President’s Message

As we welcome April, the arrival of spring reminds us that growth is not only happening in nature, but within our profession and communities as well. Longer days and warmer weather bring renewed energy—an opportunity for us as dental hygienists to expand our impact, reconnect with our purpose, and continue advancing oral health across Oregon.

Spring and summer often bring increased travel, outdoor adventures, and shifts in routine for many of our patients. Whether families are camping, hiking, or simply enjoying the sunshine, these seasonal changes can influence oral health habits. This is a powerful time for us to reinforce preventive care—encouraging patients to stay hydrated, limit frequent snacking, protect against sports-related injuries, and remain consistent with home care routines, even while on the go.

This time of year presents meaningful opportunities to give back. As communities begin planning seasonal events such as county fairs, health and wellness events, and outreach programs, there is a growing need for dental hygiene professionals to support oral health education and services. Volunteering at these events not only expands access to care but also strengthens our presence and impact within the communities we serve. I encourage each of you to consider how you might get involved this season.

April also highlights several important observances that align closely with patient education and the celebration of our profession:

• Oral Cancer Awareness Month – A critical time to emphasize the importance of routine screenings and early detection.

• National Public Health Week (April 6–12, 2026) – Recognizing the vital role dental hygienists play in community and population health.

• National Dental Hygienists Week (April 12-18, 2026) – A time to celebrate our profession and the meaningful work we do every day.

I am especially excited to invite you to the upcoming ODHA New Professional Symposium on Friday, May 1st at Chemeketa Community College, Salem OR. This event offers valuable continuing education, meaningful connection with colleagues, and inspiration to support your continued growth in practice. Plus, early bird registration rates have been extended to Sunday, April 19! To learn more and to register, click here.

Course offerings include:

• Navigating Perio Referrals
• Dental Hygiene Treatment Planning: There Is No “Cleaning” Code—Here’s Why It Matters
• Confident by Design: Tough Conversations & Periodontal Advocacy
• Chairside Manner: Shameless Dentistry & Motivating Patients
• Clocked In & In Control: Time Management That Actually Works
• Understanding Imposter Syndrome in Dental Hygiene
• Dental Charting: Legality, Accuracy & Protecting Your License

As we move into this season of renewal, I encourage each of you to embrace opportunities for both personal and professional growth. Whether it’s expanding your clinical knowledge, engaging in advocacy, volunteering in your community, or recommitting to the care you provide each day—your work matters deeply.

Thank you for your continued dedication, leadership, and passion for improving oral health across our state.

With appreciation, 

ODHA President 2024-2026 | To email Kim, click here.

Ready to Strengthen Your Skills & Feel More Confident Using Nitrous Oxide in Practice?

Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 6:30-8:30 pm | Virtual via Zoom | On Demand

Nitrous oxide remains one of the most effective tools for patient comfort—but only when used with precision, sound judgment, and a clear understanding of best practices.

Join ODHA on Thursday, April 23 (6:30–8:30 PM PT) for a focused CE session:
Nitrous Oxide Sedation in the Dental Practice with Jeannie Bopp, MSAH, BS, RDH.

This course takes a practical, clinically grounded approach to nitrous oxide use—moving beyond theory to reinforce how and why we make decisions chairside.

What This Course Covers:

• The science behind nitrous oxide and how it impacts patient response
• Patient selection considerations and when to proceed—or not
• Regulatory and informed consent requirements in practice
• Equipment setup and titration techniques for both digital and manual systems
• Infection control and documentation protocols that support compliance

You’ll also gain exposure to demonstrated techniques that reinforce consistency and safety in everyday care.

About the Presenter

Jeannie Bopp brings decades of clinical and academic experience, including practice across multiple states and international settings, along with years of educating future hygienists in both clinical and classroom environments. Her approach is grounded, practical, and directly applicable to patient care.

Register Now

If nitrous oxide is part of your practice—or something you want to approach with greater clarity and confidence—this session offers a valuable opportunity to refine your approach. Click here to secure your spot and join us online April 23! 

Oral Cancer Awareness Month

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, a time to promote early detection, screening, and education about oral, head and neck cancers. This campaign encourages public awareness, self-exams, and regular dental visits to identify symptoms early, significantly improving survival rates.

Oral and pharyngeal cancer kills nearly one person every hour of every day of the year. Of the people newly diagnosed with these cancers, only about 60% will live longer than 5 years. Many who do survive suffer long-term problems such as difficulty eating, swallowing and speaking as well as severe facial disfigurement. The death rate associated with oral and pharyngeal cancers remains particularly high due to the cancer being routinely discovered late in its development.

Early detection is key to improved survival rates for oral cancer and dental hygienists are key to early detection. Take time during April for oral cancer-specific learning and increase your awareness, knowledge and understanding to support your patients with prevention, early detection, diagnosis and care management. To learn more about oral cancer, click here. 

Dental Hygiene School News

OIT Salem Campus Pinning Ceremony

On March 14, the OIT Salem Campus Dental Hygiene Class of 2026 had their pinning ceremony.  We are so proud of this wonderful group of professionals!  They have completed their BS in dental hygiene degree and will take clinical board exams March 19-20.

Please join ODHA in welcoming these 19 new graduates to the dental hygiene profession!

Pacific Receives Accreditation for Dental Therapy Program

The School of Dental Hygiene Studies at Pacific University is excited to share the news that our Dental Therapy Program has officially received initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). We become the fourth accredited dental therapy program in the country and the only accredited program in Oregon.

