple language and preferably be in multiple languages. In addition, they should have accurate content and lack biases. For instance, the message should be accurate even if in simple language. Does sugar cause cavities? Not necessarily. But germs in our mouth certainly can cause disease. Good brushing and cleaning between our teeth can prevent cavities and gum disease. Eating and drinking too much sugar or other sweet or sticky foods is also not good for your teeth. Note the short sentences, simple language, and accurate statements.

Another thing I look for, besides accuracy, is a positive message. As much as I love the famous brother and sister bears, it is not helpful that brother terrorizes sister with an image of the dental office as a scary place. Sure, the story ends well, but dental providers must fight that image constantly so I would never have that book in my library. The loveable Dr. has a tooth book which sends the message that people without teeth did something bad. We want to foster compassion and send the message that we can restore health because teeth are important to healthy living.

Sometimes we find a book that has simple language, an accurate message, positive story and we think we have finally found the perfect book, like I did when I found First Time Dentist by Jess Stockham.

Unfortunately, the example of the child who goes in for a check up and has a cleaning and no cavities is Caucasian and the child who needs to have fillings is likely not Caucasian. Now you may be thinking this is not a big deal. May I refer you to what happened when the American Red Cross used this poster for years before someone pointed out how racially inequitable and biased it was?

I am quite sure the American Red Cross did not intentionally call out Caucasian kids as good kids and others as misbehaving rule-breakers. But we do need to have sensitivity to this as we purchase books for our oral health libraries.

This leaves me with a few books that have strong oral health literacy and pass the Cultural Competency test for me-

• Daniel Goes to the Dentist- Positive message for first dentist trip, staff wears PPE (except eye protection)
• I Lost My Tooth! - Positive and fun, extra animal and human teeth facts, and who doesn’t love Mo Willems?
• Tooth Trouble- Young walrus gets tusk fixed, encourages without shaming Grandpa to get tusk fixed
• Open Wide- Great for older kids, uses fun cartoons. BUT says baby teeth keep the mouth healthy and clean while guiding the permanent teeth in, which I have never heard to be true.
• Happy Teeth! Dientes Felices! - Great for expectant moms and moms of babies/toddlers, in English and Spanish

With Cultural Competency and oral health literacy in mind, what are your favorite oral health books?

Please send me your list (with reasons why you like the books) and I will post them next month! [email protected]

Doing our best,
Karen Hall, RDH EPDH

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Dennis Muir Scholarship Winners

WINNERS FOR THE 2020 DENNIS MUIR SCHOLARSHIP ARE ANNOUNCED

The Dennis Muir Scholarship Committee met virtually on May 15, 2020 to select the Dennis Muir Scholarship winner and Awards of Excellence. The Committee is happy to announce that for the first time ever two $3,000 Scholarships will be presented and one Award of Excellence. In addition, the awardees will have their registration paid for the Saturday session of the Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference. We are pleased to announce the Scholarship winners; Bree Oreskovic from Lane Community College and Silvia Santellano from Pacific University. Our Award of Excellence winner is Courtney Bielawski from Mount Hood Community College.

Congratulations to all!

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Dental Hygienist Members of the Oregon Board of Dentistry

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 2^nd term.

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

Yadira Martinez, RDH, EPDH will serve as the 2020-2021 President for the Oregon Board of Dentistry. She is beginning her 7^th year on the Board and 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 will serve as the 2020-2021 Vice President for the Oregon Board of Dentistry. She is beginning her 6^th year on the Board and 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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2020 Annual Conference – Call for Presentations

Do you have a public health topic that you would like to present as a course, panel discussion or poster at a state conference? The Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA) is accepting abstracts for their 2020 OPHA Annual Conference & Meeting to be held virtually on Monday & Tuesday, October 12 & 13, 2020. It would be great to see some dental public health presentations at this conference.

Abstracts will be accepted until June 19^th. You do not need to be a member of OPHA to present at this conference. However, all presenters must register for the conference. No exceptions will be made.

ODHA is an organizational member of the Oregon Public Health Association. We encourage all dental hygienists to consider presenting at the 2020 OPHA Annual Conference & Meeting. For more information about OPHA & this conference click on www.oregonpublichealth.org. 

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ODHA Board of Directors Profile

Hi! My name is Lesley Harbison and I've been a dental hygienist for 20 years. I've worked private practice for about 18 years but about 3 years ago I began to teach full time and I love it. I also have a passion for our older adult population and have worked in direct access. I discovered in the last 5 years that I also love to write, who knew!

I have two daughters, thirteen years and 20 months, they keep me on my toes.  When I am not working, I love to spend time with my girls, go for walks, acrylic paint and garden. 

I love being a member of our association and all of the wonderful things it offers us as professionals. It provides a voice so we can guide our own profession, it offers camaraderie and a community of like-minded people. And even if we are not like-minded, that is alright because there is a seat at the table for all of us to discuss our personal views! I hope to see you at a component meeting!

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY - BOARD MEETING

The next meeting of the Oregon Board of Dentistry will be held Friday, June 19, 2020. This meeting will likely be held as a teleconference to comply with physical distancing. Anyone may participate in the open session 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 participate in the open session of this or any future Board meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. Upcoming Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on August 21, October 23, and December 18.

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NON-PATIENT CLINICAL BOARD EXAMS
ACCEPTED FOR DENTAL & DENTAL HYGIENE LICENSURE IN OREGON

Applicants will no longer need to take a live patient clinical board examination in order to obtain a dental or dental hygiene license in Oregon. At their April 24 meeting, the Oregon Board of Dentistry clarified that the dental practice act allows them to accept results of examinations administered by regional or national testing agencies who administer Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) clinical board examinations to fulfill the clinical board examination requirement for dental and dental hygiene licensure in Oregon. An OSCE is a non-patient multiple-choice written examination that is used to determine if a candidate has the clinical knowledge and skills required for entry-level practice.

This is not just a temporary change due to the COVD-19 global pandemic. The ODHA, the Oregon Dental Association, the dean of the OHSU School of Dentistry and the Oregon dental hygiene program directors have been working toward the elimination of live patient clinical board examinations for several years. This is a great example of what can happen when professionals work together to advocate for change.

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ODHA Facebook page

Have you liked or followed our Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association Facebook page? We are deleting our Facebook component pages June 1, 2020 - so we can house all events and information on our association page.

Give us a "like" today - so that you can continue to follow the important news and activities from your association!

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Component News and 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!

South West Component

Greetings fellow Hygienists!
I wanted to update you all on what SW component has been up to in 2020 so far.

As of January, we have hosted 4 credit hours in the topics of Sleep Apnea by Dr. John Sullivan (on-site) and Preventative Ergonomics by Brian Wilkinson (via Zoom). Our members also brought together hundreds of toothbrushes, floss, and various other hygiene supplies at the end of 2019 that were donated to Eugene’s Women’s Space in 2020. We also hosted our first virtual coffee hour entitled “Cup of RDH Talk” with the topic going back to work safely with COVID-19 in mind. 

At this last virtual meeting, the open format intrigued members from all over the state and we stayed online for an hour. Many shared how their offices are preparing for patients and themselves to go back to work. There are various approaches and products that are out there to help dental teams go back to work safely such as getting the correct N95 masks to fit and gowns to implementing chair side and whole office filtration systems. Several of the members commented that they haven’t gone back to work, as their office isn’t ready or there has been a delay in getting proper PPE.  There was also a wealth of information in sharing highlights from current CE that members took recently in addressing concerns around working with COVID-19 and vendor sharing of where supplies are being found. We even had one of our members model their homemade surgical cap.  We also found out that there was only a very small percentage that had already been back at work since Governor Kate Brown lifted the ban on non-emergency medical procedures on May 1st.  Those that have returned reported helping out with their friend’s dental office to seeing patients with a revised schedule.

SW members also stayed online for another hour to discuss what they feel is a value in their ADHA membership and looked at ways to help encourage non-members to sign up for membership. The biggest value reported was a sense of community followed by CE opportunities.

As your Chair, I don’t want to see our sense of community and opportunities to network suffer during this pandemic. That's why our leadership team is looking at more possible virtual social hours, mornings and evenings, with focus topics for discussion, until we can meet again in person along with planning for future community service projects. Hmmm….I wonder if we can create a virtual community service project?  Thoughts?

SW Members are also welcome to our SW leadership planning meeting on Thursday, June 4th from 6:30 PM to 8:30PM via Zoom. We will be reviewing component goals, networking opportunities, brainstorming CE topics/speakers, and looking into community service projects. In the meantime, I also want to encourage you to check your emails for updates on virtual meetings hosted by ODHA’s 3 other components as well. It's a great way to support our fellow components' efforts in bringing together these CE opportunities for all!   Don’t forget to share with your dental team about the great classes that are offered through ODHA & ADHA too.

