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

In this issue:

ODHA Appreciates our Sponsors!

 

 


September 2021

President's Message

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately if you love fall), summer has come to an end and the beginning of fall is on the horizon.  Vacations are over and kids are back in school. I hope everyone had a relaxing and refueling summer! 

As we enter the fall season of ODHA, we look forward to planned activities, workshops and conferences that will finish out the 2020-2021 board year. We are still working on getting you those required CE classes needed for licensure renewal as well as other CE opportunities that may be of interest. Watch our calendar for updates. 

Our Professional Development Committee is hard at work reaching out to potential presenters for our ODHA Annual Conference. We have already lined up a great keynote speaker and the classes are starting to come together. If you are a speaker (or dreamed of becoming one), know a great speaker, or have ideas of CE’s and workshops you would like to see, please reach out and let us know. We can always use extra resources in accomplishing our shared goals. 

Foremost on my mind is our 2021-2022 ODHA Board of Directors. We have several positions open, and I’m sure one of them is just what you are looking for!  An opportunity to not only help your association, but also your peers as you guide the future of our organization into the next year. For those that have served on the state or local level…. thank you! I know you have given of yourself and your time to assure we keep moving toward the future of dental hygiene. For those just starting their leadership journey or those that are in a place to do more, I “DARE” each of you to search deep inside and find a way to help your organization. This can be on a small, short-term scale, or a larger more long-term scale. Look to your future and see where you want to be. The choice is yours and we have something that will fit into your availability. If you have any questions, please reach out to me and I can help find the right position for you!  

As always, ODHA is here representing all dental hygienists in Oregon!

Laura Vanderwerf, RDH, BSDH
#DARE
President
Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association

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Call for Nominations

2021-2022 Open Position Descriptions 

Each year the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association announces its “Call for Nominations” to let the membership know that the current board year is coming to an end. I hope everyone will consider volunteering and bringing your unique skill sets to the ODHA Board of Directors for the 2021-2022 year. 

Are you interested in being an ODHA leader?  

ODHA is seeking passionate and engaged members to join the 2021-2022 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. The Nominating Committee is seeking interested candidates for both state and local leadership positions. If you are interested in leadership or if you would like to nominate someone, please fill out the candidate interest form here.

Available ODHA positions include:

President (1-year term): 

You will be the lead representative of the organization and run Board of Director meetings. You are responsible for working with the Board and Association Manager in making decisions that direct the work of ODHA. As President, you will participate in all ODHA committees as a non-voting member. 

President-Elect (1-year term, moving to President the following year): 

The President-Elect substitutes for the President when required. As President-Elect, you will assist the President and other officers as requested. You will oversee and ensure the finances are aligned with the strategic plan. As President-Elect, you will participate in all ODHA committees as a non-voting member. You will succeed to President upon expiration of the President’s term. Prior to the ODHA Annual Meeting, you will set the meeting schedule for your Presidential year, select Committee Chairs, and prepare a speech as the incoming President to be delivered at the Annual meeting. 

Vice President (1-year term): 

The Vice President is a member of the Dennis Muir Scholarship Committee and keeps the ODHA Board of Directors updated on the committee’s proceedings. As Vice President, you are the Chair of the Bylaws and Awards committees.  You will assist the President and other officers as requested.  This position is elected for a one-year term. 

Treasurer (2-year term): 

Your attention to detail and general understanding of finances are needed in this position.  You will serve as the Chair of the Finance Committee.  You are responsible for ensuring accurate records are maintained by reviewing monthly financial statements, facilitate the filing of the association's required tax reports and verify that the Oregon Corporation Report is filed annually.  The treasurer will meet with the Finance Committee at least twice a year to prepare and present to the board a balanced proposed budget.  

North West Director (2-year term): 

The North West Director is the conduit of information between the state and your local component. As North West Director, you will be a member of the Professional Development Committee helping with planning statewide CE opportunities for both our virtual CE and annual conference.  The North West Director is responsible for working in close partnership with component leaders to ensure that communication is clear, accurate and timely between state and local component. You will serve as a resource to support the local component leadership in planning and operations to ensure all activities are in support of the state mission and component purpose. 

South West Director (2-year term): 

The South West Director is the conduit of information between the state and your local component. As South West Director, you will be a member of the Professional Development Committee helping with planning statewide CE opportunities for both our virtual CE and annual conference.  The South West Director is responsible for working in close partnership with component leaders to ensure that communication is clear, accurate and timely between state and local component. You will serve as a resource to support the local component leadership in planning and operations to ensure all activities are in support of the state mission and component purpose. 

Director-At-Large (2-year term): 

You are a Board Director and a member of the Professional Development and Membership Committee. The Director-At-Large assists with the planning of the ODHA Annual Meeting. As Director-At-Large, you will assist as needed or directed by the President and Board of Directors. 

Membership Director (2-year term): 

You are the Chair of the Membership Committee. As Chair you are responsible for leading the membership committee in membership recruitment and retention efforts, and you will report regularly to the Board. 

Delegate to ADHA House of Delegate (2-year term): 

You will join other Oregon Delegates at the virtual ADHA Annual House of Delegates Meeting. As a member of the delegation, you will attend online meetings with the other delegations from District 12 (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, Hawaii and Nevada), read all delegate materials provided by AHDA, and attend all ADHA business meetings and District 12 meetings! Prior experience as a delegate or alternate delegate is required to run for this position. 

Alternate Delegate to ADHA House of Delegates (1-year term): 

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

If interested in any of the open positions fill out a bio-data form and start your leadership journey.  Have questions?  Email Laura Vanderwerf at: [email protected] or our Association Manager at: [email protected].

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Call for 2021 ODHA Award Nominations

The Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association has an annual awards program that recognizes ODHA members and community partners who have demonstrated exemplary service, dedication, and contributions to the dental hygiene profession in Oregon. 

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 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 recognizes an ODHA member who has made exceptional contributions to dental hygiene on the local, state, and national levels for an extended period of time, and who is known widely for their achievements and service. It is a prestigious award, which is presented only as warranted by the accomplishments of an Oregon dental hygienist. 

The Outstanding Partner Award recognizes a community partner (agency, association, coalition, corporation, legislator, volunteer, etc.) who has worked in collaboration with the ODHA to advance the dental hygiene profession. Community partners are essential to achieving ODHA’s mission to provide advocacy, professional development and networking opportunities for dental hygienists and the dental hygiene profession. 

For more information or to submit a nomination for any of these awards, click here. Awards nominations are due by October 15, 2021, and will be presented at the 2021 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference to be held November 12 & 13, 2021.

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2021 ODHA Annual Conference

2021 ODHA Annual Conference Registration is OPEN!

2021 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference
Embassy Suites | Tigard, Oregon
November 12-13, 2021 

REGISTER ONLINE TODAY!

 

Join us at ODHA's signature education and networking event at Embassy Suites Tigard!

The ODHC will bring the latest technology and scientific thought leaders together for a weekend of continuing education and networking. Dental health professionals from Oregon will connect with their peers and other professionals, capture new knowledge from dynamic speakers and innovators, and talk about the business of being a dental hygienist in Oregon.

Learn from thought leaders and the best in the profession
Earn continuing education credits for license renewal
Network with your peers, your component team, and ODHA leadership

Featuring Dr. Matt Allen and others with a focus on public health, technology, oral care improvements and teledentistry.

For details and registration, CLICK HERE. 

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Member News

Retirement Celebration Postponed 

The event scheduled for Thursday, September 9th to celebrate Sharon Hagan’s retirement as coordinator for the dental hygiene program at Lane Community College has been postponed due to new COVID-19 restrictions. For more information, contact Brett Moody at [email protected].

 

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ODHA Mentorship Program

Make a difference and more connections in the industry through ODHA’s Virtual Mentorship Program. 

  • Apply anytime.
  • Connect on your schedule virtually.
  • Share experience and knowledge in a safe environment. 

Learn more about the ODHA mentorship program or sign up as a mentor or mentee.

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Vaccine Requirement for Healthcare Providers 

To prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has adopted a temporary rule that requires all Oregon healthcare providers and healthcare staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

This new rule will be administered and enforced by the OHA. For additional details on the vaccination requirements, please review the full text of the OHA rule, OAR 333-019-1010, and  OHA’s Letter to Interested Parties. Questions should be directed to the Oregon Health Authority at [email protected]. 

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) advocates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) guidelines for preventing the transmission of infectious diseases. As a constituent of the ADHA, the ODHA supports the OHA temporary rule because it is based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) guidelines for protecting our patients, providers and staff members from disease transmission.

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ODHA Joins Coalition for Modernizing Dental Licensure

The ODHA has joined the Coalition for Modernizing Dental Licensure (CMDL). This coalition includes over 65 national and state organizations, institutions and programs representing dentistry, dental education, dental specialties, dental hygiene and non-profit groups working to advance access to oral health care. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association, the Oregon Dental Association and the OHSU School of Dentistry are also members of this coalition. 

The mission of the Coalition for Modernizing Dental Licensure is to ensure patient safety, increase access to care, and promote professional mobility by modernizing the dental licensure process. This Coalition is committed to the advancement of two key goals:

  1. Eliminating the single encounter, procedure-based patient examinations, replacing them with clinical assessments that have stronger validity and reliability evidence and
  2. Increasing licensure portability to allow for professional mobility and improved access to care

For more information, click on www.dentallicensure.org. 

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Interstate Compacts for Licensure 

Dentistry and dental hygiene have been selected as one of five state-licensed professions to receive technical assistance in developing interstate compacts for license portability.

Interstate compacts for licensure are intended to create reciprocity between states and reduce barriers to license portability, particularly for military spouses. Interstate compacts already exist for physicians, nurses, and other licensed health care providers in more than 40 states.

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA)is working with the American Dental Association (ADA), the Council of State Governments and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) on this initiative.

A Kickoff Meeting for Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Interstate Compacts was hosted by the Council of State Governments on August 24th. You can view the webinar & slides that were used in the presentation here.

This is an exciting opportunity to enhance license portability for dentists and dental hygienists!

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National Dental Hygiene Clinical Board Exam

The Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) has announced that the Dental Hygiene Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination (DHLOSCE) is expected to launch in 2024. The purpose of the DHLOSCE program is to provide dental and/or dental hygiene boards with information concerning whether a dental hygiene candidate possesses the level of clinical judgment and skills required for entry-level safe practice of dental hygiene.  

The DHLOSCE will be a valid and reliable examination that has been professionally developed. It will assess clinical skills including the ability to apply clinical dental hygiene knowledge and skills in a problem-solving context. The DHLOSCE will not use human subjects or manikins to demonstrate clinical skills. 

The DHLOSCE will be a national examination with no variation in examination content based on the region of the country where it is administered, nor will it vary based on differing curricula among dental hygiene programs. An analysis of dental hygiene practice will be used to determine the content for the DHLOSCE. 

For more information, click on https://www.ada.org/en/jcnde/examinations/dental-hygiene-licensure-objective-structured-clinical-exam

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Commission on Dental Competency Assessment and the Western Regional Examining Board

The Commission on Dental Competency Assessment and the Western Regional Examining Board, the two leading dental competency assessment organizations in the United States, are pleased to announce their intention to combine into one organization to further serve the oral health professions. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on June 15, 2021, outlining the intent of the merger.

The new entity will be known as CDCA-WREB. Together, the merged entity will administer the ADEX exams which are accepted in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico as the basis for initial licensure for dentists and dental hygienists. The existing Boards of Directors of CDCA and WREB will combine to provide governance oversight to the combined entity with equal representation from both Boards.

The transition to fully operationalize the merger is expected to be ongoing throughout 2022. During this year, the combined organization will implement best practices from both organizations to create new processes to better serve all key constituencies. The combined organization intends to administer both the ADEX exam and the current WREB exam throughout 2022 and will begin to administer only the ADEX exam at all locations for the Class of 2023. CDCA-WREB will maintain two offices to best serve schools and candidates throughout North America. Exams will be administered in manikin, patient and computer based OSCE formats that satisfy state board requirements.

Dr. Rob Lauf, President of WREB states: “Members of the Boards of Directors of both organizations enthusiastically and unanimously support this plan and recognize the need to administer a single national psychomotor performance exam to simplify the process for obtaining licensure for dental and hygiene candidates and provide maximum portability.”

There is already considerable overlap. Many states by law recognize both the WREB and CDCA- administered examinations as the basis for licensure and many examiners serve both organizations. Combination is a logical next step for both agencies. In reflecting on the merger, Dr. Harvey Weingarten, CDCA Chair, commented that “the pandemic highlighted the complexity of the licensure process for candidates, state boards, and for both our agencies and expedited innovation across the industry, making this collaboration more important than ever before. This is a long-awaited defining moment in the history of the dental profession. We are the only remaining health profession that has not defined a single, national pathway to licensure.”

Together CDCA-WREB will become one of the largest organizations providing initial dental licensure testing and will have the most experienced staff in the industry. Together the two agencies have provided independent third party, mission-driven services to state dental boards for a combined 100 years. The merged entity will be able to further devote its time, effort, and resources to the continued development of the exams it administers. Having a single exam will simplify the licensure process for candidates, for state boards and for dental education programs.

For questions contact Alex Vandiver at [email protected] or Beth Cole at [email protected]. 

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News

OCTOBER BOARD MEETING

The next meeting of the Oregon Board of Dentistry will be held on Friday, October 22, 2021. 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.

Anyone may participate in the Open Session portion of the Board meeting. 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. The next meeting of the Oregon Board of Dentistry will be held on December 17.

 

DENTAL THERAPY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED 

At their August 20, 2021 Board Meeting, the Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBD) established a new standing committee named the Dental Therapy Rules Oversight Committee. The purpose of this committee is to create, amend, review and discuss the implementation of dental therapy rules for HB 2528. This historic piece of legislation was signed by Governor Kate Brown on July 19, 2021. 

