The Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association, a constituent of the ADHA, is committed to providing advocacy, professional development and networking opportunities for dental hygienists and the dental hygiene profession.
President’s Message
 December is a month filled with celebration, sweets, and busy schedules! As we close out the year, let’s take a moment to remind our patients (and ourselves) of the importance of maintaining good oral health, even when life gets hectic. Brushing twice a day, flossing regularly, and making mindful choices about sugary treats can make a big difference during this festive season. And oral home care products such as electric toothbrushes, Waterpik flossers, and whitening gels make excellent holiday gifts, helping friends and family start the new year with brighter, healthier smiles!
This month, we also recognize
The year 2025 has brought many exciting advancements in dentistry, from AI-supported radiology and caries prevention innovations like Curodont, to smart devices and laser dentistry advancements. As technology continues to evolve, our role as dental hygienists expands, offering new opportunities to enhance patient care and outcomes.
Your ODHA Professional Development Committee has already begun planning the 2026 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference. As you look ahead, keep in mind the exciting advancements in our field and the valuable knowledge you’ll gain by attending. ODHA will also host a one-day conference specially designed for new dental hygiene professionals.
ODHA’s Winter & Spring Education Series will begin with “Dental Forensics” 6:30-8:30 PM on Thursday, January 22nd. This course will be offered virtually and on demand. We look forward to seeing you online as we continue our shared commitment to professional growth and excellence in dental hygiene.
I am truly honored to be a dental hygienist and grateful to continue serving as your ODHA Board President into 2026. Wishing everyone a joyful and restorative holiday season. Thank you for all you do to support oral health in your communities. Here’s to a healthy, happy start to 2026!
Warm regards,
Kimberly Perlot, MSAH, DT, EPDH
ODHA President 2024-2025 | To email Kim, click here.
ODHA Winter & Spring Education Series
Due to the success of its Fall Education Series, the ODHA will be offering a Winter & Spring Education Series for hygienists to benefit from. ODHA Professional Members and Students will receive this series as a member benefit. New Professionals and Graduate Members who receive a significantly discount from the ADHA will be offered a nominal registration rate of $99 for the series, or $24.75 per course. Non-members can register for $199 for the series, $54.75 per course. Plus, this series includes five courses instead of four so you receive one extra course for the same reasonable registration prices. The series is flexible, offering in-person options, live Zoom broadcasts, and on-demand viewing. If viewing on demand, individuals will have 90 days from the date each course is posted to complete the course in its entirety. Registration for this next series will open on Monday, December 15.
If you missed the Fall Education Series, you can now access its four courses on demand. To learn more, click here.
Dental Forensics
Thursday, January 22, 2026
6:30-8:30 PM (Virtual via Zoom & On Demand)
Spanish for Dental Professionals (cultural competency)
Thursday, February 26th
6:30-8:30 PM (Pacific University, Hillsboro; Virtual via Zoom, On Demand)
Advocating for Dental Hygiene
Thursday, March 19, 2026
6:30-8:30 PM (Pacific University, Hillsboro; Virtual via Zoom, On Demand)
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Thursday, April 23, 2026
6:30-8:30 PM (Pacific University, Hillsboro; Virtual via Zoom, On Demand)
Laser Dentistry for the Dental Hygienist
Thursday, May 14, 2026
6:00-8:00 PM (Virtual via Zoom & On Demand)
ODHA Annual Meeting - A Year in Review
ODHA members are invited to join us for our Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, December 11, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm via Zoom. To register for this special event, click here. This year's Annual Meeting includes:
- Message from ADHA
- ODHA Accomplishments & Annual Reports
- Celebrating Award & Scholarship Recipients
- Introduction of 2026 ODHA Board Members
- Preview of ODHA 2026 events
Opportunity for Adjunct Dental Hygiene Instructors
 Rogue Community College is seeking adjunct dental hygiene instructors who may provide didactic, laboratory and clinical instruction for dental hygiene students in on-campus clinical facilities, fieldwork sites and distance learning environments. Adjunct instructors may be asked to teach didactic, laboratory and clinical courses; provide laboratory and clinical instruction, evaluation and supervision; monitor patient care to ensure that patients receive safe and appropriate care; and serve as a role model for the dental hygiene profession. Rogue’s dental hygiene education program is located in White City, Oregon. To learn more, click here.
Oregon Dental Hygienists in the News
Hospital Dental Hygiene
Carrie McHill, MPH, EPDH recently had an article published in Today’s RDH. “Hospital Dental Hygiene: Advantages of Integrating Oral Health Services in a Hospital Setting” discusses how dental hygienists can work in various hospital departments to address nontraumatic dental emergencies, dental pain and hospital-acquired infections, as well as to facilitate care coordination for hospital patients with local dentists and public health resources. The article also examines challenges to medical-dental integration.Carrie graduated from Oregon Tech in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene and holds permits in expanded practice and restorative functions. Carrie also has a Master of Public Health and loves to promote the collaboration between dentistry and community health. Her main goal as a dental hygienist is to contribute to bridging the gap between the dental and medical professions.
DYI Dental Hygienist Videos
Laura Avery, RDH has attracted more than one million Instagram followers for her DYI home renovation videos. Laura and her husband purchased a rundown cottage built in 1918 and her videos highlight renovation projects completed by her, her husband, and their four children. To view Laura's videos, click here.
Why Renew Your ODHA Membership?
ODHA is committed to providing advocacy, professional development and networking opportunities for dental hygienists and the dental hygiene profession in Oregon.