Thank you everyone who participates in these events and I look forward to seeing more of you soon. Please feel free to contact me via email with any questions, concerns, topic ideas, or if interested in learning more about leadership opportunities.

Sincerely,
Jamie Christianson, ODHA- SW Component Chair

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

• Free CE (Local Component CEs and many ADHA webinars)
• Networking leading to career growth
• Community volunteering opportunities
• Special ADHA Discounts (use link below)
  http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/74110_Membership_Affinity_Programs.pdf
• Access Magazine
• Discounted conferences
• And much more!

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Affiliated Organizations

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May 2020

President's Message

Greetings ODHA Members! 

We are all living in a unique time and a unique set of circumstances that provides us with both challenges and opportunities that we might not otherwise have. I do not wish to use this newsletter to provide you with the common warnings and precautions that I am sure by now you’ve heard many times. Rather, I would prefer to provide you with some ideas about making the best so that you can return to work as well prepared as possible. 

With many of us having either no work or reduced work hours, we have possibly some time in our lives to take care of tasks that we have been putting off. Some tasks might be related to our profession like getting more continuing education hours. Other tasks may be more personal like learning a new hobby, taking care of yardwork or cleaning out some portion of our home that we have been neglecting.

Additional time in our lives may also give us the opportunity for self-care. Exercise, rest or other means of providing kindness to ourselves can be a great way to recharge our souls and prepare us for returning to work.

Lastly, there are those connections which may need attention in our lives. Contacts with friends and family members and other loved ones can be enhanced at this time if we make deliberate effort. I plan to hold a fun Virtual Happy Hour via Zoom for members as one means of connecting with others. Last month, we held our first Zoom CE and plan to have more in the future! Be sure to check the ODHA website and your email often for upcoming events.

Ultimately, we are privileged to be in a great profession in the state that we live in and we owe it to ourselves, as well as our patients to return to work with our minds clear and our attitudes refreshed.

Tiffany Foy, EPDH
ODHA President
#Inspire

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Upcoming Events!

Virtual Happy Hours

ODHA Members - We want to SEE you! Join us for a virtual Happy Hour to socialize, share, and just "check-in". No agenda, just spending time with each other the safest way we can right now. We miss you and hope you'll join us via Zoom on April 30.
Date: Thursday, April 30, 2020
Time: 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Register Here!

ODHA Student Members - We want to SEE you! Join us for a virtual Happy Hour to socialize, share, and just "check-in". No agenda, just spending time with each other the safest way we can right now. We miss you and hope you'll join us via Zoom on May 7.
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2020
Time: 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Register Here!

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2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference

New Month, New Location!

The 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference (ODHC) will be held on Friday & Saturday, October 23 & 24, 2020 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Washington Square in Tigard, OR. Mark your calendars & watch for information coming soon!

Do know a great speaker you wish you could attend at a CE event?  ODHA is looking for recommendations for speakers to invite to the 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference. Email [email protected] with your recommendations!

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Get Involved!

Have you ever wondered how to get involved with your dental hygiene professional organization?  Do you know someone that would be a great mentor or leader? It is time to start thinking about ODHA’s board elections in October.  We have several leadership positions open. Only want to be involved for a project or want something that doesn’t involve a lot of time or commitment?  Consider volunteering for a committee or component role.  Want to have a bigger impact on the future of our state organization, consider a board position. If your interest is on a grander scale and you want to see how our National organization decides on policy, check out a Delegate position.  Info can be found on our website.

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Looking Through the Lens

People First Language

There is so much to learn about how to treat others with kindness and respect. It seems like everyday I catch myself saying something, or almost saying something, that I shouldn’t without even thinking about how it might be taken by the person to whom it is referred or to whom I am addressing.

I learned the phrase People/Person First Language recently and was embarrassed to admit (to myself) that I inadvertently used incorrect language on a regular basis not even considering its effect on a person or a group of people.

Here is an example of a few that were presented to me during a Cultural Competency course I recently attended in Eugene.

X She’s confined to a wheelchair    + She uses a wheelchair

+ He has diabetes                             X The diabetic man

X They’re crazy                                  + They have mental illness

X The disabled                                   + People with disabilities

People/Person First Language puts the person before the disability, emphasizing the person’s humanity and not defining them by their disability. Using a diagnosis as a defining characteristic reflects prejudice, and also robs the person of the opportunity to defend himself (Kathie Snow, “A Few Words About People First Language”, 2009, www.disabilityisnatural.com) Don’t we all want to be defined by our humanity first?

Improving how we communicate to show respect and kindness takes effort. Sometimes I get mid-sentence and forget the best way to phrase something in the kindest way. I am a work in progress and an old dog who doesn’t learn new tricks very easily. But I really am trying, and I know other fellow travelers on this road of life would not intentionally hurt someone else’s feelings. This is yet another opportunity to offer grace to those who are at different levels of the People/Person First Language fluency and an opportunity to start practicing this language so that it becomes as fluent as our primary language.

Doing our best,
Karen Hall, RDH EPDH

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News

At their April 24, 2020 meeting, the Oregon Board of Dentistry elected Yadira Martinez, RDH, EPDH to serve as their President and Alicia Riedman, RDH, EPDH to serve as their Vice President for 2020-2021.

We believe that this is the first time that any state board of dentistry has elected dental hygienists to serve in both of these officer positions at the same time! Congratulations!

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY - BOARD MEETING

The next meeting of the Oregon Board of Dentistry will be held on Friday, June 24, 2020. This meeting will likely be held as a teleconference to comply with physical distancing. The open session of this Board meeting is scheduled for 7:30-9:30 AM. Anyone may attend the open session 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 participate in the open session of this or any future Board meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. Upcoming Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on August 21, October 23, and December 18.

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY - STANDING COMMITTEES

ODHA representatives to the Standing Committees of the Oregon Board of Dentistry for May 2020 to April 2021 are: Lesley Harbison – Communications; Kris Johnson – Dental Hygiene; Jill Mason – Enforcement & Discipline; Susan Kramer – Licensing, Standards & Competency; Lisa Rowley – Rules Oversight. Standing Committees of the Oregon Board of Dentistry meet to discuss issues that are referred to them and then make recommendations to the Board. Standing Committees may or may not meet throughout the year.

ODHA representatives to these Standing Committees are appointed by the ODHA President with approval of the ODHA Board of Directors. These are volunteer positions with no remuneration and no reimbursement for expenses. If you are interested in representing ODHA on a Standing Committee of the Oregon Board of Dentistry, please submit the Volunteer Interest Form on the ODHA website.

BLS FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENT & RENEWAL

The Administrative Rules of the Oregon Board of Dentistry require licensees to maintain at all times a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent. Licensees who hold an anesthesia permit for moderate sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthesia must maintain at all times a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate and a current ACLS or PALS, whichever is appropriate for the patient being sedated.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and Oregon’s current state of emergency, all licensees and applicants who are required to maintain a BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent, ACLS and/or PALS certificates that expired starting March 1, 2020 are allowed an extension of up to 120 days, until June 30, 2020 to come into compliance. Failure to come into compliance after June 30, 2020, may result in Board investigation and/or discipline.  

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Student Section

A highlight of Portland Community College's final year of dental hygiene school encompasses a community outreach project intended to identify underserved populations, address barriers to care, and advance oral health education within our communities. This year PCC Senior Dental Hygiene students Jacklyn Ferraris and Alyssa Lynch established collaboration between the PCC dental clinic and Veteran Resource Centers located on each of the four PCC campuses (Cascade, Rock Creek, Southeast, and Sylvania).

The primary goal of this collaboration was to increase awareness of and access to no-cost dental care for PCC student veterans. There is a common misconception that when veterans return home they have access to dental coverage, but for the majority of veterans this isn't the case. Currently, The Department of Veteran's Affairs provides dental benefits to 8% of the veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. The remaining 92% of veterans must pay out of pocket, use private dental insurance or go without critical dental services (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2019).

The PCC dental clinic will be relocating to Downtown Portland in 2021, which places it in a more central location to all PCC campuses. The move will hopefully increase accessibility to dental services for many. The relationship between the dental clinic and the PCC Veterans Resource Centers will be strengthened through PCC’s Student American Dental Hygiene Association (SADHA) Chapter.  Each year a new dental hygiene student will be elected to function as Veteran Resources Liaison and will act as a point person for staff of the PCC Veteran Resource Centers. This position is tasked with ensuring the collaboration will sustain into the future; expanding critical services for student veterans, while providing dental hygiene students with an opportunity to serve and learn!