The Dental Therapy Rules Oversight Committee will consist of a dedicated and focused group of committee members to draft new dental therapy rules in a deliberate, fair and equitable manner for the OBD to consider. This Committee will also consider cost of compliance and racial justice issues during the development of these rules. 

The Dental Therapy Rules Oversight Committee shall be comprised of:

  • Three (3) current OBD Board Members, one who will serve as the Chair of the Committee.
  • Three (3) representatives from the Oregon dental therapy community or organizations that represent dental therapists in Oregon.
  • One (1) representative from the Oregon Health Authority, ideally the Dental Director or their designee, to leverage their experience with dental pilot projects.
  • One (1) representative from each of the professional associations: the Oregon Dental Association, the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association and the Oregon Dental Assistants Association. 

In adopting rules, the OBD shall consult with dental therapists and organizations that represent dental therapists in Oregon. The public, dental therapy communities and all interested parties will have an opportunity to participate in this public rulemaking process.

 

DENTAL HYGIENE LICENSE RENEWAL DUE SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

If you received your initial Oregon dental hygiene license in an odd year, your dental hygiene license will expire on September 30, 2021. 

You should have already received an email message from the Oregon Board of Dentistry informing you that the Board has implemented a new license renewal system that is different from previous years. This system is now open for 2021 renewals. 

You will need to have the following images saved to your computer so that you can upload them when you renew your license:

  • a passport type photo taken within the last year
  • a current valid Healthcare Provider BLS/CPR certificate 

After you have completed the online renewal process and your renewal has been approved, you will be able to log back into the system and download your license. 

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 a few days for your online renewal to be approved, 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. 

If you have any questions about renewing your dental hygiene license for Oregon, contact the Oregon Board of Dentistry at 971-673-3200 or [email protected].

 

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 at [email protected].

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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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Oregon Public Health Association 2021 Virtual Annual Conference & Meeting

The Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA) will hold their 2021 OPHA Virtual Annual Conference & Meeting, October 11-12, 2021. Since 1944 public health leaders, professionals, educators, advocates, students and stakeholders have come together to share the latest in research, programs, and information. You will find the latest in public health research and trends, focused learning sessions, thought-provoking speakers, and plenty of networking opportunities. This conference & meeting will be held virtually, so no travel will be required

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. The ODHA is an organizational member of the Oregon Public Health Association. All dental hygienists are invited to participate in the 2021 OPHA Annual Conference & Meeting. For more information about OPHA & this conference click here.

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Membership Information


ODHA Membership Includes:

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ADHA Institute for Oral Health

In collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and through the generous support of our donors, the ADHA Institute for Oral Health provides thousands of dollars each year to advance the profession of dental hygiene through scholarship, research and service!

They work to:

  • Develop dental hygienists’ access to educational programs through Scholarships
  • Support advancements in the dental hygiene profession through Research Grants
  • Empower dental hygienists to improve the public’s health through Community Service Grants

The ADHA Institute for Oral Health is an exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 36-3468143.

CLICK HERE to Donate to Institute for Oral Health

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Thank you to our Sponsor!

We've been fortunate to partner with Willamette Dental this year. Check out their website and job board!

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Partner Organizations

 

 


August 2021

President's Message

Can you believe that summer is almost over? Kids will be returning to school soon, and rearranging schedules to accommodate the change will be on everyone’s mind. Make sure you take some time to take care of you. Get out and enjoy a favorite activity or take a quick trip, whether with family or by yourself. Me-time is very important as it helps us be better for those around us. Most importantly, have fun!

Our committees continue to meet, setting plans in motion so that we have exciting opportunities for you, our members. If you are looking for a way to have an impact on our community and profession, volunteer for a committee!

The Professional Development team is hard at work arranging presenters for our CE Track series. This month you will be able to attend a CE presented by Lesley Harrison, former President of ODHA, titled: Geriatric Patient: Providing Patient Centered Care. Keep an eye on our website as more opportunities for CE will be added. We are still working on getting required courses finalized and placed on the calendar before the end of September to assure you have what you need for licensure renewal.

Our first cohort of mentor/mentee matchups have been made! The Leadership Development team met on July 7th and have notified both the volunteer mentors and mentees so they can connect. We wish them a successful mentor/mentee relationship! If you want to volunteer to be a mentor or are looking for a mentor, go to Mentorship Program and sign up!

The Membership Committee met and discussed preliminary survey results. If you haven’t filled out our survey yet, click here and give us your feedback. We are using the survey results to make sure we are aligning our strategic plans with membership needs.

It’s time to start looking to the future of ODHA. Several positions at both the component and state level are coming open. I “DARE” each of you to consider helping us out for the 2021-2022 year. If you have any questions, please send me an email and I would be happy to let you know what we do. This year we will be looking for the following leaders: President, President-Elect, Vice President, Treasurer, Membership Chair, North West Director, At-Large Director, Delegate and Alternate Delegate. Elections will be held in October. Get your bio-data forms in here: Get Involved!

Laura Vanderwerf, RDH BSDH
#DARE
President
Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association

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Call for Nominations

2021-2022 ODHA Officers 

Each year the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association announces its “Call to Nominations” to let the membership know that the current board year is coming to an end. I hope everyone will consider volunteering and bringing your unique skill sets to the ODHA Board of Directors for the 2021-2022 year. 

Are you interested in being an ODHA leader?  

ODHA is seeking passionate and engaged members to join the 2021-2022 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. The Nominating Committee is seeking interested candidates for both state and local leadership positions. If you are interested in leadership or if you would like to nominate someone, please fill out the candidate interest form https://www.odha.org/leadership 

Available ODHA positions include:

  • President
  • President-Elect
  • Vice President
  • Treasurer
  • Director at Large
  • North West Director
  • South West Director
  • Membership Director
  • 2 Delegates to ADHA House of Delegates
  • 3 Alternate Delegates to ADHA House of Delegates

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Call for 2021 ODHA Award Nominations

The Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association has an annual awards program that recognizes ODHA members and community partners who have demonstrated exemplary service, dedication and contributions to the dental hygiene profession in Oregon. 

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 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 recognizes an ODHA member who has made exceptional contributions to dental hygiene on the local, state, and national levels for an extended period of time, and who is known widely for their achievements and service. It is a prestigious award, which is presented only as warranted by the accomplishments of an Oregon dental hygienist. 

The Outstanding Partner Award recognizes a community partner (agency, association, coalition, corporation, legislator, volunteer, etc.) who has worked in collaboration with the ODHA to advance the dental hygiene profession. Community partners are essential to achieving ODHA’s mission to provide advocacy, professional development and networking opportunities for dental hygienists and the dental hygiene profession. 

For more information or to submit a nomination for any of these awards, click here. Awards nominations are due by October 15, 2021 and will be presented at the 2021 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference to be held November 12 & 13, 2021.

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2021 ODHA Annual Conference

2021 ODHA Annual Conference Registration is OPEN!

2021 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference
Embassy Suites | Tigard, Oregon
November 12-13, 2021
 
REGISTER ONLINE TODAY!

 

Join us at ODHA's signature education and networking event at Embassy Suites Tigard!

The ODHC will bring the latest technology and scientific thought leaders together for a weekend of continuing education and networking. Dental health professionals from Oregon will connect with their peers and other professionals, capture new knowledge from dynamic speakers and innovators, and talk about the business of being a dental hygienist in Oregon.

What you can expect from this year's ODHC:

  • Learn from thought leaders and the best in the profession
  • Earn continuing education credits for license renewal
  • Network with your peers, your component team, and ODHA leadership

For details and registration, CLICK HERE. 

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Member News

Katie Bell to Lead New Doctoral Degree Programs at Pacific University

Katie Bell, RDH, EdD has been appointed as Director for two new doctoral degree programs to be offered by Pacific University starting this fall. Prior to this appointment, Katie was a faculty member in the dental hygiene program at Pacific University where she has worked since 2010. Katie also served as Associate Dean for Interprofessional Education within Pacific’s College of Health Professions since 2018 and she will continue in this role. Her research interests include interprofessional education, issues facing graduate education, and issues facing dental and dental hygiene education. Prior to joining Pacific University, Katie was a graduate teaching assistant and graduate research assistant at the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill.

The new Doctor of Science Program is designed for physician assistants and other allied healthcare clinicians and healthcare managers. Practicing physician assistants can earn their doctor of medical science, or DMSc, in just four semesters. Other allied health professionals, advanced practice clinicians or healthcare managers can take a similar four-semester route to a doctor of healthcare science, or DHSc. All of the Doctor of Science Program pathways are offered completely online, with an opportunity to participate in on-site seminars each semester. The programs focus on either a clinical practice or clinical leadership focus through their scholarly project and clinical practicum work. Admission is open now for a Fall 2021 start to the Doctor of Science Programs.

 

LCC Dental Hygiene Program Coordinator Retires 

After 44 years of service, Sharon Savage Hagan, RDH, MS has retired from her position as program coordinator for the dental hygiene program at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. Sharon began her career at LCC in September 1976 as a faculty member and was appointed as program coordinator in June 1978. 

Sharon graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) from Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. After completing an expanded functions restorative course in Yakima, Washington, Sharon began her teaching career with the dental hygiene program at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. During her years of teaching at WKU, Sharon completed a Master of Science degree in Community Health. Sharon also completed a 6-week public health internship with Region 12 in Seattle, Washington, as well as a 6-week residency program for restorative instructors at the University of Washington.   

Sharon has seen many changes in the dental hygiene profession during her 44 years at LCC, particularly in the area of expanded functions. She has seen dental sealants, local anesthesia, nitrous oxide and restorative procedures added to the dental hygiene scope of practice in Oregon. She has also seen dental hygienists in Oregon gain the ability to practice without the supervision of a dentist in order to treat patients who lack access to dental care. Sharon has led her faculty in continually revising their curriculum to keep the LCC dental hygiene program up-to-date with these changes. 

Sharon has overseen several major projects for the LCC dental hygiene program including the addition of distance education sites at Linn Benton Community College in Albany, Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, and Lewis Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. This distance education program allowed over 70 students in rural locations to become dental hygienists. 

Another major project overseen by Sharon was LCC’s development of a full-service preventive and restorative dental clinic for patients with HIV. This program provides access to dental care for these patients while providing dental hygiene students with a unique clinical learning experience. 

When Sharon started at LCC, the dental clinic was in a small, crowded classroom with dental chairs arranged in tight rows. In 2001 the LCC dental clinic moved into a spacious, open-bay setting that was more accessible to the public.  In 2013 the LCC dental clinic moved from the main campus to a remodeled medical office on Willamette Street. With the passage of a local bond measure, LCC is planning to bring the dental clinic back to the main campus in fall 2023.  

As she begins her retirement, Sharon plans to continue working as a clinical instructor at LCC a few hours each week. Sharon sends her best wishes to all of her over 800 former students, to all ODHA members & to all dental hygienists who are lucky enough to practice in a state that is as progressive as Oregon.

Sharon will be honored at a retirement celebration to be held 5:30-7:00 PM on Thursday, September 9th in the Center Courtyard of the LCC Campus. This will be an outdoor event. For more information, contact Brett Moody at [email protected].

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2021 ADHA Annual Conference – Report from MHCC

By Ilya Babiy, RDH, MS, EPP

We just got back from Phoenix, host city to this year’s ADHA Annual Conference. It was an extremely memorable experience, filled with CE courses, networking, food, festivities and award presentations for all the well-deserved hard work of our fellow RDH colleagues. The closing ceremony was a captivating and inspirational keynote address by four-time gold medalist Lisa Leslie. This message was a motivator. Thank you Lisa for the direction you give the world!

This was the first in-person conference at the Phoenix Convention Center since the start of the pandemic. On opening day, we were warmly welcomed by the Mayor of Phoenix, Kate Gallego, and ADHA President, Lisa Moravec. A ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony started off our event; what an honor to witness! The hospitality from the locals was first-rate. Tracy Brunkhorst, RDH, EPDH represented our local hygiene component, Metro East, along with MHCC Dental Hygiene program, as the recipient of the Colgate Community Outreach Award. This award honors the dedication of our students, faculty, and component RDH mentors and supervisors for their service to our Portland metro community through Compassion Clinics. These clinics are held on Saturdays throughout the year, and provide free dental and medical care to the underserved. The Oregon delegation turned out in support of CE speakers from our awe-inspiring state: Karen Hall of Capital Dental, an RDH dedicated to public health and expanding opportunities for RDHs in various workforce models, as well as Lesley Harbison, Professor at Pacific University, who presented on Geriatric patient considerations. We were joined by our current ODHA President, Laura Vanderwerf, along with former ODHA and ADHA President Kelli Jaecks. Being in-person, seeing and dialoging with our friends, hygiene professionals, educators and clinicians from around the country was inspiring and uplifting. We learned so much from each other. We are stronger together! Thank you ADHA for putting on such an incredible event!

How this all started…

In early December, I saw an email come through from ADHA that was a last call for submissions for the awards that are given at our ADHA Annual Conference. I decided to take the time to read through and see if there was one that was a good fit for an individual or group I knew. I stumbled upon the “ADHA Community Outreach Award” sponsored by Colgate, which aims to recognize a group or individual who has demonstrated expertise in implementing a community outreach program focused on preventive health and oral health care. Immediately, I thought about Compassion Clinics, which our dental hygiene program at MHCC has been actively involved with, along with faithful partners (Lori Killen Aus and Carol Lincer) from our local component, Metro East. I sent the email to Lori Killen Aus, Jennifer Aubry, and Tracy Brunkhorst faculty at MHCC, who join in serving at Compassion Clinics together with our students. We had a very tight deadline for submission, but we got to work and pulled it off in a couple days. My hope was that this award would highlight the important mission of Compassion Connects free medical/dental clinics and hopefully inspire more practicing RDH’s and dental hygiene programs to get involved with serving to help our neighbors in need. It made my day when Tracy called me to let me know our hygiene component won this national award!!! It really does take a village to pull off events like Compassion Clinics. It has been a privilege to serve alongside some of the best hearts and hands in hygiene at these events. Tracy, Lori, Carol and I traveled to Phoenix for ADHA’s Annual Conference held June 17-20. We were joined by other representatives from our wonderful State of Oregon in celebrating this honor at ADHA's Annual Session!