Advocacy - ODHA monitors the Oregon Legislature & the Oregon Board of Dentistry, and takes action on bills and rules that may affect your professional practice.
Professional Development - ODHA provides continuing education on a variety of topics to help you stay up-to-date on current & emerging dental hygiene practice.
Networking Opportunities - ODHA hosts conferences and social events where you can meet & network with your professional colleagues
We are better together!
To renew your commitment to the dental hygiene profession, click here today!
OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY NEWS
DAWSAC Meeting
The Dental Assisting Workforce Shortage Advisory Committee (DAWSAC) of the Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet virtually at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, December 9th. The agenda for this meeting will include a Zoom link for participants who would like to attend.
December Board Meeting
The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, December 12, 2025 at the Board office located at 1500 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 770, Portland, OR 97201 The agenda for this meeting will include a Zoom link for participants who would like to attend virtually. Board members will vote on the proposed rule amendments at this meeting. Anyone may participate in the Open Sessions of the Board meeting.
The agenda and public packet for this Board meeting will be posted approximately one week before the meeting on the Board website at www.oregon.gov/dentistry. Scroll down to About Us and click on Meetings. The public packet is usually more than 200 pages in length. We recommend that you review this document online, and only print pages if you need them.
If you would like to participate in the Open Sessions of this or any future Board meeting, contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley at [email protected] for more information. Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on the following Fridays in 2026: February 27, April 24, June 12, August 21, December 11.
Oregon Wellness Program
The Oregon Wellness Program (OWP) ensures licensees (dentists, registered dental hygienists, and dental therapists) within the state of Oregon have access to mental health support that is non-reported, urgently available, and complimentary. OWP contracts with licensed and credentialed mental health providers, who each have a minimum of five years professional experience providing services to health care professionals. For more information, click on https://oregonwellnessprogram.org.
OWP affiliated providers offer:
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Up to three complimentary sessions (a one-time benefit that can be spread across multiple years)
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Appointments are generally available within three business days
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Care without a “paper trail” or reporting to insurance or professional board
ADHA News
Renew Your ADHA Membership
The ADHA is working to protect licensure, advance license portability, expand access to care, and put patient safety first. These advocacy wins don’t happen on their own. Your membership makes advocacy possible. Renew your membership today to keep your profession strong.
ADHA Hygienist Hub
Hygienist Hub is ADHA’s new resource for short articles on clinical updates, career strategies, highlights and can’t-miss stories. To access any of the following topics, click on www.adha.org/hygienist-hub/.
- ADHA at the ADA House of Delegates: Advocating for Professional Standards and Patient Safety
- Missouri’s OPA Pilot Project Scales Back Quality and Threatens Patient Safety
- Fluoridated Toothpastes for Caries Prevention
ADHA Hygiene Rising
ADHA’s Hygiene Rising: Real Talk on Oral Health is the official podcast for the American Dental Hygienists' Association. Join us as we discuss relevant thoughts, ideas, and best practices for hygienists throughout the United States. Be sure to reach out with ideas for our show on any of the social media channels! Some recent topics include:
- Critical Conversations: Recognizing Signs of Domestic Violence in Your Chair (171)
- Crisis Prevention in Dental Settings: Essential De-escalation Techniques for Hygienists (170)
For more information, click on click on Hygiene Rising - Podcast - Apple Podcasts.
Season of Giving
As we approach the holiday season and the end of the year, the ADHA Foundation is grateful to those of you who made donations in 2025. Your support provides funding that increases access to dental care and advances the dental hygiene profession through student scholarships, research grants and community service grants.
We are proud to announce that our partners at Elevate Oral Care will be our matching sponsor for this year’s Giving Tuesday to be held on December 2, 2025. On this day only, all donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $2,500 by Elevate Oral Care. This means that your donation will be doubled by our generous sponsor. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 2ndand join us in elevating oral health and expanding access to care. Thank you for being part of this movement!
Upcoming Events
National Mobile & Teledentistry Conference
 The 7th Annual National Mobile & Teledentistry Conference will be held Thursday-Saturday, February 26-28, 2026 at the Jupitor Hotel in Portland, Oregon. More than ever before, we live in a mobile world with endless possibilities! Whether you’re a private practice wanting to add a virtual division to your business model, an experienced mobile clinician with a heart to reach more patients, or a company with innovation to grow practice efficiency, this is the event for you! Conference themes for this year include business growth and development, preventive and minimally invasive care, oral-systemic health, technology and AI.
Join one of the fastest growing movements and experience dentistry like never before! Over three days, you'll have the chance to meet industry pioneers and explore innovative business models — all while diving into the future of dentistry. Early bird tickets on sale now!
For more information, click here.
2026 National Oral Health Conference
 The 2026 National Oral Health Conference (NOHC) will be held April 13-15, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with weekend workshops scheduled for April 11-12. This conference is sponsored by the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) and the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD).
The NOHC is the premier meeting for those interested in continuing education and networking opportunities within the discipline of Dental Public Health. NOHC offers educational sessions on a diverse array of topics by leaders in the field and is designed for dentists, dental hygienists, health researchers, dental/health educators, legislators, public health officials, Medicaid/CHIP dental program staff or consultants, state/territorial dental directors, county/city/local dental directors, community health center personnel, students, school-based and school-linked health center personnel, federally-employed dental personnel, as well as dental manufacturers/distributors and dental insurance companies – in short, anyone interested in engaging in collaboration to improve the oral health of the public. For more information, click here.
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