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2020 Oregon Legislative Session Wrap-Up

ODHA supported the following dental-related bills during the 2020 Oregon Legislative Session:

Senate Bill 1549 did not move out of the Senate Health Committee. This bill would have created a licensed dental therapist for Oregon. The committee members expressed support for the concept of a dental therapist, but they had many questions about the bill related to educational requirements and scope of practice. Committee Chair Laurie Monnes Anderson is putting together a work group that will clarify these issues and recommend changes to the bill for the 2021 Oregon Legislative Session.

Senate Bill 1550 did not pass. This bill would have allowed expanded practice dental hygienists to perform interim therapeutic restorations (ITR) per an agreement with a licensed dentist. This bill is based on Dental Pilot Project #200 where EPPs are providing IRT for children in schools who do not otherwise have access to dental care. The Senate passed this bill unanimously, but it was still waiting for a floor vote in the House of Representatives when the legislative session ended. This bill will likely be introduced again for the 2021 Oregon Legislative Session.

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Remember to Vote!

The Oregon Statewide Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Political parties use primary elections (also called primaries) to determine which of their candidates will go on the ballot for the general election in November. If you want to vote in the Democratic Party primary you must be registered as a Democrat. If you want to vote in the Republican Party primary you must be registered as a Republican.

All elections in Oregon are conducted by mail. Ballots for this primary election were mailed to registered voters beginning April 29^th. You should have already received your Voters’ Pamphlet in the mail. You can return your ballot by mail, take it to your local elections office, or drop it in one of the many drop boxes throughout the state. Your ballot must be physically received by 8:00 PM on May 19^th. Postmarks do not count. If you have questions about voting in Oregon you can call 1-866-673-8683 or call your county election office.

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ODHA Facebook page

Have you liked or followed our Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association Facebook page? We are working toward moving all our component pages to our state association page - so we can house all events and information in one place.

Give us a "like" today - so that you can continue to follow the important news and activities from your association!

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Oregon Dental Hygiene License Renewal

Continuing Education Requirement

If you received your Oregon dental hygiene license during an even year, you will need to renew your license by September 30, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you might not have access to your regular sources of continuing education so start planning now.

To renew a dental hygiene license in Oregon you need to complete 24 hours of continuing education during every 2-year renewal cycle, or 36 hours of continuing education if you have an Expanded Practice Permit. Continuing education must be related to clinical patient care or the practice of dental public health. Of your total hours of continuing education during each 2-year renewal cycle, 3 hours must be related to medical emergencies, 2 hours must be related to infection control and effective January 1, 2021 2 hours must be related to cultural competency. No more than 2 hours of practice management or patient relations may be counted toward your continuing education requirement during a 2-year renewal cycle. Self-study continuing education such as correspondence courses & online courses may be counted if the course includes an examination & you pass the examination. There is no limit on how many hours self-study continuing education courses you can count toward your requirement.

You must maintain at all times current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate or its equivalent. The initial CPR course must include a hands-on element. After the initial CPR certification, the Board will accept a BLS for Healthcare Providers or its equivalent online renewal course for recertification.

To renew a Nitrous Oxide Permit you must also complete 4 hours of continuing education in one or more of the following areas during every 2-year renewal cycle: sedation, nitrous oxide, physical evaluation, medical emergencies, monitoring & use of monitoring equipment, or pharmacology of drugs & agents used in sedation. This 4-hour continuing education requirement may be counted toward your total hours of required continuing education. Your BLS training hours may not be counted toward this 4-hour requirement.

For more information, click HERE.

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Component News and 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

High Desert has postponed our May 16th CE event. We are hoping to reschedule it for fall! 

Metro East Component

1. Metro East has canceled the May CE as well as the June student event. These will be re-scheduled this fall. 
2. The annual Lois Whitford Memorial Scholarship fundraising dinner has been canceled.
3. The Lois Whitford Memorial Scholarship has selected the 2020 winner. Out of all of the submitted essays, one stood out - a unanimous decision - as the one who most clearly captured the essence of Lois Whitford's character, determination and spirit. Please join us in congratulating Valentina Martushev. Valentina is a graduating senior at Portland Community College and will be introduced at the Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference this fall. As not all of the Dental Hygiene programs utilize the WREB, the recipient will receive a scholarship in the amount of the cost of the current WREB exam. This amount can be used for any of the other examining agencies. Congrats, Valentina, and welcome to an incredible profession!

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

• Free CE (Local Component CEs and many ADHA webinars)
• Networking leading to career growth
• Community volunteering opportunities
• Special ADHA Discounts (use link below)
  http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/74110_Membership_Affinity_Programs.pdf
• Access Magazine
• Discounted conferences
• And much more!

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Affiliated Organizations

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April 2020

President's Message

Greetings ODHA Members! 

I hope everyone is enjoying the new season of spring. If you have been more stressed then usual lately, I encourage you to take time for self-care this month. For me, self-care is getting outside for a walk during my lunch break or drinking some herbal tea in the evening. What does self-care look like for you during a busy week?

As you have heard, the Oregon Dental Conference has been cancelled. This means that our “All RDH” event is cancelled too. I would like to thank everyone who volunteered to organize the event and the amazing sponsors. We appreciate you!

Last month, I got the chance to speak with the students at OIT in Klamath Falls. While preparing for my presentation, I was able to reflect on the benefits of membership and what students need to know about ADHA. These are my top 5 reasons why I think new graduates benefit from membership.

1. Local networking to help you find a job and meet dental hygienists in your area.
2. Local continuing education and volunteering opportunities.
3. Access to the latest information about our profession.
4. Advocacy to move our professional forward and protect what we have fought for.
5. Mentorship and leadership opportunities to help you reach your career and leadership goals.

The members of ODHA and ADHA that I have met over the years have been some of the most inspiring people in my life. They have inspired me to grow both professionally and personally. If I had never been a member, I would not be where I am today. I am proud to be a member and I believe that the benefits are truly priceless.

If you are interested in becoming more involved on a state or local level, please email [email protected] The open leadership positions include Vice President, Secretary, Advocacy Director, High Desert Director, Metro East Director, and At-Large Director. There are chair and secretary positions open for the local components as well. If you want to learn more about each position, click here. 

Tiffany Foy, EPDH
ODHA President
#Inspire

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Upcoming Events!

2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference

New Month, New Location!

The 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference (ODHC) will be held on Friday & Saturday, October 23 & 24, 2020 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Washington Square in Tigard, OR. Mark your calendars & watch for information coming soon!

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COVID-19 Updates

ADHA has developed a webpage dedicated to COVID-19 information specifically for the dental hygiene community that includes ADHA's interim COVID-19 policy, FAQs, and actions that dental hygienists can take today. If you have COVID-19 specific questions, please share them directly with ADHA. Here is a video message from ADHA President Matt Crespin: Watch now:

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 Looking Through the Lens - Cultural Sensitivity

This month’s ODHA newsletter is a good time to start a monthly column on health equity, diversity and inclusion. While our focus has rightly been on the impact COVID- 19 in our daily lives and in our dental offices, I would like to share an idea how we can look through the lens of cultural sensitivity to make our world and local spaces just a little better and more positive.

Culture can be defined in many ways, but I would like to present this picture to think in terms of defining culture.

If we look at culture in this global view, we can and should increase our cultural sensitivity and awareness in terms of how a person interacts or thinks and not just their language or practices. It is much easier for us to see visible signs of culture if we narrowly define it in terms of language, practices or outward appearances. But when we broaden that definition to encompass how a person interacts with another person or how one thinks, or what one’s value system is, there is no way for us to anticipate reactions to stressors or changes happening. Developing cultural sensitivity can help us to adapt to persons who have different experiences, thoughts, values and practices than we have.

Here are some things I have been practicing to develop deeper cultural sensitivity-

• A non-medical/dental person “hoarding” gloves or masks may have reason for their behavior- can I show non-judgmental sensitivity and not mention that medical and dental personnel actually NEED these items?
• A person who seems to be over or under reacting to the pandemic may have a reason for their reaction- can I try to not respond either way to them, but just be kind?
• A coworker who is panicking over hours being cut may have real concern over lost wages that he or she cannot disclose- can I offer to limit my hours so that person can have more hours?
• An over-wrought parent who is trying to find ways to occupy their child’s time is using video games and television for many hours, way more than I would think is “good for their child”- can I print off dental worksheets that are age-appropriate from dental resources such as Mouthhealthy? Or offer to take the kids for hikes or outings to a park? And do it without mentioning the hours of screen time?