To learn more about the work of Compassion Connect or to get involved, please visit: www.compassionconnect.com, or email [email protected] to get plugged-in. (Oh, and by the way, there are many non-dental volunteer roles at these events.)

Here’s some more information about our outreach efforts:

Compassion Clinics are regular free dental, medical, and social services outreach events ran by Compassion Connect, a local non-profit. The first clinic event was hosted at Mt. Hood Community College Dental Hygiene program in 2006. Since then, the ongoing clinics held each year have multiplied and spread across the metro area. Our local component together with MHCC Hygiene program, offers free hygiene services for the underserved in order to help close the gap in access to care. The event ensures patient and volunteer safety by adhering to applicable national and local infection control guidelines; with a COVID re-opening plan in place.

This is a program where a community of professionals come together to create an amazing arena to serve the underserved. The need is great in our Portland Metro area and the lack of care available for these individuals is low. Thus, we as a strong and loyal group, have formed a collaboration between licensed professionals, instructors, and students to serve this community through Compassion Connect.

Here, there is a platform to provide service through facilitating events at local churches and event centers to accommodate the setup of general dentistry and dental hygiene. The equipment is top-notch, and we are able to treat and care for people. Through a very organized process the guest enters the facility and fills out simple paperwork: medical history, consent and then proceeds with care. Since the beginning of these clinics, over 37,000 people have been served, according to the Compassion Connect website.

We see our objective of providing services to those in need being met at each one of our clinics. Patients are receiving dental cleanings, fluoride varnish and SDF (silver diamine fluoride), as well as OHI (oral hygiene instructions) and oral hygiene supplies at these events. Long term effects on our community include a safety net of basic dental services that are provided on a regular basis. The clinics occur multiple times throughout the year and sometimes consecutive weekends quarterly. This allows for patients to be aware of the services available to them and those they know who also need this care. Some patients are able to receive one service, such as a dental filling at one event, and then return for a cleaning at the next or have additional teeth worked on at future clinics.

The beauty of this model is that there is plenty of room for additional Components and hygiene programs to participate and serve the community/Compassion Clinics nearest them. Schools can develop contracts with Compassion Connect (as MHCC has) which allows for their students to volunteer at these events as enrichment sites, providing clinical services under the supervision of faculty supervisors. The experiential learning for students is priceless, and the satisfaction for both faculty and students from making a tangible difference in the lives of their community members is indescribable.

Colgate Community Outreach Award Tracy Brunkhorst, RDH, EPDH on behalf of Metro East Component, MHCC students and faculty The Geriatric Patient: Providing Patient Centered Care - Ilya Babiy, RDH, MS, EPP; Lesley Harbison, MS, RDH, EPDH; and Tracy Brunkhorst, RDH, EPDH On the Big Stage! Ilya Babiy, RDH, MS, EPP and Tracy Brunkhorst, RDH, EPDH
 Ilya, Lori, Carol, and Tracy EPIC!!!  Ilya Babiy, RDH, MS, EPP; Tracy Brunkhorst, RDH, EPDH; Laura Vanderwerf, BSDH, RDH, ODHA President  Ilya and Tracy at the entrance to the conference
 Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix; Lisa Moravec, ADHA President; ADHA Board of Trustees; Staff at the ribbon cutting.  

2021 ADHA Annual Business Meeting – Delegate Report

By Jennifer Lusk, BSDH, ODHA Delegate

I was fortunate to serve as an alternate delegate to represent Oregon at the 2020 ADHA  Annual Business Meeting where I had a small glimpse into how the House of Delegates operates and all the responsibilities of a delegate. Thankfully I was able to serve as a delegate to this year's 2021 ADHA House of Delegates and participated in the voting process of updating and revising our national organizations by-laws and policies. It is an honor to have served in this position and I hope to have the opportunity again in the future. I encourage anyone who wants to learn about and participate at the national level of ADHA to run as a delegate or alternate delegate for Oregon. You will learn so much and come to appreciate those who serve as our leaders. 

Tina Clarke, Delegate Paige Holt, Delegate Jennifer Lusk, Delegate Laura Vanderwerf, Alternate Delegate
House of Delegates

 

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2021 Oregon Legislative Session

 DENTAL THERAPY BILL PASSES IN 2021 OREGON LEGISLATURE

On June 23, 2021 Oregon became the 12th state to pass legislation to authorize dental therapy. Dental therapists are midlevel dental care providers who work with a dentist in the way that a physician assistant works with a physician. Dental therapists can expand access to dental care for Oregonians by helping dentists to provide more dental care to more people at a lower cost. 

House Bill 2528 directs the Oregon Board of Dentistry to issue dental therapist licenses to qualified applicants. The Board will adopt rules to implement this new portion of the dental law. The bill outlines educational requirements, qualifications for licensure, scope of practice, and supervision logistics for dental therapists. Click here to review the full text of House Bill 2528.

Supporters of House Bill 2528 included a broad coalition of health care organizations, health care providers, educators, consumers, tribes and other advocacy groups. The Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association was a member of this coalition. 

Thank you to all dental hygienists who submitted written testimony to legislative committees and who contacted their own legislators to support this bill. Your engagement in the legislative process plays a critical role in advocating for our patients and for our profession! 

 

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.

Oregon Board of Dentistry News

AUGUST BOARD MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, August 20, 2021. 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.

Anyone may participate in the Open Session portion of the Board meeting. 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 22 and December 17.

 

DENTAL HYGIENE LICENSE RENEWAL DUE SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

If you received your initial Oregon dental hygiene license in an odd year, your dental hygiene license will expire on September 30, 2021. 

You should have already received an email message from the Oregon Board of Dentistry informing you that the Board has implemented a new license renewal system that is different from previous years. This system is now open for 2021 renewals. 

You will need to have the following images saved to your computer so that you can upload them when you renew your license:

  • a passport type photo taken within the last year
  • a current valid Healthcare Provider BLS/CPR certificate 

After you have completed the online renewal process and your renewal has been approved, you will be able to log back into the system and download your license. 

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 a few days for your online renewal to be approved, 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. 

If you have any questions about renewing your dental hygiene license for Oregon, contact the Oregon Board of Dentistry at 971-673-3200 or [email protected].

 

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 at [email protected].

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Component News and Events

August 2021 South West Component News

Call for Adventure
By Jamie Christianson, RDH

Now that we are taking off the masks and getting on with seeing each other's smiles again, it's time to pick your next adventure. No, I don’t mean taking that wild trip to the Safari, although that does sound nice too. However, I do mean: As a dental hygienist, where would you adventure off too in your career? Or would you want to stay at the same place that you are now?

While clinical work is getting to feel more like second nature to you, why not try something new such as volunteering with like-minded individuals to continue to improve our chosen profession. ODHA is a great place for this type of professional development as we learn from one another and continue to grow.

I have personally enjoyed working with ODHA over the years. There has been a lot going on behind the scenes. I do hope you have had the chance to see the results from all of this effort put out by President Laura, our fellow colleagues, and our management team. To help keep this ball rolling our Association needs fresh minds, experienced minds, or even curious minds to continue to lead the way into 2022. There are various leadership positions open at the state level. If you are even slightly curious if this adventure is for you, then I invite you to read or find out more about them.

This year the Professional Development Committee (which I am a part of) developed a CE planning model that focuses on collaborative efforts amongst the individual component leaderships to create learning tracks, support for local community service projects, and social activities. One of those important component leadership roles is known as the Chair. This position is like the component representative at the state level within the Professional Development Committee. I am excited to see this new model in action this coming year as it should not leave anyone feeling alone no matter where you are living in Oregon.

SW component is currently looking for a Chair. I will be moving into the Director position as Paige’s term is up in the Fall. In addition to attending Professional Development Meetings, the Chair within the component helps organize leadership meetings of the SW Director and Secretary to help plan component specific events like socials or community projects as needed. The Chair may also act as a CE host from time to time as well.

While there are several different kinds of adventures you can go on with your career, having some leadership experience brought to you through your association can set you up for success on your next trip. What will you do to take that next step in your adventure as a hygienist? My hope is that you will consider a position in ODHA leadership as our next SW Chair for 2021-2023. Please feel free to contact me if interested, [email protected].

 

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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Oregon Public Health Association 2021 Virtual Annual Conference & Meeting

The Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA) will hold their 2021 OPHA Virtual Annual Conference & Meeting, October 11-12, 2021. Since 1944 public health leaders, professionals, educators, advocates, students and stakeholders have come together to share the latest in research, programs, and information. You will find the latest in public health research and trends, focused learning sessions, thought-provoking speakers, and plenty of networking opportunities. This conference & meeting will be held virtually, so no travel will be required

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. The ODHA is an organizational member of the Oregon Public Health Association. All dental hygienists are invited to participate in the 2021 OPHA Annual Conference & Meeting. For more information about OPHA & this conference click here.

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Membership Information


ODHA Membership Includes:

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ADHA Institute for Oral Health

In collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and through the generous support of our donors, the ADHA Institute for Oral Health provides thousands of dollars each year to advance the profession of dental hygiene through scholarship, research and service!

They work to:

  • Develop dental hygienists’ access to educational programs through Scholarships
  • Support advancements in the dental hygiene profession through Research Grants
  • Empower dental hygienists to improve the public’s health through Community Service Grants

The ADHA Institute for Oral Health is an exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 36-3468143.

CLICK HERE to Donate to Institute for Oral Health

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Thank you to our Sponsor!

We've been fortunate to partner with Willamette Dental this year. Check out their website and job board!

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Partner Organizations

 

 


July 2021

President's Message

Happy Summer!

And yes, it currently feels like summer as I write this from ADHA’s Annual Conference in Phoenix, AZ (it’s 117 degrees) ….IN PERSON! No masks, no social distancing, and seeing everyone’s smiling faces as we re-connect with each other. For me the CEs became less important, chatting with other hygienists and the show exhibitors became my focus and what I look forward to. This experience makes me excited for ODHA’s in-person conference in November.

The Professional Development Team has been busy speaking to potential CE presenters to give our members opportunities to fulfill requirements for licensure. We hope to have our calendar filled to the brim with several options on a variety of subjects including those we are always searching for to complete our renewal obligations. If you would like to be a presenter (whether you are a seasoned presenter or this will be your first time), have an idea of a class you would like to attend, or know a great local presenter that we need to connect with, let me know and we will work on making it happen. This month I “DARE” each of you to consider how you could help the Professional Development Team to reach their goal of filling the ODHA calendar with interesting and engaging CE opportunities.

In June our Leadership Development Team presented our Mentorship program via Zoom to our membership. Thank you to all who attended. As a reminder, the Leadership Development team will begin matching mentors and mentees, that have signed up. on July 7th, so apply here to be in the first group (remember, I “DARED” you to get involved in this back in May)!

Finally, as we start our push to ODHA’s Annual Conference in November, I hope each of you have a fun and safe summer and consider how you can become involved with moving our profession and ODHA forward. There are several positions that will be open for the 2021-2022 year… ODHA is what you make of it, we are here for you.

Laura Vanderwerf, RDH BSDH
#DARE
President
Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association

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Why ODHA Membership

Those of us who are active ODHA members understand the vast benefits of membership spanning from advocacy for our profession, CE opportunities, professional and leadership development, networking within our hygiene community, staying up to date on all things dental, exciting dental events throughout the year, and the support and community ODHA provides. We need you to help spread the word to keep ODHA strong and these incredible benefits growing! Here are some quick talking points to share:

  • ODHA membership is a 3 for 1 deal! As an ODHA member, you automatically become a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and your local Oregon dental hygiene component.
  • ODHA offers a wide array of continuing education courses- a one-stop-shop for CE’s!
  • ODHA provides a platform for networking within our profession!
  • ODHA focuses on leadership development and professional growth through various activities and workshops!
  • ODHA actively works to protect and advance our dental hygiene scope of practice!
  • ODHA offers an Online Career Center advertising current dental hygiene positions and allowing resumes to be posted for potential employers to view. Resume and contract templates can also be utilized by ODHA members.
  • ODHA members have access to ADHA publications and ODHA newsletters!
  • ODHA members receive exclusive discounts on insurance programs and other major discounts (see hyperlink for full list).

An annual investment of $329 = $27 per month = $6.33 per week = $.90 per day!!!

Help us increase awareness within our dental hygiene community on the importance and value of ODHA membership!

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ODHA Mentorship

First Mentor/Mentee Matches will be July 7th 

A Mentor will have professional knowledge and experiences that they are willing to share with their Mentee that will help them reach their full potential.

Would you like to be a Mentee? Please go to the ODHA webpage, sign in and fill out the Mentee form under Student and Dental Hygiene Programs. 

Would you like to be a Mentor? Please go to the ODHA webpage, sign in and fill out the Mentor form under Student and Dental Hygiene Programs. 

The information on both forms describes what a Mentee and a Mentor are, and the expectations of each role. The form is not long and an easy read. 

The Leadership Development Committee will match Mentors and Mentees when they meet on July 7th, and will continue to do matches at all their scheduled meetings (August and October).

Leadership Development Committee (LDC) Update

Mentorship and Leadership Workshop

After being in the works for over a year and with the help from Laura Vanderwerf and Dani Siver,  the Leadership Development Committee has started the Mentorship Program. Many thanks to their hard work!