This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and perseverance of faculty, administrators, community partners, and professional advocates who contributed their time, expertise, and support at every stage of development. From early planning conversations and curriculum design to legislative engagement and the rigorous accreditation process, countless individuals played a critical role in bringing this program to fruition. We are deeply grateful for the collective effort that made this moment possible.

The accreditation of our Dental Therapy Program marks an important step forward in strengthening the oral health workforce and increasing access to care, particularly for underserved communities. By preparing highly skilled dental therapists to practice as part of collaborative care teams, we are advancing our shared mission of improving oral health outcomes and addressing oral health disparities. 

We look forward to welcoming our inaugural class of dental therapy students in Fall 2026. These students will be pioneers of the program and future leaders in expanding access to essential oral health services. The program is a dually enrolled dental hygiene/dental therapy program where students will earn their BS in Dental Hygiene at the end of two years and their MS in Dental Therapy at the end of their third year.

ODHA Advocacy News

Oregon State Legislature

The Oregon State Legislature ended its 2026 legislative session on March 8, 2026. This was an even-numbered year so this was a “short” session which met for 35 days. 

The Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 4040 that includes the following three dental insurance reform policies that were proposed by the Oregon Dental Association (ODA):

• Assignment of Benefits: Insurance companies are now required to pay the dental provider directly if requested by the patient, ensuring better transparency.

• Prompt Pay: Insurance companies are now required to pay or deny "clean claims" within 45 days after the date that the insurer receives the claim, preventing excessive delays.

• Retroactive Denial Limits: Insurance companies are now limited to 18 months for  retroactively auditing and denying claims, which aligns with medical insurance regulations. 

Congratulations to the ODA who spent several years advocating for these legislative changes. These insurance reforms will benefit both patients and dental providers in Oregon.

Oregon Board of Dentistry April Meeting

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, April 24, 2026 at the Board office located at 1500 SW 1^st Avenue, Suite 770, Portland, OR  97201 The agenda for this meeting will include a Zoom link for participants who would like to attend virtually. Anyone may participate in the Open Sessions of the Board meeting. 

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

If you would like to participate in the Open Sessions of this or any future Board meeting, email ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley at for more information. Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on the following Fridays in 2026: June 12, August 21, December 11.

ODHA Representatives to Standing Committees of Oregon Board of Dentistry

• Communications – Alicia Riedman
• Dental Assisting Workforce Shortage Advisory Committee – Lindsay Tuell
• Dental Hygiene – Daniel Tovar
• Dental Therapy Rules Oversight – Amy Coplen
• Enforcement & Discipline – Jill Mason
• Licensing, Standards & Competency – Heidi Klobes
• Rules Oversight – Alicia Riedman

Standing committees of the Oregon Board of Dentistry meet to discuss issues that are referred to them by the Board and then make recommendations back to the Board. Standing committees may or may not meet throughout the year. The ODHA representatives to these standing committees are appointed by the ODHA President with approval of the ODHA Board of Directors.

2026 State Legislative Updates

The ODHA is monitoring legislation pending across the country that may impact the dental hygiene profession and the oral health of the public.

Florida’s dental therapy bill did not pass during their 2026 legislative session, but it did come very close. The coalition advocating for this bill is already gearing up for 2027 and are they are encouraged by all of the support they have received both in Florida and from people throughout the country.

The Indiana legislature has passed bill that amends the dental law to allow internationally trained dentists to apply for a dental hygiene license in Indiana without completing a CODA accredited dental education program. To be eligible candidates must have their prior dental education evaluated by an approved credential evaluation agency, demonstrate English proficiency if their dental education was not conducted in English, successfully complete the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), successfully complete an approved dental hygiene clinical board examination and successfully complete the Indiana jurisprudence examination.

The Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners is considering an administrative rule that would allow dental assistants to perform supragingival scaling. At the same time, they are considering an administrative rule updating supervision language to allow dental hygienists to practice without dentist supervision. (Editor’s Note: A board of dentistry can adopt administrative rules as long as they do not conflict with the law).

The Utah legislature has passed a bill that amends the dental law to expand where dental hygienists can practice, officially adding hospitals to the state’s definition of public health settings. The move is expected to broaden access to preventive oral healthcare while strengthening collaboration between dental and medical teams.

Smile Across the Andes: Dental Mission & Cultural Service Trip to Peru

Wilber Ramírez-Rodríguez, DT, EPDH is leading a dental mission trip to Peru in May 2026!

This program is open to all healthcare professionals, with a special emphasis on dental professionals who are passionate about working with children and providing preventive dental care. Dental Therapists are encouraged to participate, as their scope of practice and strong focus on pediatric care align closely with the mission's goals.

This dental mission program aims to provide essential preventive and basic restorative dental care to underserved communities in Ayacucho, Peru, while also offering a meaningful cultural immersion experience for international dental professionals and students.

The program lasts 14 days and includes clinical service in Ayacucho as well as cultural immersion in Cusco, Machu Picchu, and other archaeological sites.

Trip itinerary can be found here. For more information, follow Smile Across the Andes on Facebook here and/or contact Wilber at [email protected]. 

ADHA News

National Dental Hygienist Week

National Dental Hygienist Week is celebrated each year during the second full week in April. This event will be observed April 12–18, 2026 this year. This week celebrates the essential role dental hygienists play in preventive oral health and patient education. It is a key time to honor dental hygiene staff with appreciation initiatives, social media spotlights, and professional recognition. Employers are encouraged to recognize their dental hygienists with gifts, lunches, special social media shoutouts and testimonials to show appreciation for their work.

2026 ADHA Annual Conference