As dental hygienists we have a great opportunity in the next few months in our professional and personal lives to show compassion and the willingness to do any job needed for the dental team and community in which we live. How we present ourselves with kindness and grace will speak volumes to our coworkers, friends and families. Let’s practice cultural sensitivity to those around us and hope others will extend grace and kindness in return when we fall short and need grace extended.

Doing our best,
Karen Hall, RDH EPDH

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Board Member Spotlight

Kris Johnson, RDHAP, MS graduated with an associate degree in dental hygiene from Shoreline Community College in Washington State, a Bachelor of Business Management from St Mary’s College of California, and her master’s in dental hygiene at Idaho State University.

Kris is an active member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association/North West Component.

Her experience in the field of dental hygiene includes writing, speaking, consulting, corporate, teaching, and research; her passion lives in education.

In April of 2019, Kris relocated from the San Francisco Bay Area back home to Portland to help take care of her ailing mom. Currently, she is a full-time clinician in both Tigard and Lake Oswego, OR.

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, April 24 as a conference call instead of in person. The open session of this board meeting is scheduled for 7:30-9:30 AM. Anyone may participate in the open session of the board meeting. The agenda and public packet for this board 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. Upcoming Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on June 19, August 21, October 23, and December 18.

The Licensing, Standards & Competency Committee meeting that was also scheduled for April 24th has been cancelled.

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Student Section

OREGON TECH DENTAL HYGIENE- CHEMEKETA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

INTERNATIONAL EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM - 2019 

PROGRAM GOALS: Impact the lives of communities in Grenada by providing free dental care and promote oral health.

PROGRAM LOCATION AND DATES OF TRIP: Grenada in the Caribbean Islands. August 7th - August 17th, 2019

This was the first time for the OIT Dental Hygiene Program to travel to Grenada. Although the previous IEP group provided great insight into what to potentially expect, we did not know what was to come and, for a few of us, we had never been out of the country. This experience challenged us in multiple aspects. For example, we began with no supplies and had to work extremely hard to gather donations. We barely made it to the deadline, but we succeeded with more supplies than what was required for the trip. 

Another way this experience challenged us was in our ability to be adaptable to unexpected situations. We worked nonstop for four days in the community clinics. We saw multiple children, patients with medical complications, and patients who have never had a cleaning. We never knew who would be in our chair next, but we treated everyone with the care they deserved. The work was hard, but we saw the positive change we were making in the people of Grenada, which motivated us to work harder. We were able to build comradery with the locals by celebrating with them during their Carnival and gain a better understanding of their culture. The kind and grateful nature of the locals and patients we became friends with impacted us in many ways. Never have we regularly seen patients so excited to receive dental care. Overall, we are thankful to have been a part of the IEP and make such an impact in the lives of others. This experience helped improve our ability to be better, more versatile clinicians.

The following quote represents how much appreciation we felt from the people of Grenada: “To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may mean the world.”

TEAM MEMBERS: Samantha Phillips, Katherine Li, Kyndall Marelich, Brittany Eggers, Danielle Wiles, Mackenzie Hosley, Melissa Goyins, Olivia Burger, Maira Martinez, Michelle Robinson, Carissa Welding, Sharon Crawford (INSTRUCTOR)

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Oregon Primary Election

Are You Registered to Vote?

The next Oregon Statewide Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Political parties use primary elections (also called primaries) to determine which of their candidates will go on the ballot for the general election in November. If you want to vote in the Democratic Party primary you must be registered as a Democrat. If you want to vote in the Republican Party primary you must be registered as a Republican.

The last day to register to vote in this primary election or to change your party affiliation for this primary election is April 28th. You should update your voter registration if you have moved, changed your name or mailing address or if you want to change your party affiliation You can register to vote online.

All elections in Oregon are conducted by mail. Ballots for this primary election will be mailed to registered voters beginning April 29th. You can return your ballot by mail, take it to your local elections office, or drop it in one of the many drop boxes throughout the state. Your ballot must be physically received by 8:00 PM on May 19th. Postmarks do not count. If you have questions about voting in Oregon you can call 1-866-673-8683 or call your county election office.

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ODHA Facebook page

Have you liked or followed our Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association Facebook page? We are working toward moving all our component pages to our state association page - so we can house all events and information in one place.

Give us a "like" today - so that you can continue to follow the important news and activities from your association!

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Component News and 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

Welcome Brittaniy, High Desert Chair

Brittaniy Buckingham, BS EPDH
Membership and ODHA Leadership

I decided to become a member of ADHA/ODHA because of the benefits not only to myself, but also the profession of dental hygiene. I feel encouraged that as a member I can learn about special events and continuing education, as well as professional networking.  As a member I am confident that if I have any questions or concerns with the practice of dental hygiene or dentistry overall, I can reach out to ODHA for support. With an ADHA membership I have access to valuable resources to promote myself as a hygienist as well as a leader in the community and at the dental office.

Not only am I a member of ODHA and ADHA, I am a component chair for the High Desert district of Oregon. I wanted to be more involved with ODHA because I love being able to offer support to those who are trying to improve the practice of Dental hygiene. I enjoy planning events and offering support to local leadership for encouraging involvement of ODHA.

Metro East Component

Our March meeting was cancelled due to instructor illness. We will reschedule.

We did have a wonderful community outreach at the Compassion clinic March 7th. We set up 4 mobile chairs and had 7 students from Mt Hood serve un-insured community members. One community member had cancer and had begun chemotherapy. His physician wanted him to have oral preventive therapies. He could not afford it, so waited for this clinic to have care. He and his wife spoke no English but communicated very effectively their gratitude.

There was no April meeting to encourage everyone to go to the ODC - which is cancelled.

Next meeting:
May 13, 2020 | 6:00- 8:30 | 2574 Troy Ct., West Linn 
This course will be taught by Karan Bershaw and will be on Integrating Preventive Strategies into our practices as we implement Caries Control. 

North West Component

Hello from your NW directors, Leslie & Kris,

Before COVID-19 pandemic struck, we had a CE course on February 20^th at St Vincent’s Hospital in Souther Auditorium from 6-8pm.  Kris Johnson spoke on “A Look at the National Landscape of Dental Hygiene Practice and Licensure” She discussed the results of her graduate research regarding what it takes as a new graduate of a dental hygiene program to become licensed in our states across the Nation. She also addressed future work models, what that might look like for hygienists, and how it relates to our level of education.

Given the current self-quarantine, stay tuned for updates on our next CE course (May). We’re hoping all will be well and back to normal by then, if not we may be presenting via Zoom!

March 31, 2020 | 6:00 pm | Location: Zoom Meeting
Pacific University Seniors present their Capstone projects.

South West Component

Our most recent CE was in Eugene on January 23, 2020 covering "The Dental Hygienist's Role in Sleep Apnea Care" by Dr. John Sullivan and Nancy Lashley-Sullivan. We had about 12 members learn about signs that we can see in our patients that may be suffering from Sleep apnea.  We also got more information about what sleep apnea is and how it effects our bodies.  We also covered the CPAP and mouth appliances that open the airway to prevent sleep apnea from occurring.  We also offered a light snack of veggies and chips with water to drink. The Sullivan’s brought cookies to share and they were yummy!  Members also got a chance to get one of two $10 Dutch Bro Gift cards.

We also had a South West Leadership Planning Meeting on Feb 20, 2020. Primary discussion was about remaining year CE and begin planning for 2020-2021 season.  Our group is hoping to bring Colgate sponsored speaker Jamie Collins next season to discuss "Growing Vaping and Oral Health Concerns" to our component and would like to do a sort of "South West tour" with her presentation, such as present in Eugene, then Medford, and maybe even go to the coastal town. However, we need to have at least 50 people at each meeting site for Colgate to sponsor her.  If you or your think your office would be interested in having her come to our component area, please contact our Director, Paige Holt or Chair, Jamie Christianson.  Also, we wanted you to know that these meeting are open to any member that wants to participate but we must know ahead of time as we do most of these meeting via ZOOM.

Lastly, on March 19, 2020 will be our last component CE for the 2019-2020 season due to the growing concerns of the COVID -19 virus and following social distancing.  South West team leaders decided to switch this class to Online last week. We hope this helps those that want to attend by not otherwise due to distance as well. This will be our first all ZOOM - CE meeting for our component, so I ask for your patience as we learn how to navigate through it. Then perhaps if it goes well, then we can even look at this being an option in the future.