Sign in to the ODHA webpage to locate the Mentor and Mentee forms under the Student and Dental Hygiene Programs. The information on both forms explains the expectations of these roles. The first date to match Mentors with Mentees will be July 7th and will be done at all LDC meetings.

The LDC is also planning a Leadership Workshop on Saturday, October 16th from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, “Unveil and Uncap Your Leadership Potential!" This is very exciting as it is the first ODHA Leadership Workshop. There will be guest speakers with topics such as Skill Sets for Leadership, a Trustee Video, Officer and Committee Duties, discussions and more. Tentatively, the audience will be SADHA Awardees, SADHA Student Officers, SADHA Advisors, and ODHA Board of Directors. The current plan is to open this workshop up wider next year!

Upcoming Events

2022 Oregon Dental Conference

The ODHA will once again be partnering with the Oregon Dental Association (ODA) for the 2022 Oregon Dental Conference (ODC) to be held April 7-9, 2022 at the Oregon Convention Center. We are excited to be able to meet in-person for this conference next year!

Our ODC partnership agreement provides an opportunity for the ODHA to recommend speakers for next year’s conference. The ODA provides the honorarium, travel and lodging for all speakers at this conference. Please contact ODHA President Laura Vanderwerf as soon as possible if you have a speaker to recommend for the 2022 Oregon Dental Conference. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Board Member Spotlight

Juanita Simpson, ODHA Board of Directors and High Desert Director,
Chairman ODHA Leadership Committee

Favorite Quote: "People may forget your name but they will always remember how you made them feel." Mayo Angelou

Professional Experience: 
US Public Health Service (USPHS) 23 years - retired as a Lieutenant Commander, Private Practice 3 years, Dental Hygiene Liaison for American Indian/Alaska Native Head Starts 6 months

Professional Accomplishments:  
As a USPHS Dental Hygienist I was a Clinician, Community and National Educator, Organized School Sealant Programs, Mentorship of Dental Hygiene Students, Grant Writing, National Course Director and Speaker.
I have presented in the following cities - Washington, D.C., Nashville, Albuquerque, Denver, San Diego, Seattle, Bemidji, Yakima, Warm Springs and local communities.
I was awarded the National Indian Health Service Dental Hygienist of the Year in 2003 and 2017, as well as the National Indian Health Service Junior Dental Hygienist of the Year in 1998.
I travelled to the Honduras in 2015 to do Dentistry.

Uniformed Services: 
United States Public Health Service 1996-2018, Oregon National Guard 1988-1991, US Navy 1982-1988

A Few Favorite Podcasts and Books:
Life Coach (PC), Tribe of Mentors (PC), DarrenDaily On-Demand (PC), Keep Sharp, The Compound Effect, Grit, The Body Keeps Score, E-Squared, Shoe Dog, Elon Musk, Rich Dad Poor Dad, How to Win Friends and Influence People

Purchase of $100 or less in the last six months that has positively influenced my life: 
Stitch Fix. Wearing scrubs all the time, I don’t have a lot of professional clothes and Stitch Fix has sent me clothes that I feel comfortable in dining out casually and or professionally.

Advice for a Graduating Dental Hygienist:
I would recommend getting a Master’s Degree. You may have to take a less than ideal job to pay student loans but stay focused on your goals and continue to open doors that will increase opportunities towards your goals.

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2021 Oregon Legislative Session

OREGON GOVENOR SIGNS BILL REQUIRING DENTAL-ONLY HEALTH PLANS TO REIMBURSE FOR TELEMEDICINE

On June 1, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed a bill that increases requirements for third-party telehealth coverage in the state. Among the increased coverage included in the bill was a requirement for dental-only health plans to provide coverage for medically necessary services delivered through telemedicine, if the plan provides coverage of the health service when provided in person, and the health service is determined to be safely and effectively provided through telemedicine. The bill also requires the Oregon Health Authority to reimburse health services delivered via telemedicine at the same rate for a health service delivered in person. (ADEA Advocate June 8, 2021)

DENTAL THERAPY BILL PASSES IN 2021 OREGON LEGISLATURE

On June 23, 2021 Oregon became the 12th state to pass legislation to authorize dental therapy. Dental therapists are midlevel dental care providers who work with a dentist in the way that a physician assistant works with a physician. Dental therapists can expand access to dental care for Oregonians by helping dentists to provide more dental care to more people at a lower cost. 

House Bill 2528 directs the Oregon Board of Dentistry to issue dental therapist licenses to qualified applicants. The Board will adopt rules to implement this new portion of the dental law. The bill outlines educational requirements, qualifications for licensure, scope of practice, and supervision logistics for dental therapists. Click here to review the full text of House Bill 2528.

Supporters of House Bill 2528 included a broad coalition of health care organizations, health care providers, educators, consumers, tribes and other advocacy groups. The Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association was a member of this coalition.

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.

Oregon Board of Dentistry News

AUGUST BOARD MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, August 20, 2021. This meeting will likely be held as a Zoom conference to comply with social distancing. Anyone may participate in the Open Session 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 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 22 and December 17.

SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE OBD MEETING NOTICES

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

Go to the Oregon Board of Dentistry website and scroll down to the Licensees column at the bottom of the home page. Next, click on Update Contact Info and scroll down to the bottom of the left side column. Click on Subscriptions and 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 the box to indicate if you would like to receive this information by mail or email, then click Submit.

NEW BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Sheena K. Kansal is the newest member of the Oregon Board of Dentistry. Her first 4-year term began April 19, 2021 & will end on March 31, 2025. At that time, she will be eligible for appointment to serve a second 4-year term.

Dr. Kansal is a board-certified pediatric dentist and an owner of Hollywood Children’s Dentistry located in northeast Portland. She completed her undergraduate studies and Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) in Alberta, Canada. Dr. Kansal practiced general dentistry for six years in Canada before relocating to Portland and completing a two-year specialty program in Pediatric Dentistry at the OHSU School of Dentistry in 2008. She has been practicing dentistry for over 20 years and is currently serving communities in Portland and surrounding areas. Dr. Kansal is an active member and the past president of the Oregon Association of Pediatric Dentists (OAPD) and has been a faculty member teaching and guiding dental students in the OHSU Pediatric Dentistry Department at the OHSU School of Dentistry. Click here to learn more about Dr. Kansal.

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Pictures from ADHA's Annual Conference

2020-2021 ODHA President, Laura Vanderwerf; 2020-2021 ADHA President, Lisa Moravec; 2021 Colgate Community Outreach Award Recipient, Tracy Brunkhorst
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ADHA Institute for Oral Health

In collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and through the generous support of our donors, the ADHA Institute for Oral Health provides thousands of dollars each year to advance the profession of dental hygiene through scholarship, research and service!

They work to:

  • Develop dental hygienists’ access to educational programs through Scholarships
  • Support advancements in the dental hygiene profession through Research Grants
  • Empower dental hygienists to improve the public’s health through Community Service Grants

The ADHA Institute for Oral Health is an exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 36-3468143.


CLICK HERE to Donate to Institute for Oral Health

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Thank you to our Sponsor!

We've been fortunate to partner with Willamette Dental this year. Check out their website and job board!

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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 News and Information

Member News

Congratulations to Dental Hygienists who have Completed Advanced Degrees!

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

  • Renee Alexandre completed a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Dental Hygiene from Eastern Washington University. Renee works in private practice and is a clinical instructor in the dental hygiene program at Mount Hood Community College.
  • Jeannie Bopp completed a Master of Science (MS) degree in Allied Health from the Oregon Institute of Technology. Jeannie is a faculty member in the dental hygiene program at the Oregon Tech Klamath Falls campus where she has worked since 2015.
  • Elizabeth Wells completed a Master of Science (MS) degree in Allied Health from the Oregon Institute of Technology. Liz is a faculty member in the dental hygiene program at the Oregon Tech Klamath Falls campus where she has worked since 2018. Liz also serves as Secretary on the 2020-2021 ODHA Board of Directors.
  • Katie Bell completed a Doctorate of Education (EdD) degree from Northeastern University. Katie is an Associate Professor in the dental hygiene program at Pacific University where she has worked since 2010. Katie has also served as Associate Dean for Interprofessional Education within Pacific’s College of Health Professions since 2018.
  • Jessica Luebbers completed a Doctorate of Education (EdD) degree from George Fox University. Jessica is an Assistant Professor in the dental hygiene program at the Oregon Tech Salem campus where she has worked since 2015.

ODHA Membership Includes:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 


June 2021

President's Message

Summer will soon be here, and the weather is warming up! Hope is in the air as more people are vaccinated, and it feels like people are starting to plan vacations, traveling somewhere other than here, seeing family or just taking a break. I hope you are afforded the opportunity to enjoy the summer in any way you desire.

ODHA hosted Myofunctional Therapy: The New Horizon for the RDH, which  was very interesting. Hopefully we will be able to hold another course later in the year so if you missed this one watch for the next. We continue to look for continuing education that we feel will interest our members. If you have a suggestion on something you would like to see, or do you have a CE you would like to present, please reach out to our Professional Development team.

Have you been wanting to become more involved and are not sure where you could help or who you should reach out to? ODHA has several committees that are always looking for new members to help out. Maybe you are interested in being involved at the state level or know someone that has showed great leadership skills? We have several positions that will be open for the 2021-2022 year! Therefore, I am sending out our “Call to Nominations” and I “Dare” each of you to consider how you can start your leadership journey. Check out our leadership page and fill out the candidate interest form expressing what role you would like to pursue.

Finally, make sure you save the date: November 12-13, and plan on attending our ODHA Annual Conference!

Laura Vanderwerf, RDH BSDH
#DARE
President
Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association

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Board Member Spotlight

Brenna Chavarin, BS, EPDH, ODHA Membership Director

Brenna Chavarin, BS, EPDH is serving as Membership Director for ODHA. She graduated from Oregon Institute of Technology in 2013 with a Bachelor’s in Science of 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 student’s 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. 

Kimberly Dayton, RDH, ODHA Vice President

My career in dentistry started in 1997, in Missouri. I worked as a dental assistant, in a private practice setting. While I was working as an assistant, I was completing my prerequisites for dental hygiene, at the University of Missouri. My family and I moved to Oregon in 1999. While my husband was establishing his career, I worked as an orthodontic assistant in Salem. In 2002 I was accepted into the Dental Hygiene program at Lane Community College (LCC). While I was in school, I continued to work as an orthodontic assistant in Eugene. After graduating from LCC, I worked in private practice as a clinical hygienist for 10 years. In 2014, after my private practice dentist retired, I started working for Kaiser Permanente where I still work. While working as a clinical hygienist I was able to obtain a BS degree in health science and a MS in education. My next educational goal is to obtain my restorative endorsement.

In my free time I like to go hiking, camping, and kayaking. I also brew my own beer and just finished a coconut Hazy IPA (yummy).

I have been serving as the ODHA vice president this year and have really enjoyed working with other dental hygienists, advocating for the advancement and development of dental hygiene in Oregon.

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Please fill out our Membership Survey

As the professional organization representing the interests of dental hygienists in the State of Oregon, our mission is to assist and serve individual members through active participation and promotion of the highest standards of the dental hygiene profession. We invite you to share your thoughts on ODHA membership by completing this brief survey. This survey will help us to better serve our members and understand the needs of our constituents, so we can more effectively meet your expectations and affect change. While surveys are kept confidential, we encourage you to provide us with your contact information at the end of the survey to allow us to better meet your needs. Complete the survey and get entered into a raffle to win a swag bag.  Thank you!

MEMBERSHIP SURVEY

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ADHA Institute for Oral Health

In collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and through the generous support of our donors, the ADHA Institute for Oral Health provides thousands of dollars each year to advance the profession of dental hygiene through scholarship, research and service!

They work to:

  • Develop dental hygienists’ access to educational programs through Scholarships
  • Support advancements in the dental hygiene profession through Research Grants
  • Empower dental hygienists to improve the public’s health through Community Service Grants

The ADHA Institute for Oral Health is an exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 36-3468143.

CLICK HERE to Donate to Institute for Oral Health

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Lois Whitford Memorial Scholarship and Outstanding Hygienist Award

LOIS WHITFORD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

The Lois Whitford Memorial Scholarship committee is thrilled to announce the 2021 recipients. As our committee considered the applicant essays, two rose to the top capturing Lois' spirit. We unanimously voted that both should win. Please join us in congratulating our 2021 scholarship winners!

  • Ruthaitip Glaser, Mt Hood Community College
  • Silvia Santellano, Pacific University

We look forward to seeing amazing things happen as these new graduates go out into the professional world effecting change to grow and improve the future of dental hygiene.

LOIS WHITFORD OUTSTANDING HYGIENIST AWARD

Lori Killen Aus was able to present Janet Young with her Lois Whitford Outstanding Hygienist award!  

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2021 Oregon Legislative Session

ITR Added to EPDH Services

House Bill 2627 passed in the House & Senate, and was signed by the Governor on May 21, 2021. This bill adds interim therapeutic restorations (ITR) to the services that may be provided by expanded practice dental hygienists (EPDH) in Oregon. Interim therapeutic restorations (ITR) are also referred to as scoop-n-fill or non-drilling fillings.

House Bill 2627 was introduced on behalf of Capitol Dental Care and had wide support from the dental community. The ODHA provided testimony in support of this bill. You can view the text of the final bill here.

House Bill 2627 was introduced based on positive results from Dental Pilot Project #200. During this project EPDHs were trained in the placement of ITR and then placed ITR for underserved patients after being directed to do so by a collaborating dentist who had completed a dental examination through teledentisty. ITR is intended to stabilize a patient’s oral health from further deterioration until the patient can be seen by a dentist in an appropriate setting. This project was sponsored by the OHSU School of Dentistry Department of Community Dentistry in cooperation with Capitol Dental Care.