March 31, 2020 | 6:00 pm | Location: Zoom Meeting
Practical Ergonomics for the Dental Professional: Be a part of the Movement by Brian Wilkinson

Items donated to Women’s Care from South West component of ODHA in 2019.These items were collected from the Eugene location CE in September and October:

• 208 toothpastes
• 23 toothbrushes
• 91 flosses
• 52 TePe easy picks
• 12 proxy - brushes

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

• Free CE (Local Component CEs and many ADHA webinars)
• Networking leading to career growth
• Community volunteering opportunities
• Special ADHA Discounts (use link below)
  http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/74110_Membership_Affinity_Programs.pdf
• Access Magazine
• Discounted conferences
• And much more!

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Affiliated Organizations

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March 2020

President's Message

Greetings ODHA Members! 

Welcome to March - and Dental Assistants Recognition Week (March 1-7)! Dental assistants are vital to our dental teams. I am grateful for the dental assistants that have I been privileged to work with during my dental hygiene career. I hope you will take the time to show your appreciation to the dental assistants you work with this month.

Don’t forget that registration is now open for the Oregon Dental Conference in Portland, OR from April 2-4, 2020. Be sure to check out the schedule and course descriptions for Tieraona Low Dog and Katrina Sanders. Also, please mark your calendars to attend ODHA’s annual “All RDH” Celebration at ODC on Saturday, April 4, 2020 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm in room G131-132. This year, we have secured a larger space and plan to have the dental hygiene students present their poster presentations. We will also have light refreshments and snacks to enjoy. Come support the students and get some fun swag from our sponsors!

During the conference I plan to be at the ODHA table #21 in the Oregon Ballroom Lobby. Please stop by to pick up your “Member” ribbon and say hi. I would love to personally meet each and every one of you! Your membership is important, and I want to learn how I can better support YOU!

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. We want to hear how you bring awareness to oral cancer in your community. Send your inspiring stories and photos to Laura Vanderwerf to include in our upcoming newsletter!

Tiffany Foy, EPDH
ODHA President
#Inspire

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Meet our Delegates!

Laura Vanderwerf, Chair

I’m Laura Vanderwerf and this is my second year as an elected delegate for ODHA and chair, I also serve as ODHA’s secretary. I believe serving our organization is very important, and being a delegate, representing Oregon Hygienist’s and bringing our voice to ADHA’s annual meeting an honor and privilege. If anyone is interested in what being a delegate entails, or has any questions, concerns or comments, do not hesitate to reach out!  I would be happy to answer any question I can or refer you to our District XII Trustee!

Paige Holt
I’ve been a hygienist for twenty years now. I graduated from OIT in Klamath Falls with my bachelor’s degree, emphasis in business and teaching. I became a part of my local component in southern Oregon and in 2013 I became delegate: 2015 as alternate to Nashville, then went as delegate in 2016, in Pittsburgh. The support of other officers and guidance from component leaders and members made this an amazing experience to be a part of. I gained leadership ability and my voice I find very valuable. I really enjoyed meeting other hygienists around the country and District XII and can now count them as friends. The relationships and knowledge I received motivate me and have supported me in my career since and have spurred me on to continuing to be a part of the local component as Director and President of SW component, 2013-2017. And now as Director 2019-2021 and Delegate 2019-2021. I look forward to serving and as delegate of ODHA in 2020 in Nawlins.

Kyle Johnstone
Kyle started his dental career in the United States Navy as a Dental Technician, being trained as a Dental Assistant and Dental Lab Tech. He spent his one enlistment on the USS Ronald Reagan, deploying once to the Persian Gulf on an aircraft carrier based out of San Diego at that time.

Kyle graduated from Pacific University’s Dental Hygiene program about a week before starting Pacific University’s Master of Healthcare Administration program. Kyle worked full-time with Willamette Dental as a hygienist and piloted restorative hygiene in the pediatric dental setting while in grad school. This is also when he transitioned to the management team at Willamette Dental Group. After a few years with Willamette, he started with Virginia Garcia (VG) Memorial Health Center.

At Virginia Garcia, Kyle managed the McMinnville and Newberg VG Dental Clinics while also providing hygiene services to patients in Newberg for almost four years. He took his MHA degree and experience to Providence Medical Group in Hillsboro, Oregon. While there, he learned much about medical integration but really yearned for Dental.

With a fresh knowledge of medical integration, Kyle utilized his Expanded Practice Permit to work in the Capitol Dental Outreach program at a medical center and homeless resource center. During his time at Capitol Dental, he helped develop and streamline many policies and workflows while training other clinicians on how to most effectively practice tele-dentistry.

While at Capitol, the Dental Director of Clackamas County Health Centers reached out and asked him to join the team. As a dyad with the Dental Director, Kyle currently works as the Dental Clinic Operations Manager for Clackamas County.

Kyle has been involved with the Washington County Dental Hygienists’ Association in multiple roles. He has been or is currently involved with ODHA as a Treasurer, Vice President; and Budget Committee member. Kyle has been involved over multiple years at the ADHA level as a National Delegate and Alternate Delegate.

Meet our Alternate Delegates!

Brandy Cowen 
Brandy is an Assistant Professor and Junior Clinic Lead in the Pacific University School of Dental Hygiene Studies. She is a Texas native and graduated from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Brandy serves as the Alternate Delegate for the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association, and she is an active member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, American Dental Education Association, Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention, Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association.

Tiffany Foy
My name is Tiffany Foy and I am currently your President of ODHA. I am looking forward to attending and representing Oregon as an Alternate Delegate this year at the ADHA House of Delegates in New Orleans, LA. In 2017, I went to my first ADHA conference and it was an amazing experience. That same year I was an Alternate Delegate for the first time. While attending the installation of the new ADHA President and the House of Delegates, I felt like I was a part of history in the making for the dental hygiene profession. ADHA is working hard to move our profession forward on a national level. It was inspiring to meet and interact with the ADHA leaders and fellow Delegates from the across the country in person. As Delegates and Alternate Delegates, we work hard during the year to prepare for these important national meetings. It is an honor to work with our amazing District XII Trustee, Annette Lincicome, and all the leaders from our district. 

Jennifer Lusk
Jennifer Lusk is a Registered Dental Hygienist who works in private practice and as an Adjunct Clinical Faculty member at Pacific University where she works with both Junior and Senior students in the dental hygiene clinic.

Jennifer believes that working in private practice helps maintain her skill set, develop relationships with clients, and fulfill her desire to serve others. Working with students in the University environment enriches Jennifer’s life by teaching not only the skills necessary to be a dental hygienist but the importance of dental hygiene and the role hygienists play within the dental community.

Jennifer has served as the Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association’s Northwest Component Secretary and has volunteered at both “Project Homeless” in Hillsboro and “Give Kids A Smile” held annually at Pacific University’s Dental Hygiene Clinic. One of her responsibilities at Pacific University has been to assist students at the Boys and Girls Club in Salem.

Jennifer is not only a member of the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) on the national and state levels but also the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). While in dental hygiene school Jennifer was president of the school chapter and served as a Student Delegate at the ADEA annual conference. She also held a position on ADEA’s Dental Hygiene Centralized Application Service (DHCAS) committee.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Pacific University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from California State University Long Beach. She is also an Expanded Practice Dental Hygienist.

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Leadership Development Committee

(L to R) Laura Vanderwerf - Chair, Lori Killen Aus, Sandra Busch

The Leadership Development Committee met for the first time on January 26, 2020 at Lori Killen Aus’ house. Thank you, Lori, for not only hosting, but providing scrumptious scones and finger sandwiches with a lovely tea.

Future plans are to implement “coffee talks” at each of the dental hygiene programs, allowing students to interact with committee members. Starting a mentoring program, where ODHA members can be connected to a current dental hygiene student, having or participating in “grad nights”.

We will continue to meet quarterly to find ways to encourage membership to become involved either on a local or state level. Involvement can be as small as helping with a component meeting, joining a committee or holding an office at the state level.

Our next meeting will be May 2, 2020. If you are interested in joining our committee contact Laura Vanderwerf, LDC chair.

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OPHA Statement on Water Fluoridation

On January 17, 2020 the Board of Directors for the Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA) voted unanimously to approve statements on climate change, water fluoridation, and Public Charge. These statements are intended to clarify OPHA’s organizational stance on these important public health issues. Click here to view their statement on water fluoridation and click here to learn more about OPHA.

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Update Management has a new Vice President of Operations!

Danielle Siver came on board at Update Management in January of 2020 as the Vice President of Operations but has worked with the Update team for years in her vast Association career.

Dani is one of the only people at Update who never took a marketing class in college, her science background provides an analytical balance to an office of creative thinkers. Her non-profit and technical trade association career includes founding one of Oregon’s most successful charter schools, starting a nationally respected event management firm with her family and a stint at a software company. She is known in the community for developing impactful programs, generating revenue, hacking technology and optimizing talent.

The Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association is Dani's first healthcare client and she is excited to represent ODHA's work. Her mother is a retired hygienist and was a graduate of PCC's class of 1982. As a single mother, nearly 3,000 miles from family, she was able to provide for her daughters and made life long friendships. Dani is motivated to bring a first class member experience, leadership support and new opportunities to enhance ODHA's presence in the dental community.

Dani loves cooking, craft cocktails, gardening and travel. Likewise, her two boys have wanderlust and an expensive bucket list. To blow off steam you’ll find Dani in a hot yoga studio or cycle class.

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Pacific Faculty Receive ADEA Scholarships

Two faculty members from the dental hygiene program at Pacific University have been chosen to receive scholarships from the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). Katie Bell will receive the ADEA/Sigma Phi Alpha Linda DeVore Scholarship. This $1,500 scholarship is awarded to an individual pursuing allied dental education study at the baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degree level. Katie is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree through Northeastern University. Mónica Sarmiento will receive the ADEA Faculty of Color Tuition Scholarship for Professional Development. This scholarship covers the tuition cost of the ADEA Summer Program for Emerging Academic Leaders. Since 2014, this scholarship has been awarded to 19 individuals; Mónica will be the first dental hygiene faculty member to receive this award.  All other recipients have been dental school faculty.

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Student Section

Pacific University

Junior Officers: (From L to R) Fiona Phetnouvong, Destyne Johnson and Brooke Hein

Fiona Phetnouvong - Hi, I'm Fiona! I am a junior in the dental hygiene program at Pacific University. I was previously a dental assistant for six years and wanted to pursue my dream career in dental hygiene. I have a beautiful little girl and fiancé that have been my biggest support. I am very thankful and humble that my peers had nominated me as one of the three student officers of ADHA. I wanted to hold the Secretary position because I wanted to have the opportunity to be involved in one of the largest organizations that represent Hygienists and advocate for my peers. This has provided me the opportunity to learn about leadership skills, participate in conferences, and most importantly the relationships and connections I have gained along the way is priceless. I want to make a difference and being a part of ADHA is just the beginning of something wonderful! 

Destyne Johnson - My name is Destyne Johnson and I am the Junior President for the ADHA student chapter. I wanted to become a student officer for ADHA because I wanted to represent the class of 2021 by showing our interest and passion of the dental hygiene profession. Coming in as a new junior my knowledge of dental hygiene was limited, however being a delegate gave me the opportunity to further my learning. I have thoroughly enjoyed representing my class and I can’t wait to learn more.

Brooke Hein - My name is Brooke Hein and I am the Vice President student chapter of ADHA class of 2021 at Pacific University. To become an ADHA student officer means that I get to help represent my peers at a local, state, and potentially national level. That’s something I am proud of.

Senior Officers: (L to R) Hannah Swenson, Alex Peña, Carlin Chung

Hannah Swenson - My name is Hannah Swenson and I am the class of 2020’s Vice President for the American Dental Hygiene Association student chapter at Pacific University. Becoming an officer of this association intrigued me as I wanted to be a voice for my class through our journey. Dental hygiene school is extremely rewarding but there’s no denying that it also brings challenges we’ve never encountered. Because of this, my goal as a delegate is to encourage my fellow classmates to keep the environment positive between each other and patient care, while maintaining a balance of school and home-life. I hope to be an advocate for my class and continue to grow in the field of dentistry. 

Alex Peña - My name is Alexandria (Alex) Peña and I am the senior President of the American Dental Hygiene Association student chapter for the class of 2020 at Pacific University for the second year in a row. I enjoy being a voice for my peers and providing resources to help thrive in the health field. At Pacific University, we hold monthly meetings for the ADHA student chapter and all students are to attend the meetings in order to remain active in the association. We work together in forming public health opportunities, volunteer work and promotion of the oral cavity and overall health. The collaboration of junior and senior students through the student association meetings has strengthened my peers and my ability to delegate and develop leadership skills by setting core examples of success. Staying engaged with the association empowers students by offering a breadth of knowledge for what dental hygiene has to offer. Being an active student member of the American Dental Hygiene Association has enlightened me with the expansive amount of education that the ADHA has to offer. By helping to plan and lead monthly ADHA meetings at Pacific University I have learned about dental strategies to provide the highest quality of care which has ensured my belief for a bright future after and during student life. 

Carlin Chung - My name is Carlin and I am the secretary for the ADHA student chapter. My reasons to jump into this role included my desire to connect with and to represent my classmates and profession in a way that would utilize my strengths. As secretary, I have been able to aid in planning and organizing student meetings and events. Supporting my classmates in both big and small ways has been a joy during my time in the program.

Oregon Institute of Technology (Klamath Falls)

Dental Hygiene Students at Oregon Tech Deliver Services to Rural Populations in Jamaica - The trip was part of the International Externship Program, which provides students the opportunity to travel outside the United States and provide dental care in nontraditional settings and within new cultures.

Six students and two faculty members from Oregon Institute of Technology’s dental hygiene program in Klamath Falls traveled to Montego Bay, Jamaica in September 2019 to provide dental care to underserved populations in rural areas.

The trip was part of the International Externship Program (IEP), which provides students the opportunity to travel outside the United States and provide dental care in nontraditional settings and within new cultures. The goal is to, not only provide much needed dental care to underserved populations, but also provide students an opportunity to develop confidence, skills, and a passion for community service. These skills can benefit them in future work settings such as public health, dental missions, rural health and mobile dentistry. This is a commitment by each team member, as they must each raise $2,700 through private funds, donations and fundraising events.

The 2019 IEP team members were Breanna Bass, Shayla Engelbrecht, Kailey Flockoi, Melanie Fournet, Megan Schrock, and Allison Wood. Faculty instructors coordinating and traveling with the students were Jeannie Bopp and Lois Goeres. Rural sites were selected by Great Shape Inc. where clinics were set up in churches or community buildings. Students learned to deal with hot, humid conditions, power outages, old equipment, and long bus rides to the sites on very crude narrow roads, up to an hour long each way.

The people of Jamaica were extremely grateful and appreciative of any care they received.  They showed appreciation with gifts of coconuts, avocados, dancing, and traditional Jamaican food.  They had little to give but their smiles and appreciation were reward enough.

• “The trip had it all, work, sweat, tears, laughs, fun, and memories that will last a lifetime” (Allison Wood).
• “I will forever cherish this experience and everyone that helped me get there.  I hope to someday be able to provide services like this again.  It has made me realize how much I love this life of mine and cherish my dedication to this healthcare profession” (Megan Schrock).
• “We have served hundreds of Jamaicans this week and it has made my heart full” (Kailey Flockoi).
• “The people of Jamaica were amazing & the most appreciative people I have ever met!” This experience taught me many valuable lessons…”(Melanie Fournet).

Through this trip, these students have experienced the power of compassion, teamwork, and giving of their knowledge and skills to change the lives of others less fortunate.  They will be amazing leaders upon graduation as they apply this experience to their own communities.

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Upcoming Events!

Oregon Dental Conference

ODC Registration is OPEN!

Please mark your calendars to attend ODHA’s annual All RDH Celebration at ODC on Saturday, April 4 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm.

Interested in sponsoring the All RDH Celebration? Download our sponsorship form!

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ADHA Annual Conference

ADHA Annual Conference Registration is OPEN! Come and collaborate with fellow dental hygienists while attending wonderful CE!

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Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference

ODHA is excited to announce the date and venue for our 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference! Join us October 23-25 at the Embassy Suites at Washington Square, for another great conference of CE and networking. More information coming soon...

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, April 24 at the board office located at 1500 SW 1^st 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. Upcoming Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on June 19, August 21, October 23, and December 18.

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ODHA Facebook page

Have you liked or followed our Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association Facebook page? We are working toward moving all our component pages to our state association page - so we can house all events and information in one place.

Give us a "like" today - so that you can continue to follow the important news and activities from your association!

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Component News and 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

• We had a successful CE on Thursday Feb 13th titled Nutrition: You Really Are What You Eat!  We had 27 attendees.
• We have a planning meeting on Monday 17th at 6pm. Location: Starbucks across from Fred Meyer. We will be planning our May 16th CE events.
• We also want to welcome Brittaniy Buckingham to the High Desert Component as our new Chair - Welcome Brittaniy! 

Metro East Component

March 4, 2020 | 6:30 pm | Location: 2574 Troy Ct  West Linn, OR
Metro East will hold the last lecture in its Inter-professional series on Wednesday, March 4th.  The topic will be Oral Health from a Respiratory Therapist's View. Jeanna Hunt RRT, MHA, Director of Clinical Education MHCC, will give a CE on the role of Respiratory Therapists, and the ways oral health can impact respiratory illnesses. This will round out our focus on Inter-professional Topics, and at the same time be in line with our current Prevention focus. Please register here.