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.

Oregon Board of Dentistry News

DENTAL HYGIENIST ELECTED PRESIDENT

Congratulations to Alicia Riedman, RDH, EPDH who has been elected to serve as the 2021-2022 President for Oregon Board of Dentistry. 

Alicia Riedman, RDH, EPDH was recently appointed to her second term as a member of the Oregon Board of Dentistry. Her second term will expire April 1, 2025. 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 who 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 Alicia’s passion to provide dental care to these underserved children.


JUNE BOARD MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, June 18, 2021. This meeting will likely be held as a Zoom conference to comply with social distancing. Anyone may participate in the Open Session 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 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 June 18, August 20, October 22 and December 17.

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Make a difference in a dental hygiene student’s life by signing up to be a mentor.
If interested, see what it is all about and sign up! 
ODHA Mentorship Program

 There is still time to register for ADHA’s Annual Conference in Phoenix, AZ. 
CLICK HERE for more information and registration.

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Oregon Public Health Association 2021 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 2021 OPHA Annual Conference & Meeting to be held on a virtual platform Monday & Tuesday, October 11-12, 2021. The OPHA Annual Conference & Meeting is the premier public health event that connects public health leaders, professionals, advocates, students, and stakeholders to a breadth of public health work. 

Abstracts addressing all public health topics are welcome and presenters should seek to make connections between research, policy and practice. This year the OPHA is especially interested in abstracts about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected your work. Examples include: lessons learned, new partnerships, new communication methods, health impacts on vulnerable communities, health equity, access to care, changes in healthcare delivery, and methods/ideas/proposals/demonstrations of transformational improvements to the health of our communities.

ODHA is an organizational member of the Oregon Public Health Association. You do not need to be an individual member of the OPHA to present at this conference. However, all presenters must register for the conference. We encourage all dental hygienists to consider presenting at the 2021 OPHA Annual Conference & Meeting. Abstracts will be accepted until June 18, 2021. For more information about OPHA and this conference, please visit their website.

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Thank you to our Sponsor!

We've been fortunate to partner with Willamette Dental this year. Check out their website and job board!

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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:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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May 2021

President's Message

April showers, bring May flowers! As I write this, the sun is shining, the daffodils are blooming temperatures are rising, and gone are the days of warming up the car to defrost the windows. I hope everyone is getting a chance to get out and enjoy the sunshine.

Last month ODHA hosted the first in our new CE series: Current Infection Prevention Protocols and Recommendations: Are you in Compliance? Did you attend? Share your thoughts! This month ODHA is hosting a Pharmacology review. Keep an eye on our website for more information and registration.

This month we are also starting our mentoring program. I “DARE” our membership to make a difference in a dental hygiene student’s life by signing up to be a mentor. If interested, see what it is all about and sign up! 

Next month is ADHA’s in-person Annual Conference in Phoenix, AZ. I cannot wait to see our fellow hygienists from throughout the U.S. when I attend. I’ll be watching how they organize things, follow Covid rules and safety precautions as we start planning ODHA’s Annual Conference in November. I am looking forward to the start of in-person events so we can all safely get-together again!

#DARE
Laura Vanderwerf, RDH BSDH
President
Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association

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Meet your Delegates and Alternate Delegates to ADHA’s House of Delegates

ADHA’s House of Delegates will be meeting virtually June 25 – 27th where they will be reviewing Proposed Policies and Proposed Bylaw changes and voting on whether to approve the proposals.  Please support your Delegates and Alternate Delegates as they prepare for the House of Delegates.

Tina Clarke, Delegate Chair

I am honored to return as a member of the delegation team for Oregon and to serve as the delegation chair and the DXII Student Delegate mentor. My hope is to use the 8 years of experience to help guide not just the student delegate from Idaho but to help our current team as well. Over the next few months, the delegation will review the proposed items which we will vote upon in June. Should you have any questions about the process please reach out to ODHA at [email protected]. 

Paige Holt, Delegate

I hope you’ll join me in attending the ADHA Annual Meeting. I became a part of my local component in Southern Oregon in 2013. I then became an alternate delegate in 2015 to Nashville, and in 2016 I went as delegate to Pittsburgh. I jumped in even though I didn’t know what I was doing. I learned from everyone I met. They were so helpful!

My experience each time was supported from other officers, and I received guidance from component leaders and members that made these trips an amazing experience. I gained leadership ability and found my voice. I really enjoyed meeting other hygienists around the country and District 12, and now count them as friends. The relationships and knowledge I received motivated and supported me in my career, and have driven me to continue to be a part of the local component as Director and President of the SW component for 2013-2017, and now as Director for 2019-2021 and Delegate for 2019-2021. I served as delegate of ODHA in 2020 in New Orleans via Zoom. While I wish I was able to be there in-person, I am happy I was a part of the historic decisions we all made last year. I can’t wait to be part of 2021 HOD! 

Jenn Lusk, Delegate

Jennifer Lusk is a Registered Dental Hygienist who works in private practice and as an Adjunct Clinical Faculty member at Pacific University. 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 hygienist’s play within the dental community.

Jennifer is currently serving as a Delegate for the ODHA and has served as an Alternate Delegate, and Northwest Component Secretary in previous years. This year as a Delegate Jennifer is looking forward to working with Hygienists across the country to support the goals of the ADHA. Networking with other hygienists is such a privilege to learn about other states and what is going on around the country in our profession. Jennifer is also a member of the American Dental Educators Association (ADEA) and has completed the LEADE program.

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 and is also an Expanded Practice Dental Hygienist.

Krista Beaty, Alternate Delegate

I graduated from Clark College in 2004 with my dental hygiene AAS degree, received my Bachelor's degree from EWU in 2008, and my master's degree from ISU in 2019. I have worked as a dental hygienist in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. I have been privileged to work in several aspects of dental hygiene: clinical practice (general dentistry), periodontal practice, restorative practice, research, and education. I am now full-time faculty at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls. I have also had experience in advocacy in both WA and ID.

In 2003, I was a student delegate to the ADHA convention in New York, NY. This was particularly interesting and moving because it was so soon after 911. I got to hear then Mayor Rudy Giuliani speak about New York's recovery after the attacks; I also heard from forensic odontologists and volunteer hygienists who responded to identify the deceased, dental hygienists who lost loved ones that day, and I visited ground zero.

I am now serving as an alternate delegate for the ODHA. I am happy to serve my state association and hope to become more involved in advocacy for our profession in Oregon.

Sandi Miles, Alternate Delegate

Hello! I would like to introduce myself.

My name is Sandra Miles. I’m currently serving in the Director-At-Large position on the ODHA Board of Directors. I also am a part-time Clinic Instructor at Portland Community College (PCC) Dental Hygiene program, and a Co-Advisor for PCC’s Student ADHA Chapter.

This year I will serve as an Oregon Alternate Delegate at the 2021 ADHA House of Delegates (HOD) meeting in June. I have never been a Delegate, or Alternate Delegate, so this will be a new experience for me. I’m looking forward to the excellent mentoring I’ll receive from experienced Delegates, and to learning about how our association brings hygienists together from across the nation with the aim of strengthening our profession.

Look for more information about the ADHA’s HOD meeting that will be shared in the Monthly Incisor newsletter later this summer!

Laura Vanderwerf, Alternate Delegate

I have been honored to represent Oregon Hygienists both as a Delegate and Alternate Delegate since 2017. Attending the House of Delegates is always an awe-inspiring event, seeing how the Delegates advocate for their states interests on important issues affecting our profession is inspirational. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue representing Oregon as your Alternate Delegate to support Tina, Paige and Jenn, and make sure those issues that are important to our future as dental hygienists are represented and supported.

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PCC's New DH & DA Facility

Dental students return to PCC but at a new facility — the Vanport Building
Photos and Story by Celina Baguiao

A year ago, like the rest of the world, the Portland Community College Dental Hygiene and Assisting students were thrown a curveball. When the pandemic hit, PCC was forced to transition to virtual operations that resulted in it closing in-person classes indefinitely.

The move was devastating. Dental students need in-person practice on real patients in order to have the skills and experience to join a workforce that is already short on qualified workers.

PCC Dental Clinic Opens
PCC’s brand new dental clinic is up and running at the Vanport Building in downtown Portland (1810 SW 5th Ave., on the third floor). The clinic offers low-cost dental care to community members who, by booking appointments with the program, help train the college’s talented dental hygiene and assisting students.

At the clinic, students also provide dental exams, dental X-rays, cleanings, small fillings and sealants, under the supervision of licensed professionals. The cost is no more than $25 for a visit, and often less. Appointments are three to four hours long and work may require multiple visits.

To make an appointment, call 971-722-4909 or email [email protected]. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“We all kind of panicked,” remembered Jennifer Osawa, a dental hygiene student. “We wondered, ‘How can this be? This is not going to work for this kind of education. What happens if we lose our skills? We would have to start the program over.’

“I think all of us, when learning new skills, are trying to build muscle memory in our hands and bodies,” she added. “We have to practice our posturing and such. A year away is a lot.”

With much hard work, PCC was able to either help dental students continue their training or complete their education.

This spring term — more than a year later when PCC went to remote or online instruction — the dental assisting and hygiene students, as well as the college’s new dental clinic return to a brand-new space in downtown Portland — the Vanport Building.

Dental Hygiene Bounces Back

When PCC went to remote operations, 38 Dental Hygiene Program students were enrolled — 20 in their second year and 18 in their first. Working with college resources, Dental Director Josette Beach was able to help the second-year students graduate at the end of summer 2020. But, the first-year hopefuls were just finishing their classroom work and beginning to transfer their skills and work onto actual patients.

For those 18 students, they continued taking online didactic classes, but they could not practice those learned skills on actual patients. One of them is Laura Loaiciga Ulloa, who said staying home was a challenge.

“I was stressed about all of my classes and my life at home,” Ulloa said. “My daughter was home, and she wasn’t used to going to online school. My son was 3 years old, and he was home too. It was very stressful. I was OK with a few terms online, and I tried to adapt to online school, but I preferred in-person classes.”

When spring term began on March 29, these students were finally able to return to the classroom for resumption of in-person classes and training. They are now on their way to completing their state-mandated 540 hours of clinical practice and will graduate from the program this fall.

Tools of the trade for dental students.

“Some of the things that we did to support them was to implement a new formal mentoring program during remote operations,” Beach said. “We paired each student with an instructor to act as a mentor to touch base with the students. We wanted the students to know that they had a connection to somebody who cared about what was going on with them and who they could ask any questions. We wanted to have a good pulse on how the students were doing.”

Last October, Beach and her team worked with the PCC Foundation and it’s “Big Give Day” fundraiser. In the end, $7,775 was raised to help pay for a two-credit “Skills Review” class for students to take before going back into the dental clinic and working on patients.

“We weren’t just going to throw them into treating patients without making sure that they had reviewed and we’re ready,” Beach explained. “The fact that the community donated money so that they would not have to pay for those extra credits to get that review class was a big boost to our students.”

The Vanport Building (vertical striped lower structure) is centrally located in downtown Portland.

Vanport Building Welcomes PCC

However, the Dental Program hasn’t returned to its old facility at the Sylvania Campus. The program is resuming in-person training at its new location — the Vanport Building (Southwest Fifth Avenue and Montgomery St.).

The Dental Program’s new third floor space.

PCC’s new third-floor area includes a low-cost dental clinic, four labs consisting of a simulation and radiology lab, three classrooms, student lounge, faculty offices and waiting area for patients. The new digs are more than three times the size of its Sylvania space, with more than 30,000 square feet at its disposal.

“It’s huge,” Portland Community College Planning & Capital Construction Technology Manager Debra Jarcho explained. “One of the things that make it seem so large is the floor-to-ceiling windows around the entire floor. It’s so much light, and it’s really beautiful.” 

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2021 Oregon Legislative Session

The 2021 Oregon Legislative Assembly will be in session for the purpose of lawmaking January 19, 2021 through June 27, 2021. The ODHA is supporting the following dental-related bills this year:

  • House Bill 2528 would create a licensed dental therapist for Oregon.
  • House Bill 2627 would allow expanded practice dental hygienists to perform interim therapeutic restorations (ITR) per an agreement with a licensed dentist.
  • House Bill 2969 would direct school districts to provide age-appropriate instruction in oral health as part of their health education curriculum. This bill was introduced last year as House Bill 4127 but the session adjourned before the bill could be voted on in the House.

You can track the progress of these bills here. 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.

Oregon Board of Dentistry News

NEW BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Aarati Kalluri is the newest member of the Oregon Board of Dentistry. Her first 4-year term began April 1, 2021 & will end on March 31, 2025. At that time, she will be eligible for appointment to serve a second 4-year term.

Dr. Aarati Kalluri is a general dentist & the owner of Infinity Dental Care in Hillsboro, OR. She completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) and Master’s Degree in Prosthodontics (MDS) at King George’s Medical University in Lucknow, India where she served as faculty in graduate prosthodontics before moving to the United States. In 2008 Dr. Kalluri received her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) with honors from University of California at San Francisco, and she was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) Society for Academic Excellence. She opened Infinity Dental Care in 2013. Click here to learn more about Dr. Kalluri.

DENTAL HYGIENIST BOARD MEMBERS

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

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

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

Yadira Martinez, RDH, EPDH is beginning her 8th year on the Board & her current term will expire April 1, 2022. Yadira lives in Hillsboro & works as an expanded practice dental hygienist with the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, a federally qualified health center that provides integrated medical, dental & behavioral health services for underserved patients in Washington & Yamhill Counties. Yadira provides dental hygiene services for children & young adults up to age 21, as well as for pregnant women & patients with diabetes, at Virginia Garcia’s dental clinics and school-based health centers. Yadira has a passion for public health & has been working with Virginia Garcia since 2000.

Alicia Riedman, RDH, EPDH is beginning her 6th year on the Board and her current term will expire April 1, 2025. 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, & oral health instruction. As a third-generation dental professional, Alicia’s passion is providing dental care for these underserved children.

DENTAL HYGIENCE LICENSE RENEWAL CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

If you received your Oregon dental hygiene license during an odd year, you will need to renew your license by September 30, 2021. 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, 2020 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, go to the Oregon Board of Dentistry website www.oregon.gov/dentistry or click here.

STANDING COMMITTEES

ODHA representatives to the Standing Committees of the Oregon Board of Dentistry for May 2021 to April 2022 are:

  • Lesley Harbison – Communications
  • Lisa Rowley – Dental Hygiene
  • Jill Mason – Enforcement & Discipline
  • Susan Kramer – Licensing, Standards & Competency
  • Sharity Ludwig – 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.

 

JUNE BOARD MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, June 18, 2021. This meeting will likely be held as a Zoom conference to comply with social distancing. Anyone may participate in the Open Session 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 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 June 18, August 20, October 22 and December 17.

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Thank you to our Sponsor!

We've been fortunate to partner with Willamette Dental this year. Check out their website and job board!

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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:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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April 2021

President's Message

Happy Spring!

It's rainy, windy and sometimes chilly….and the daffodils are blooming, so it must be the start of spring. Spring makes me think of renewal, a new start, and graduation! Congratulations to the new dental hygienists from Oregon Institute of Technology’s Klamath Falls and Chemeketa campuses. I look forward to seeing pictures of all the graduates this year as each of you complete your programs!

ODHA has been hard at work on a couple of upcoming programs. Hopefully these will be of interest and get lots of participation from you, our members.

First and most importantly, we are working on getting CE’s available to everyone (virtually), with a track for those required CE’s we need for license renewal, a track for other interesting and informative topics geared around specific themes, and a track for getting out and helping our communities. Your Professional Development team has been hard at work making this a reality for all of us.

The Leadership Development and Student Relations Committees are working on a Mentorship program to support the dental hygiene students and recent graduates as they are work toward becoming dental hygienists. Please consider being a mentee and support our future colleagues. Watch the website for details!

Finally, an organization is only as strong as its membership involvement; please consider volunteering with ODHA. This can be on one of the many committees, or leadership within your local component or at the state level. There will be several openings on the ODHA board when this term is up in November. I’m “Daring” everyone to consider adding your talents to our organization’s team! The Leadership Development Committee is developing a Leadership Workshop to help those interested in leadership opportunities. If interested, please email us for more information. It’s never too early to start considering how you can best help your dental hygiene organization and profession!

Laura Vanderwerf, RDH BSDH
President
Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association
#Dare

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ODHA Joins National Partnership for Dental Therapy

The ODHA has added our name to a list of over 130 groups from across the country who support the National Partnership for Dental Therapy. You can see all of the organizations that have endorsed dental therapy here. 

Dental therapists are midlevel dental care providers who work with a dentist in the way that a physician assistant works with a physician. Dental therapists can expand access to dental care by helping dentists to provide more dental care to more people at a lower cost.

Dental therapists can provide routine dental care such as drilling & filling teeth, placing temporary crowns & extracting loose teeth, thereby freeing up the dentist to provide more complex dental care to other patients at the same time. Dentists have found that adding a dental therapist to their practice is an efficient and cost-effective way to expand access to dental care while maintaining the safety and quality of dental care that all patients deserve.

Today, dental therapists are delivering oral health care to thousands of people in the United States who otherwise would not be able to receive it. Dental therapists are improving access to preventive and early dental care, as well as oral health education, resulting in fewer people needing more costly, invasive treatment.

For more information about the National Partnership for Dental Therapy click here. 

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Being on the Right C.E. Track

Continuing education is all around us! It’s a good thing too because as a dental professional we all need it in order to renew our license every 2 years. Over the years, I noticed that dental hygienists and dentists alike tend to either just take the bare minimal number of courses or become known as a C.E. junkie taking every class or course offered. I fall between the two depending on what's going in my life. Although I tend to go for the latter because opportunities are endless. I don’t want to be caught off guard from knowing the latest in dentistry.

It's been a year already since the pandemic changed the way we get together and it’s time for me (and perhaps other component leaders) to get back on track for planning the year ahead and beyond. As the Southwest Component Chair, the leadership team and I weren't very successful with planning any additional educational or social events past April of 2020. However, the creation of the R.D.H. Virtual Symposium and various Zoom socials put on by O.D.H.A. kept membership connected via Zoom! What a difference the distance learning option made for our members throughout our 9 counties to be able to participate at these O.D.H.A. events without leaving their homes.

In the Fall, I decided to participate on the Professional Development Committee (P.D.C.) for the first time to see how we could keep this togetherness alive even after the pandemic. Then after listening to the other members in the committee, I felt that our Association’s method for organizing continuing education could even be better at the component level. Even when a member falls into just taking the bare minimal classes. I also feel strongly that “professional development” should include building up individuals to their full potential as a dental hygienist and becoming their best self. I have felt this type of professional development recently as a member and wanted to share with you all.

On March 6, 2021 at the O.D.H.A. Board meeting, I presented a full on slide presentation with the idea of C.E. tracks to show how they could create not only opportunities for our members in getting consistent C.E., but open the doors for our members to become leaders within their local component. My ideas and thoughts were welcomed and appreciated by the Board members as they saw how this arrangement could affect all areas of the Association in a positive light. I felt heard and appreciated the time I took to present my solution to my professional Association. The Board approved my ideas for the Professional Development Committee to move forward in developing a “Required C.E. track for the 2021-2022 continuing education season. Because organizing an ongoing “Required C.E. track” that comes directly from the state level seems like the right thing to do at this time.

For several years, the required course would be sporadically offered throughout the individual twelve, now four, components. This worked very well for those members in components with active leadership. Unfortunately, with having to drive an hour or several more to the meeting itself, many other members would have to look elsewhere for these required courses. The committee felt that this way of generating these important classes wasn’t effective enough for all members.

While these required courses did bring in funds from members, potential members, dentists, and dental assistants within the local components; the funds usually stayed at the local level and weren’t shared with other components. So through reassigning required course planning to the ODHA’s Professional Development Committee, a “Required C.E.” track of classes can be accessed by ALL members no matter where you reside. Leaving the component leaders more time to focus on gathering local speakers in topics for patient care. This also opens the opportunity for our four components to develop their own community service program(s) and social events.

One way the P.D.C. plans to give access to ALL our members is through the continued use of Zoom access. Even when classes can resume in person, hopefully starting this September, there will be a system in place so that distant members can log-in to live presentations with a dedicated host to help make sure your questions or comments are being heard at the time of the class being presented. My hope is that while working on the committee, we will be able to reveal more types of CE tracks in addition to the “Required C.E.” track at the Annual Dental Hygiene Conference this Fall. Can you imagine all of ODHA leadership working together to create “Themed C.E” track or an “EPDH C.E.” track or an “Educator’s C.E.” track throughout the year?

I can’t wait to see you there! As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to know how you can be a part of this developing line of education as a member on the Professional Development Committee.

ODHA’s next upcoming course, hosted by SW component, will be “Infection Control with Layered Protection” by Tiffany Neufeldt sponsored by Denstply Sinora on Thursday, April 22, 2021 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM through Zoom. Registration will be on the ODHA website soon.

Another class hosted by SW component this Spring, “Making Sense of Pharmacology” on Thursday, May 13, 2021 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM through Zoom. Registration will be on the ODHA website soon.

To a Happy & Healthy Spring!

Jamie Christianson, RDH, EP, ODHA -SW Chair, P.D.C. member

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Metro East Component to Receive ADHA Award

In early December, I saw an email come through from ADHA that was a last call for submissions for the awards that are given at the annual conference. I decided to take the time to read through and see if there was one that was a good fit for an individual or group I knew. I stumbled upon the “ADHA Community Outreach Award” sponsored by Colgate, which aims to recognize a group or individual who has demonstrated expertise in implementing a community outreach program focused on preventive health and oral health care.” Immediately I thought about Compassion Clinics, which our dental hygiene program at MHCC has been actively involved with, along with faithful partners (Lori Killen Aus and Carol Lincer) from our local component -Metro East. So I sent the email along to Lori K. Aus, and Jennifer Aubry and Tracy Brunkhorst, faculty at MHCC who join in serving at Compassion Clinics, together with our students. We had a very tight deadline for submission…but we got to work and pulled it off in a couple days. My hope was that this award would highlight the important mission of Compassion Connect’s free medical/dental clinics and hopefully inspire more practicing RDHs and dental hygiene programs to get involved with serving to help our neighbors in need. It made my day when Tracy called me to let me know our hygiene component won this national award!!! It really does take a village to pull off events like Compassion Clinics. It has been a privilege to serve alongside some of the best hearts and hands in hygiene at these events. Tracy, Lori and I plan to travel to Phoenix for ADHA’s Awards Reception, held on Saturday, June 19th in the evening. We’d love to have any other representatives from our component or wonderful State of Oregon join in celebrating this honor at ADHA Annual Session!

To learn more about the work of Compassion Connect or to get involved, please visit: www.compassionconnect.com, or email [email protected] to get plugged-in.

Here’s our program information, used in our award application:

Compassion Clinics are regular free dental, medical, and social services outreach events run by Compassion Connect, a local non-profit. The first clinic event was hosted at Mt. Hood Community College Dental Hygiene program in 2006. Since then, the ongoing clinics held each year have multiplied...and spread across the metro area. Our local component together with MHCC Hygiene program, offers free hygiene services for the underserved in order to help close the gap in access to care. The event ensures patient and volunteer safety by adhering to applicable national and local infection control guidelines; with a COVID re-opening plan in place.

This is a program where a community of professionals come together to create an amazing arena to serve the less fortunate. The need is great in our Portland Metro area and the lack of care available for these individuals is low. Thus, we as a strong and loyal group have formed a collaboration between licensed professionals, instructors, and students to serve this community through Compassion Connect.
Here, there is a platform to provide service through facilitating events at local churches and event centers to accommodate the setup of general dentistry and dental hygiene. The equipment is top-notch and we are able to treat and care for people. Through a very organized process the guest enters the facility and fills out simple paperwork: medical history, consent and then proceeds with care. These mini clinics serve hundreds of underserved in one weekend. Since the beginning of these clinics over 37,000 people have been served, according to the Compassion Connect website.
We see our objective of providing services to those in need being met at each one of our clinics. Patients are receiving dental cleanings, fluoride varnish and SDF, as well as OHI and oral hygiene supplies at these events. Long term effects on our community include a safety net of basic dental services that are provided on a regular basis. The clinics occur multiple times throughout the year, and even sometimes consecutive weekends quarterly. This allows for patients to be aware of the services available to them and those they know who also need this care. Some patients are able to receive one service, such as a dental filling at one event, and then return for a cleaning at the next; or have additional teeth worked on at future clinics.

The beauty of this model is that there is plenty of room for additional Components and hygiene programs to participate and serve the community/Compassion Clinics nearest them. Schools can develop contracts with Compassion Connect (as MHCC has) which allows for their students to volunteer at these events, as enrichment sites, providing clinical services under the supervision of faculty supervisors. The experiential learning for students is priceless, and the satisfaction for both faculty and students from making a tangible difference in the lives of their community members is indescribable.

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Oregon Tech Dental Hygiene Program

OIT Klamath Falls OIT Klamath Falls

March is an exciting time for the Oregon Tech Dental Hygiene Program. Students from both educational sites (Salem/Chemeketa and Klamath Falls) finally crossed the finish line of their educational journey. They have completed their national board examinations as well the various clinical examinations required for licensure. And to top it all off they are officially done with school. In the middle of March both program sites held their pinning ceremonies. The Salem campus has twenty graduates, and the Klamath Falls campus has nineteen. ODHA President Laura Vanderwerf was able to attend the Salem Campus ceremony to deliver congratulations to their graduates and present the students at that site with the ODHA Future Leader Award. Let’s all welcome these hard-working individuals to the ranks of full-fledged colleagues. Several of them already have jobs awaiting them too. This is wonderful news. Please see the list below for the individuals who received special recognition and awards. 

Awards: Klamath Falls
Kylee Reinwald - Outstanding Scholar
Kylee Reinwald – Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler
Gina Moua - Colgate Star Award
Hasan Alramadan - Restorative Award
Hannah Fowler- Western Society of Periodontology
Yulia Haley- Community Health Award		 Awards: Salem
Jenny Judd- Hu-Freidy Golden Scaler Award
Iris Cardenas- Colgate S.T.A.R Award
Desiree Sinn- DH Outstanding Scholar Award
April Hester- Restorative Award
Lisa Balint- Community Health Award
Erina Joshi -ODHA Future Leader Award

 

Check out some of the highlights from OIT Chemeketa's Pinning Ceremony! Mouse over each picture for a description.

President, Laura Vanderwerf speaking to OIT Chemeketa’s graduating class before presenting Erina Joshi the ODHA Future Leader Award.Laura Vanderwerf and Erina Joshi after receiving the Future Leader Award.Students saying the Hygiene oath-1
Students saying the Hygiene oath - 2 Dr. Austin Fireside Chat

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 2021 Oregon Legislative Session

The 2021 Oregon Legislative Assembly will be in session for the purpose of lawmaking January 19, 2021 through June 27, 2021. The ODHA is supporting the following dental-related bills this year:

  • House Bill 2528 would create a licensed dental therapist for Oregon.
  • House Bill 2627 would allow expanded practice dental hygienists to perform interim therapeutic restorations (ITR) per an agreement with a licensed dentist.
  • House Bill 2969 would direct school districts to provide age-appropriate instruction in oral health as part of their health education curriculum. This bill was introduced last year as House Bill 4127 but the session adjourned before the bill could be voted on in the House.