March 7, 2020 | 10:00-2:00 | Gresham
Join us at the East County Compassion Clinic as we serve those in the community who lack access to care.

North West Component

March 31, 2020 | 6:00 pm | Location: St. Vincent Hospital
Pacific University Seniors present their Capstone projects.

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

• Free CE (Local Component CEs and many ADHA webinars)
• Networking leading to career growth
• Community volunteering opportunities
• Special ADHA Discounts (use link below)
  http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/74110_Membership_Affinity_Programs.pdf
• Access Magazine
• Discounted conferences
• And much more!

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Affiliated Organizations

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February 2020

President's Message

Greetings ODHA Members! 

February is National Children’s Dental Health month. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to serve children every day in the community. Children’s dental health is a strong determinant for their overall health and how well they do in school. Thank you to those dental hygienists that work in the school sealant programs. You are making a difference!

Registration is now open for the ADHA Annual conference in New Orleans, LA from June 11-14, 2020. I am looking forward to attending and representing Oregon as an Alternate Delegate this year. If you have never gone to a national dental hygiene conference, I highly recommend you attend this one. I went to my first ADHA conference in 2017 and it was an amazing experience. My favorite part of the conference was connecting with dental hygienists from all over the country. It was inspiring to hear what dental hygienists are doing in their communities. I also enjoyed catching up with my fellow 2016 UYP leaders and the ADHA leaders. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out! To register and learn more about the conference, go visit this website.

Registration is now open for the Oregon Dental Conference in Portland, OR from April 2-4, 2020. ODHA was honored to choose some of the top speakers in the country this year! Be sure to check out the schedule and course descriptions for Tieraona Low Dog and Katrina Sanders. Also, please mark your calendars to attend ODHA’s annual All RDH Celebration at ODC on Saturday, April 4, 2020 from 11am – 12:30 pm.

Can’t make it to ADHA or ODC this year? See what local component events are happening in your area. Go to the ODHA event calendar.

Dental Assistants Recognition Week is scheduled for March 1-7, 2020. We want to hear how you plan to show appreciation for the dental assistants you work with. Send your inspiring stories and photos to Laura Vanderwerf to include in our upcoming newsletter!

Tiffany Foy, EPDH
ODHA President
#Inspire

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New Board Member Spotlight - Sandra Busch, Treasurer

We will be highlighting a board member each month!

I’ve been married to Dan for 23 years and have 3 children: Hannah 22, James 19, Emily 16. I graduated from OIT and I’ve been a hygienist for almost 3 years. I’ve worked in public health and currently in private practice.

I hope to see Dental Therapists become providers in the state of Oregon. It is very important to me to see underserved populations get the care they need.

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ODHA Representative to ORHA

Mary Ann Wren, EPDH has been appointed to serve as ODHA’s representative to the Board of Directors of the Oregon Rural Health Association (ORHA). Mary Ann is the Manager of Community Care for Advantage Dental from DentaQuest. She works with a team of EPDHs who provide community-based care in rural settings throughout Oregon. Mary Ann’s current position allows her to collaborate with community stakeholders to develop and implement community-based dental services in order to create alternative points of access to care. She has worked on Community Health Assessments as well as Community Health Improvement Plans in Central and Eastern Oregon which has broadened her knowledge of the needs of rural Oregon.

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. This year’s Oregon Rural Health Conference will be held October 7-9, 2020 in Bend, Oregon. For more information about ORHA click here.

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ODHA Member Receives ADHA Community Service Grant

Congratulations to Kathy Moore, EPDH, MS who has received a $2,500 ADHA Institute for Oral Health Mars Wrigley Foundation Community Service Grant. The Mars Wrigley Foundation's Healthier Smiles Grant Program awards grants to applicants who are involved in a specific community health project that improves the public’s oral health and provides oral health education.

Kathy is a full-time clinical instructor for the dental hygiene program at Pacific University. She supervises dental hygiene students while they provide care to residents at senior centers in their community. Although these services are provided at a reduced fee, many residents are still unable to afford care. This grant will allow these residents to get much needed oral health care, and help prepare future dental hygienists to feel comfortable working with and caring for the elderly population.

The ADHA Institute of Oral Health Community Service Grant Program encourages dental hygienists to develop and implement community health projects. This grant program was envisioned as a way to empower dental hygiene professionals to respond to the oral health concerns of their community. For more information click on ADHA Community Service Grants.

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Lois Whitford Scholarship

The Lois Whitford Memorial Scholarship dinner will be held April 25, 2020. This is a very popular event honoring the profession of dental hygiene through the lens of our former teacher and colleague, Lois. The theme this year will be Italian dishes inspired by a recent trip through Tuscany. The food is good, the conversation and fun times are incredible! Please contact Lori Killen Aus to reserve your place at the table.

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Oregon Dental Conference

ODC Registration is OPEN!

Please mark your calendars to attend ODHA’s annual All RDH Celebration at ODC on Saturday, April 4 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm.

Interested in sponsoring the All RDH Celebration? Download our sponsorship form!

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ADHA Annual Conference

ADHA Annual Conference Registration is OPEN! Come and collaborate with fellow dental hygienists while attending wonderful CE!

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ODHA Facebook page

Have you liked or followed our Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association Facebook page? We are working toward moving all our component pages to our state association page - so we can house all events and information in one place.

Give us a "like" today - so that you can continue to follow the important news and activities from your association!

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, February 21, 2020 at the board office located at 1500 SW 1^st 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. Upcoming Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on April 24, June 19, August 21, October 30 and December 18.

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2020 Oregon Legislative Session

The 2020 Oregon Legislative Assembly will be in session for the purpose of lawmaking February 3, 2020 through March 7, 2020. ODHA is supporting the following dental-related bills this year:

• Senate Bill 1549 would create a licensed dental therapist for Oregon.

• Senate Bill 1550 would allow expanded practice dental hygienists to perform interim therapeutic restorations (ITR) per an agreement with a licensed dentist.

You can track the progress of these bills here. Please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley at 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 News and 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

March 4, 2020 | 6:30 | Location TBA
Jeanna Hunt RRT, MHA will give a CE on the role of Respiratory Therapists, and the ways oral health can impact respiratory illnesses. This will round out our focus on Inter-professional Topics, and at the same time be in line with our current Prevention focus.

March 7, 2020 | 10:00-2:00 | Gresham
Community Service Compassion

May 13, 2020 | 6:30 | Location TBA
Karan Bershaw RDH, MS, will give a 2 hour CE on Inflammation and Oral Health. Carrying the theme of prevention, how do we communicate incorporating caries prevention/educate and intervene yet stay on schedule? Practical application of prevention for the hygiene schedule. Take a staring role…in the DH practice of care. This course will be a great one to bring the dental assistant.

June 3, 2020 | 6:30 | Location TBA
Student Celebration

Oct. 7, 2020 | 6:30 | Location TBA
Human Trafficking and Suicide Prevention - Presenter TBA

North West Component

February 20, 2020 | Location TBA | Presented by Kris Johnson

A Look at the National Landscape of Dental Hygiene Practice and Licensure
Course Description: Take a look at the national dental hygiene landscape regarding licensure, regulation, and the future of dental hygiene practice as it relates to clinical boards, license portability, and education. Does this information affect me as a practitioner? Does it affect the public? How will this affect my career in the future? Let’s look at the evidence from some recent graduate research to get the conversation started!

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

• Free CE (Local Component CEs and many ADHA webinars)
• Networking leading to career growth
• Community volunteering opportunities
• Special ADHA Discounts (use link below)
  http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/74110_Membership_Affinity_Programs.pdf
• Access Magazine
• Discounted conferences
• And much more!

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Affiliated Organizations

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January 2020

President's Message

Greetings ODHA Members!
I hope everyone enjoyed some time off with family and friends during this holiday season. This is a perfect time to reflect on the past year’s accomplishments and create goals for the new year. What is your vision for 2020? As your ODHA President, my goal is to lead our professional association efficiently and effectively while supporting all dental hygienists in Oregon at all stages of their career.

Thank you for your support and membership! Together, we are making a difference! With the new billing cycle, I want to encourage everyone to renew their membership. I personally love the quarterly billing option. It makes budgeting easy and renews my membership automatically.