You can track the progress of these bills here. 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.

Oregon Board of Dentistry News

APRIL BOARD MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, April 16, 2021. This meeting will likely be held as a Zoom conference to comply with social distancing. Anyone may participate in the Open Session 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 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 June 18, August 20, October 22 and December 17.

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Thank you to our Sponsor!

We've been fortunate to partner with Willamette Dental this year. Check out their website and job board!

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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:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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March 2021

President's Message

Celebrate Dental Assistants March 7-13, 2021!

Before becoming a dental hygienist, I was a dental assistant for 10 years.  Anyone that has been a dental assistant, knows that the dental assistant is the glue that holds an office together.  Their job not only revolves around helping the dentist, but also ordering supplies, maintaining equipment and helping the hygienist. A good dental assistant ensures that the flow of the office is smooth, and knows where everyone is in their schedules, always looking ahead to possible roadblocks and bottlenecks. 

So, during Dental Assistants week, I “DARE” you to thank your dental assistants. Give them a social media shoutout, let them know that you see the work they are doing and that you appreciate them.

For me…thank you to all the dental assistants I have worked with in the past, and especially to our current dental assistants, Katy Broyles and Denise Kaufmann for all your hard work!

Laura Vanderwerf, RDH BSDH
President
Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association
#Dare

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Dental Assistants Recognition Week - March 7-13, 2021

Dental Assistants Recognition Week (DARW) will be observed March 7-13, 2021. “Dental Assistants – Our Heart Goes into Every Smile” is the theme for this year and acknowledges the growing importance of dentistry's role in health care and the responsibilities of dental assistants. Today's dental assistants strengthen the entire dental team and enhance patient satisfaction. Dental assistants are committed to professional development and quality dental care.

Please take time to celebrate the dental assistants who work with you during Dental Assistants Recognition Week.

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Providing Clinical Care to ADHA

Have you ever felt silly for missing an obvious difference in your patient’s mouth? I have.  Then the realization of absent mindedness sticks around until I, yet again, updated my mental checklist when going about patient care.

The point of all this... Well, I have been feeling similar as a member of ADHA.  Could I be missing my obvious role as a ADHA member? If you are catching yourself saying, what?  Then hang in there with me for a few more moments. It’s kind of like ADHA is my patient that I check in with on occasion and ODHA is their mouth. What do I see? Will it always be the same mouth, or will there be changes that have gone unnoticed? When I do see changes, how will I go about understanding them? Should I just assume I know that answer and so does the patient? No. It’s never good to assume. One of the services that I provide for my patients is sharing my knowledge and experience through engaging with the patient to find out what they know. Then and only then can I be better prepared to assist.

Ok, you may be thinking just too abstract.... but just think about it. Without the patient we don’t have the mouth, and without the mouth, we don’t have anything to examine or to improve as a dental health care professional.  As members we need to know when to jump in and engage with our Association. Why not start where we feel most comfortable? The mouth, ODHA in this case.

But I was always led to believe that the Association is there to take care of us, the members.  What do I get out of being a member? What do I get out of taking care of a patient’s mouth? A paycheck? Yeah! But there is and can be so much more when it applies to your professional association.

While COVID-19 has taken a toll and created a need for change on how communications and social activities were handled this past year, the ODHA, like several of our patient’s mouths, is in need of attention. So, I am asking members for just a moment or two to look at your membership as a care provider role for ADHA.  I have a few examples below, but I bet you can think of more. If you do, I would love to hear from you.

  1. Provide care to the Association through your annual dues every year. Thank goodness for quarterly payments!
  2. Provide positive feedback by sharing what it means to you to be a member with the Association and with other non-member hygienists to perhaps gain their membership. Remember we are stronger together!
  3. Calling all members, clinicians at heart, to engage in your professional Association. Not just by looking at the mirror but engaging with your experience for a healthier tomorrow. We just can’t ignore the obvious. Let’s come together, work together, for a better future. Help stabilize our Association’s mouth through inquiring about taking on roles to lead or be on a committee within your component or at the state level.  Currently, there are several positions open within local components and state level.

In return, the Association’s body (aka. Patient and the patient’s mouth) will feel well and give back to the provider in more ways than you can count. Leaders who volunteer in the Association will work even harder for members to protect them and bring in opportunities to achieve professional and personal growth!  Then the relationship of members with their Association, like the clinician and their patient, becomes a symbiotic one. Then out of this healthy relationship comes referrals. We all love referrals!  In this case, it’s the referrals to our hygienist colleagues that may have missed the obvious difference in one’s mouth to help them learn and grow. 

The collaborative efforts between branches of our Association have been critical throughout this time and will continue to be as members and potential members move through 2021 & 2022. Members are needed as clinicians are needed. Is it your time to provide care for the ADHA?

In the meantime, I look forward to meeting up with fellow hygienist again soon and I encourage you to keep checking in on your “patient’s mouth” for updates in growth opportunities for leadership, social activities, and more.

Jamie Christianson, RDH, EP, ODHA -SW Chair

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Mars Wrigley Foundation’s Healthier Smiles Community Service Grant Program

The ADHA Institute for Oral Health will be opening a second round of applications for the Mars Wrigley Foundation’s Healthier Smiles Community Service Grant in order to maximize the generous funds offered by the foundation. This community service grant opportunity is designed to support licensed dental hygienists and current ADHA members who are implementing a community health program or project within the communities where they live and work.

The application will open on March 5th and will close on March 31st. Please direct potential applicants here or have them contact [email protected] for more information.

An applicant should be prepared to:

  • Provide basic contact information
  • Identify the problem by clearly describing and documenting the need for the project. Identify why the project is creative and contemporary. Identify the interprofessional collaborative partnerships employed in this project.
  • Clearly and logically describe the planning, implementation, and evaluation process.
  • Present a clear and sound budget identifying how the grant funds will be utilized in the Project Budget task. In this section, discuss the sustainability of the project after the grant period ends.

Please Note:

  • Current ADHA Institute Board of Directors, ADHA Board of Trustees, and members of the Community Service Grant Review Committee may not apply for this grant.
  • Grant recipients are not eligible to apply for this funding cycle two years in a row; this promotes self-sustainability.
  • A full list of 2021 round one recipients are listed on the website under the Mars Wrigley Foundation’s Healthier Smiles Community Service Grant section; please use the community service link below.

I am asking you to share this limited-time opportunity with your states. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on community service programs and access to oral care. IOH has a tremendous opportunity to support projects and programs in need. Please direct interested members to the link below or have them reach out to [email protected].

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2021 Oregon Legislative Session

The 2021 Oregon Legislative Assembly will be in session for the purpose of lawmaking January 19, 2021 through June 27, 2021. The ODHA is supporting the following dental-related bills this year:

  • House Bill 2528 would create a licensed dental therapist for Oregon.
  • House Bill 2627 would allow expanded practice dental hygienists to perform interim therapeutic restorations (ITR) per an agreement with a licensed dentist.
  • House Bill 2969 would direct school districts to provide age-appropriate instruction in oral health as part of their health education curriculum. This bill was introduced last year as House Bill 4127 but the session adjourned before the bill could be voted on in the House.

You can track the progress of these bills here. 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.

Oregon Board of Dentistry News

APRIL BOARD MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, April 16, 2021. This meeting will likely be held as a Zoom conference to comply with social distancing. Anyone may participate in the Open Session 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 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 June 18, August 20, October 22 and December 17.

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Thank you to our Sponsor!

We've been fortunate to partner with Willamette Dental this year. Check out their website and job board!

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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

In the ODHA Southwest Component, call it the Lower Left quadrant, we are fortunate to have a wonderful local team of leaders for the last two year with Paige Holt as our Director, Sarah Melten as our Secretary, and me, Jamie Christianson, your component Chair. This Fall we will be searching for a new Chair as I move on to Director. So, if you are a part of the Southwest region, please contact me if you are interested and I can assist you in learning more about the position.

Jamie Christianson, RDH, EP, ODHA-SW Chair 

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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February 2021

President's Message

As dental hygienists our job is to educate about the dangers of our food and drinking choices to our patients, and when those patients are children, to their parents or caregivers. According to the CDC, about 1 of 5 (20%) children between the ages of 5 and 11 years and 1 of 7 (13%) adolescents aged 12 and 19 have at least one untreated decayed tooth. And those children aged 5 to 19 from low-income families are twice as likely (25%) to have cavities compared to children from higher-income households (11%).

It is important that we are teaching our patients and/or their parents how important children’s oral health care is. I often hear from parents that they are “only baby teeth,” as if because they will eventually lose them, they hold no value. These parents are surprised when I let them know that children can suffer toothaches due to cavities, and that these teeth hold an important role as space maintainers for their future adult teeth.

This month I DARE each of you to reach out and use ADA’s tools to educate your patients about the importance of children’s oral health care. Sponsor a coloring contest using the coloring sheet, a poster contest using the slogan (Water: Nature’s Drink), or a dental health essay contest for older kids. In your offices, you can create an oral health bulletin board with tips and messages or hang posters promoting oral health. You can find the resources here.

Laura Vanderwerf, RDH BSDH
President
Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association
#Dare

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National Children's Dental Health Month - Water: Nature’s Drink

Sipping, Snacking and Tooth Decay

Many parents across the country will issue a common refrain at dinnertime tonight: ―You’d better eat that--it’s good for you! There’s another old favorite in the parental arsenal of dietary admonitions: ―Don’t eat that—it’ll rot your teeth! Now more than ever, kids are faced with a bewildering array of food choices -- from fresh produce to sugar-laden processed convenience meals and snack foods. What children eat and when they eat it may affect not only their general health but also their oral health.

Americans are consuming foods and drinks high in sugar and starches more often and in larger portions than ever before. It’s clear that junk foods and drinks gradually have replaced nutritious beverages and foods for many people. For example, in the U.S., on average, individuals consume approximately 50 gallons of sugary beverages per year! Alarmingly, a steady diet of sugary foods and drinks can ruin teeth, especially among those who snack throughout the day. Common activities may contribute to the tendency toward tooth decay. These include ― grazing habitually on foods with minimal nutritional value, and frequently sipping on sugary drinks. Consuming too much sugar can also affect your overall health, such as becoming overweight/obese, or getting heart disease or type 2 diabetes.

When sugar is consumed over and over again in large, often hidden amounts, the harmful effect on teeth can be dramatic. Sugar on teeth provides food for bacteria, which produce acid. The acid in turn can eat away the enamel on teeth.

Almost all foods have some type of sugar that cannot and should not be eliminated from our diets. Many of these foods contain important nutrients and add enjoyment to eating. But there is a risk for tooth decay from a diet high in sugars and starches. Starches can be found in everything from bread to pretzels to salad dressing, so read labels and plan carefully for a balanced, nutritious diet for you and your kids.

Reduce your children’s risk of tooth decay:

  • Sugary foods and drinks should be consumed with meals. Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acid production and rinse food particles from the mouth.
  • Limit between-meal snacks. If kids crave a snack, offer them nutritious foods.
  • If your kids chew gum, make it sugarless – Chewing sugarless gum after eating can increase saliva flow and help wash out food and decay-producing acid.
  • Monitor beverage consumption – Children should make healthy beverage choices such water and low-fat milk.
  • Help your children develop good brushing and flossing habits.
  • Schedule regular dental visits.

Visit the CDC overview here

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ODHA Student Conference

On Friday January 22nd over 160 dental hygiene students who attend the various dental hygiene programs in the state of Oregon attended the first annual ODHA Student Dental Hygiene Conference. This virtual event was jam packed full of fun and information just for the student dental hygienist.

There are so many highlights which I will review, but the most important is that this program was planned by students for students. Along with the assistance of Amy Coplan, the students helped create practically every aspect of this event. We all met virtually four or five times to get the creative juices flowing. Even after long school days, students and faculty advisors showed up to collaborate (see list below).

The three-hour conference had six different sessions to choose from. There was something for every level of student. Lisa Rowley provided a great review of the different licensing exam requirements for Oregon and surrounding states. Cindy Rogers and I lead a discussion on interview and resume writing tips. Bernadette Schlaefer from Crest/Oral-B presented a Dental Hygiene Science Review, while senior students Addie (Pacific) Courtney (MHCC) and Andra (MHCC) provided advice to underclassman about how to best prepare for your final year of dental hygiene school. The final hour student selected between attending a career panel discussion with some of the industries big hitters. Tommie Kells represented hygienists in independent practice, Schirley Branum for corporate, Nicole Pikini for public health, Brian Partido for research and Brenda Armstrong for education. If students weren’t in that session, they attended a panel discussion with recent graduates, Kyndall Marelich (OIT) Melissa Goyins (OIT), Shannon Hahn (LCC) and Lindsay Jauchuis (Pacific). These young leaders reviewed their process of transitioning from student professional to a licensed professional.

Even though it was a virtual event the energy was on fire. Of course, it helped that in between these sessions’ students had an opportunity to win prizes too! There were over 30 Hu-Friedy Instruments awarded to student attendees.

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Oregon dental hygiene school program directors and faculty. Thank you for creating time in your academic calendar for this event.  I can’t wait to talk with you all about planning the date for the 2022 conference!

Thank you to all who helped plan this amazing Conference!

Planning for ODHA Student Conference:

Mount Hood Community College

  • Ilya Babiy
  • Vanessa Michelle Webster
  • Riley Powers
  • Cassandra Vazquez

OIT – Chemeketa

  • Tanja Willey
  • Charisse Botsch
  • Jessica Reynolds

OIT – Klamath Falls

  • Elizabeth Wells
  • Brianna Smith

Pacific University

  • Amy Coplen
  • Kat Soudan
  • Misha Lagman

Portland Community College

  • Sandi Miles
  • Jennifer Osawa
  • Lindsey Majors
  • McKenzie Oviatt

Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association

  • Tina Clarke
  • Lisa Rowley

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Dental Provider Access to the COVID-19 Vaccine

The ODHA is aware that there are dental hygienists in Oregon who are having difficulty obtaining their own COVID-19 vaccine. It appears that healthcare workers who are affiliated with a hospital are obtaining their vaccines sooner than “unaffiliated” healthcare providers like dental providers. This makes sense because it is much easier to vaccinate healthcare providers in a hospital setting than it is to vaccinate healthcare providers who are scattered at multiple locations throughout the state.

The ODHA has partnered with the Oregon Dental Association (ODA) & other stakeholders to send a letter to Governor Kate Brown urging her to increase access to the COVID-19 vaccine for dental providers. And we understand that the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) now has a staff member whose time is dedicated to increasing access to the COVID-19 vaccine for “unaffiliated” healthcare providers. Visit the OHA COVID-19 website at OHA COVID-19 for the latest updates, testing sites and vaccine information, or find information for healthcare partners.

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Dental Hygienists Administering Vaccines

The ODHA has received questions about allowing dental hygienists in Oregon to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. We are aware that this has been authorized in other states to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019 House Bill 2220 amended the Oregon Dental Practice Act (law) to authorize trained and certified dentists to prescribe and administer vaccines. Several dental hygienists have contacted the Oregon Board of Dentistry to request that the Board allow dental hygienists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. At their December 18, 2020 meeting, the Board was advised by legal counsel that they do not have the legal authority to allow dental hygienists to administer this vaccine because the Oregon Dental Practice Act (law) specifically allows dentists to administer vaccines but it does not indicate that dental hygienists may administer vaccines.

The Oregon Governor could issue an emergency executive order to allow dental hygienists (and other healthcare workers) to administer this vaccine if she determines this to be necessary, but this would likely be for the COVID-19 vaccine only and probably for a limited time. The ADHA has launched an Advocacy Alert asking dental hygienists to contact their state governors and urge them to grant dental hygienists the authority to administer the COVID-10 vaccines. You can use this link to Take Action Now.

The ODHA plans to pursue legislative change in 2022 to allow dental hygienists to administer all vaccines on a permanent basis. We have support from several organizations that would like to have their dental hygienists administer the HPV vaccine in dental & medical settings.

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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2021 Oregon Legislative Session

The 2021 Oregon Legislative Assembly will be in session for the purpose of lawmaking January 19, 2021 through June 27, 2021. The ODHA is supporting the following dental-related bills this year:

  • House Bill 2528 would create a licensed dental therapist for Oregon.
  • House Bill 2627 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 for questions, more information, or comments about ODHA Advocacy issues, and if you would like to become involved in ODHA Advocacy activities.

Oregon Board of Dentistry News

FEBRUARY BOARD MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, February 19, 2021. This meeting will likely be held as a Zoom conference to comply with social distancing. Anyone may participate in the Open Session 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 participate in the Open Session of this or any future board meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley. Upcoming Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on April 16, June 18, August 20, October 22 and December 17.

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Mobile & Teledentistry Conference

The second annual National Mobile & Teledentistry Conference (NMTC) is the place to explore what mobile dentistry and teledentistry can do for you, your practice, and your patients. With the COVID-19 pandemic, more dental care providers are thinking beyond the traditional brick-and-mortar dental office. This conference will help you embrace innovative technology, discover new opportunities, and create an exciting future. Over three days you'll connect with industry experts and learn about the latest in dental technology and services.

This year the National Mobile & Teledentistry Conference has partnered with The Denobi Awards, a brand new industry-wide awards program celebrating outstanding individuals who make up dentistry! Nominations are open now through January 20 and a shortlist of winners will be announced in February. Finalists will be announced at the red-carpet awards gala taking place on March 6, 2021 at the conference venue. To nominate someone or learn more click here.

This conference will be held March 4-6, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Both in-person & virtual tickets will be available for the conference. The number of in-person tickets will be very limited to comply with social distancing requirements. Virtual tickets will include the option to watch live and/or view onDemand at a later date. For more information click here.

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Thank you to our Sponsor!

We've been fortunate to partner with Willamette Dental this year. Check out their website and job board!

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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

This month I want to highlight our SW Component President, Jamie Christianson. She has really been working hard this past year. She has expressed interest in running for office as SW Director when my term is up in November 2021. I believe she will be a great asset to ODHA going forward and has had great ideas and shown great leadership and passion for our profession. 

Let me share with you how this unfolded this past year.  Jamie didn’t let the pandemic derail us which allowed us to “get together” for a great course on, “Ergonomics for Every Dental Professional” By Brain Wilkins via ZOOM. Initially it had to be canceled, and was back on in just twelve days, on March 31, 2020 via Zoom and very well attended. I am not sure we would’ve gotten so many of you to join us that evening if it was held in person. If you have a chance to meet or attend this course by Brian Wilkins, he is a great resource for helping hygienists maintain their careers. This course was also well attended at the ODHC, held November 2019. His exercises before your workday and after are valuable.  Brian J Wilkinson, PT, DPT, CHT at Pacific University has been conducting a study on corrective exercise in DHS students at Pacific University. He has also published articles in Dimensions, January 2019, and Decisions in Dentistry April 2019. I encourage you to check them out and find out about, “The Core Four.”

Prior to the Pandemic a meeting was held in Eugene, “The Dental Hygienists’ Role in Sleep Apnea Care,” in Eugene, OR with Dr. John Sullivan. Held 1/23/2020. Jamie and I had been discussing how to bring our SW component together noting the distance, busy lives and hope the topics and attendance would bring us together.  We considered holding meetings in Eugene to capture those who reside near there, (coast) and then southern Oregon and the coast and Roseburg to consider, Eugene or Medford. Our component is large and encompasses a vast terrain and miles. Which has limited us meeting together in person with responsibilities and distance to consider.

I applaud Jamie for forging ahead and pushing the door open! She took the initiative and ran with the idea to make it happen with our Zoom meetings. Her passion is on fire! It was also her idea to bring us together to talk about going back to work, held on May 5th, 2020. “Cup of RDH talk: Discussion of going back to work with new Covid19 guidelines.”  It was well attended on ZOOM. It was so nice to chat with fellow hygienists’ all over the state and hear what was going on and talk about concerns and new products. 

Currently, Jamie has two more speakers lined up to feature as soon as it can be scheduled. 

I hope you continue to follow and join us from all over this beautiful state of Oregon we all love so much.

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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January 2021

President's Message

Happy New Year!

With the beginning of each year, I think of New Year’s resolutions. Do I try and take off a few pounds (I did gain some during the holidays) by exercising more, or do I give up the soda I vow to quit drinking each year? I always have a resolution as I begin each year, so in keeping with the theme for my presidency, I am going to dare myself and make a resolution to reach out to you the membership each month, this may be by email, text or phone. When I do, I will be asking you what you would like ODHA to do for you. Would you like more CE, more community events or maybe you would be interested in virtual zoom meetings where we just chat?

When you are making your New Year’s resolution, I would like to dare you to challenge yourself and find a way to help make ODHA your own. This could mean that you answer the email, text, phone call or share ideas you have that we can improve. Or you could want to be more involved, even in a small way, by offering your time and talent to your local component or to a committee. Or you could even go big, and decide you want to be on the ODHA board as President-Elect, North West Component Director or Alternate Delegate (all of which are currently open positions).

In this newsletter, you will find information on some of ODHA’s committees. Please check them out and if you are interested in joining one, do not hesitate to reach out! Now that 2020 is behind us, let’s look forward to making 2021 a remarkable year.

Laura Vanderwerf, RDH BSDH
President
Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association
#Dare

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Thank You to all the ODHA members who have already renewed their ADHA membership for 2021.  We appreciate your support of the ODHA and ADHA!

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up the Bylaws

Hello ODHA members, the Bylaws committee is looking for members to join us in working on a part of our bylaws. We need help making sure that everything is consistent and seeing if anything needs updating. If you would like to be a part of a committee that gives you an opportunity to have a voice for the future of ODHA, please contact me by January 31, so we can set up an initial zoom meeting by the end of February.

Thank-You,
Kimberly Dayton
ODHA Vice President

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Committee Spotlights

Membership Committee

The membership committee’s purpose is to promote membership with the Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association through innovation and creativity. Our monthly meetings encourage all members to let their voice be heard while striving towards our common goal- increasing awareness surrounding the benefits of ODHA membership. Currently, our membership committee is working on survey tools to capture information on what Oregon Dental Hygienists value most about ODHA membership. We are excited with the growth we have seen within ODHA, and welcome ODHA members to join this committee. Together, we can build a stronger, more unified association!

Leadership Development Committee

The Leadership Development Committee will mentor and develop individuals interested in future leadership roles, build strategies to foster leadership and service opportunities, and review and recommend necessary leader skillsets to the Board of Directors. Any member of the ODHA can be a member of the Leadership Development Committee.

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ADHA Institute for Oral Health

In collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and through the generous support of our donors, the ADHA Institute for Oral Health provides thousands of dollars each year to advance the profession of dental hygiene through scholarship, research and service!

They work to:

  • Develop dental hygienists’ access to educational programs through Scholarships
  • Support advancements in the dental hygiene profession through Research Grants
  • Empower dental hygienists to improve the public’s health through Community Service Grants

The ADHA Institute for Oral Health is an exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 36-3468143. 


Click Here to Donate to Institute for Oral Health

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2021 Oregon Legislative Session

The 2021 Oregon Legislative Assembly will be in session for the purpose of lawmaking January 19, 2021 through June 27, 2021. 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 2021 Oregon Legislative Session will be a long session so it will meet for a maximum of 160 days.

In 2020 Senate Bill 1549 would have created a licensed dental therapist for Oregon. This bill was not voted out of the Senate Health Care Committee, so this bill did not pass. A work group met after the session to draft a new dental therapy bill that will be introduced in the 2021 Oregon Legislative Session. Please note that the bill number will be different this year.

In 2020 Senate Bill 1550 would have allowed expanded practice dental hygienists perform interim therapeutic restorations (ITR) if they have an agreement with a dentist. This bill passed in the Senate but the session ended before it could be voted on in the House of Representatives, so this bill did not pass. A bill to allow EPDHs to perform ITR will be introduced again in the 2021 Oregon Legislative Session. Please note that the bill number will be different this year.

The ODHA will monitor and comment on bills related to dentistry throughout the 2021 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!

Board Member Spotlight

Tina Clarke RDH M.Ed

Tina is a born and raised Oregonian. She has been in the dental hygiene field for nearly 20 years. During this time, she has served the profession in several different ways. Tina is deeply committed to the dental hygiene profession. She has been involved with the leadership of the Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association early in her career. Beginning as membership committee chair, serving as part of the delegation to ADHA and as president. Outside of association work, Tina is an educator. She has been teaching dental hygiene students for the last fourteen years and provides continuing education courses to licensed professionals on various topics. In 2019 she launched Teacher Tina RDH which is an online resource of education and development for oral healthcare professionals.

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Oregon Board of Dentistry News

FEBRUARY BOARD MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, February 19, 2021. This meeting will be held as a teleconference to comply with social distancing. Anyone may participate in the Open Session 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 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 April 16, June 18, August 20, October 22 and December 17.

ODHA REPRESENTATIVES TO STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY

At the beginning of each year, the Oregon Board of Dentistry asks the ODHA to submit the names of dental hygienists who will represent the ODHA on standing committees of the Board. ODHA has a representative on each of the following standing committees of the Oregon Board of Dentistry: 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 back 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 the ODHA on a standing committee of the Oregon Board of Dentistry this year, please download and complete this form and email it to ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley by January 15th.

OPENING FOR DENTAL HYGIENIST BOARD MEMBER

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will have an opening for a dental hygienist member of the OBD in April 2021 when Alicia Riedman, RDH completes her second term on the OBD. Alicia was appointed to the OBD in 2015 to complete the remaining two years of a four-year term that became vacant because the dental hygienist in this position resigned before their term ended. Alicia completed these two years, and then in April 2017 she was appointed to her first four-year term on the OBD. When her current term ends in April 2021, Alicia will have served six years on the OBD. Alicia currently serves as Vice President of the OBD.

The Oregon Board of Dentistry consists of ten members. Six members must be Oregon licensed dentists, one of which must be a dental specialist, two members must be licensed dental hygienists, and two members must be from the public. Board members are appointed to serve a four-year term and may be reappointed to serve a second four-year term. There will also be another opening for a dental hygienist member of the OBD in April 2022 when Yadira Martinez completes her second term.

The ODHA may nominate 3-5 dental hygienists to the Governor to fill this opening. Any Oregon licensed dental hygienist who resides in Oregon may apply for this position. The new Board member will be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Governor’s office will review and consider the applicant’s geographic location, ethnic background, diversity, disciplinary history (if any) and other factors important to the Governor.

Please visit the OBD website for more information. At the bottom of the OBD home page under Board/Staff Openings, there are links that provide an overview of desired qualifications of an OBD member and other important information on how to apply. Please contact Executive Director Stephen Prisby or ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley if you have any questions about serving on 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!

High Desert Component

Juanita Simpson, EPDH, BS is the new Director for the High Desert Component. The High Desert Temp List is now updated and available.

The following are tentative upcoming CE Events:

  • Pediatrics for Dental Hygienists
  • Cultural Competency
  • Anesthesia Review,
  • and possibly - Myofunctional Therapy.

Last but not least, the High Desert Component is searching for a Chairman and Secretary.

Welcome our new members!

North West Component

  • Rae Bovee
  • Natalie Carpenter
  • Amanda Green
  • Lindsay Wilkerson

South West Component

  • Katie Burge

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Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

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Affiliated Organizations

 

 

 

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