Our components are working hard to organize upcoming community service days, fun networking events, and CE courses. Have you been thinking about getting more involved on a local level? Please check out the ODHA website to see what local events are happening in your area. Reach out to your component directors if you are interested in volunteering.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and we would love to see how you plan to bring awareness in your area! Send your inspiring stories and photos to Laura Vanderwerf to include in our upcoming newsletter! Every child deserves a healthy smile and a bright future. As dental hygienists, we have the opportunity to make a difference in our communities. How are you a champion of oral health in your community?

Let’s make 2020 the best year yet!

Tiffany Foy, EPDH
ODHA President
#Inspire

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Welcome ODHA New Board Members!

New members in BOLD: (Back row L-R) Paige Holt: South West Component Director, ADHA Delegate; Kris Johnson: North West Component Director; Kindra Manning: High Desert Component Director; Karen Hall: At-Large Director; Lori Killen Aus: Metro East Director, Lois Whitford Scholarship Chair; Brenna Chavarin (new position): Membership Director; Lisa Rowley: Advocacy Director; Sandra Miles: At-Large Director; (Front Row L-R) Laura Vanderwerf: Secretary; Kyle Johnstone: Vice President; Tiffany Foy: President; Lesley Harbison: Immediate Past President; Sandra Busch: Treasurer.

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Board Profile - Karen Hall, At-Large Director

We will be highlighting a board member each month!

Greetings fellow dental hygienists! I am so excited to join the board this year as At-Large Director. I plan to support the membership committee and the rest of the leadership team to strengthen ODHA and the dental hygiene profession in Oregon.

My career spans private practice dental hygiene, community dental hygiene, public health and dental hygiene education. I have also been providing continuing education for medical and dental providers for nearly ten years. I look forward to meeting you through component meetings, conferences and study clubs throughout the year.

The leadership team values your input to move forward the dental hygiene profession into the future.
Blessings in 2020!
Karen Hall

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Email Scam Using ODHA Leader Names

If you receive an email message that appears to be from an ODHA officer and asks you to respond immediately or asks you to purchase a gift card, these email messages are scams. ODHA would never ask you to purchase a gift card or ask for your personal contact information. Because the names of ODHA officers appear on our website, scammers will use these names to make it look like you are receiving an email message from ODHA. If you check the sender’s email address, you will see that it does not match the true email address for this person. Do not open or respond to these messages. Mark these messages as Junk and Block the Sender. Contact ODHA directly if you are not sure if an email message is legitimate.

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ODHA Past Presidents

A list of the Past Presidents for the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association has been added to the ODHA website. To view this list, visit the Past Presidents page on our website. Special thanks to Lori Killen Aus, Tina Clarke and Lisa Rowley for their help in compiling this list!

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ADHA Annual Conference

Registration starts January 15, 2020!

Your ODHA Delegates:

• Laura Vanderwerf, Chair
• Kyle Johnstone
• Paige Holt

Alternates:

• Tiffany Foy
• Jennifer Lusk
• Brandy Cowen

Look for more information on who will be representing Oregon in a future newsletter issue!

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ADHA Membership

Did you renew your ADHA membership?

ADHA has moved to a single billing cycle that goes from January 1 to December 31. If paying your membership dues in December is difficult, consider moving to ADHA’s quarterly payment plan. Go to your ADHA Membership page now for more information & to renew your membership in ADHA. We are stronger together!

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ODHA Facebook page

Have you liked or followed our Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association Facebook page? We are working toward moving all our component pages to our state association page - so we can house all events and information in one place.

Give us a "like" today - so that you can continue to follow the important news and activities from your association!

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY

At the beginning of each year, the Oregon Board of Dentistry asks ODHA to submit the names of dental hygienists who will represent ODHA on standing committees of the board. ODHA has a representative on each of the following standing committees:

• Communications
• Dental Hygiene
• Enforcement & Discipline
• Licensing, Standards & Competency
• Rules Oversight.

Standing committees of the Oregon Board of Dentistry meet to discuss issues that are referred to them and then make recommendations to the board. Standing committees may or may not meet throughout the year. Representatives to these standing committees serve for one year, from April to March, and may be reappointed. ODHA representatives to these standing committees are appointed by the ODHA President with approval of the ODHA Board of Directors. This is a volunteer position with no remuneration and no reimbursement for expenses.

If you are interested in representing ODHA on a standing committee of the Oregon Board of Dentistry this year, please complete this form and email it to ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley by January 15.

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, February 21, 2020 at the board office located at 1500 SW 1^st 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. Upcoming 2020 Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on April 24, June 19, August 21, October 30 and December 18.

NEW ADMINISTRATIVE RULES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2020

The Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD) interprets and enforces the Oregon Dental Practice Act, and adopts administrative rules (OARs) to further interpret the Oregon Dental Practice Act. The OBD adopted several administrative rule changes in 2019 that become effective January 1, 2020. The OBD did not adopt a new rule about automated external defibrillators (AEDs) due to public comments that they received from ODHA & expanded practice dental hygienists (see story below). The following changes may be of particular interest to dental hygienists. To view all administrative rule changes, go here.

• BLS for Healthcare Providers– This new rule provides a definition of BLS for Healthcare Providers that indicates initial CPR certification must be hands-on and not online, and that online CPR certification will be accepted for license renewal. (OAR 818-001-0002)
• Continuing Education – New language was added to this existing rule to require two hours of continuing education related to cultural competency.(OAR 818-021-0070)

Please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for questions or more information.

YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE!

One of the new administrative rules proposed by the Oregon Board of Dentistry in 2019 would have listed failure to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) under Unprofessional Conduct. ODHA supports the availability of AEDs in dental settings, but the wording of the rule would have treated expanded practice dental hygienists differently from dentists. During the public comment period for the new rules, the Oregon Board of Dentistry received written testimony from ODHA, Exceptional Needs Dental Services (ENDS), Capitol Dental Care and 6 expanded practice dental hygienists. At their October 2019 board meeting the members of the board carefully considered this written testimony and then decided not to adopt this new rule. Special thanks to the following expanded practice dental hygienists who submitted written testimony on this issue: Lori Aus, Ilya Babiy, Lesley Harbison, Kyle Issacs, Pamela Lynch, and Ann Ossinger. Your testimony made a difference!

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2020 Oregon Legislative Session

The Oregon Legislature meets for a maximum of 160 days in odd numbered years (long session) and for a maximum of 35 days in even numbered years (short session). The 2020 Oregon Legislative Assembly will be in session for the purpose of lawmaking February 3, 2020 through March 7, 2020. Click on the following links to see How an Idea Becomes Law and A Guide to Reading a Legislative Measure. ODHA will monitor and comment on bills related to dentistry throughout the 2020 Oregon Legislative Session.

Please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley 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 News and 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!

ODHA Annual Conference Component Meetings

North West Component	Metro East Component
High Desert Component	South West Component

High Desert Component

High Desert has a course on Nutrition coming up on February 13 titled “Nutrition effects on health and quality of life- It’s true you are what you eat.” 

We are planning a meeting on January 9 to discuss the details of the February CE, planning the May 16 CE event and finding a member to fill the open Chair position in the High Desert Component. Members are welcome to attend. It will be held at the Starbucks, 61470 S Hwy 97 Suite T-8, Bend, OR 97702 at 6:00 pm.

Metro East Component

A kick-off event is being planned on Saturday, Feb 1, 2020 to begin our focus on Prevention. Jean Creasey RDH, DMD, will come to Oregon to present a 3-hour CE entitled:  Focus on Caries Prevention; Updates in Cariology, Documentation and Minimally Invasive Interventions.

This course will be appropriate for the entire dental team. Topics will include: 

• CAMBRA philosophy
• Latest in science of cariology
• Documentation (EDR)
• ADA clinical guidelines
• MI updates
• CDT coding
• New interventions coming our way

This event will be from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm with brunch served. Watch for details on location and registration.

On March 4, 2020 at 6:30, Jeanna Hunt RRT, MHA will give a CE on the role of Respiratory Therapists, and the ways oral health can impact respiratory illnesses. This will round out our focus on Inter-professional topics, and at the same time be in line with our current Prevention focus. Watch for details on location.

Students Help at Compassion Clinic

Metro East component was involved in the Compassion clinic on Dec 7, 2019. There were 15 student volunteers and 5 RDH's. This is a wonderful way for students to work outside the classroom, see interesting cases and develop techniques necessary to provide preventative oral health care to the underserved.

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

• Free CE (Local Component CEs and many ADHA webinars)
• Networking leading to career growth
• Community volunteering opportunities
• Special ADHA Discounts (use link below)
  http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/74110_Membership_Affinity_Programs.pdf
• Access Magazine
• Discounted conferences
• And much more!

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Affiliated Organizations

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Read 2019 Newsletters

Read 2018 Newsletters