President’s Message

Dear Colleagues,

As we welcome October, there is so much to celebrate within our profession and beyond. This month is especially meaningful to dental hygienists everywhere, as we honor National Dental Hygiene Month. It’s a time to highlight the vital role we play in promoting oral health, preventing disease, and making a lasting impact in the lives of our patients and communities. I encourage each of you to take a moment to reflect on the difference your work makes every day – your expertise, compassion, and dedication truly matter.

In addition to recognizing our profession, October offers other opportunities to celebrate and engage:

• October 15 – National Make a Difference Day: A reminder that even the smallest act of kindness can create a ripple effect. Whether it’s mentoring a student, volunteering in your community, or simply encouraging a patient, each of us has the power to inspire change.

• October 27 – National Pumpkin Day: A lighter occasion, but a fun one! Pumpkins remind us of the season’s warmth and creativity, from harvest meals to Halloween traditions.

I’m also excited to share that the ODHA has introduced our Fall Education Series, designed to bring continuing education opportunities directly to you. These sessions will provide valuable updates, practical tools, and engaging discussions to help you thrive in your practice and stay connected with colleagues across the state. We hope you’ll take advantage of these offerings and join us in strengthening both our knowledge and our community.

The calendar includes:

• October 10 – Periodontal Innovations: Updates for Today’s Hygienist

• October 17 – Caring for Patients with Special Health Care Needs

• October 24 – Emerging Trends in Oral-Systemic Health

• November 7 – Advocacy in Action: The Future of Dental Hygiene in Oregon

In addition to the Fall Education Series, your Professional Development Committee is hard at work planning the next Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference. We can’t wait to bring you another impactful event filled with learning, networking, and inspiration.

Thank you for all that you do to advance oral health in Oregon. Let’s continue to celebrate our profession, uplift one another, and embrace the opportunities this season brings.

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

Call to Action for Dental Hygienists

Did you know that the Oregon Board of Dentistry is considering two proposed rule changes that will impact you as a dental hygienist? These rule changes include: 

• A rule change that will allow dental hygienists to use Botox to treat oral conditions under the general supervision of a dentist.
• A rule change that will clarify that dental assistants are currently prohibited from periodontal probing and scaling to remove deposits and stains.

We need YOU to submit comments in SUPPORT of these rule changes before 4:00 pm this Friday, October 10, 2025.

IMPORTANT: The Oregon Dental Association is OPPOSED to the rule change that clarifies dental assistants are currently prohibited from performing periodontal probing and scaling teeth, and has asked its members to submit opposition letters. The majority of letters the Oregon Board of Dentistry receives must be in SUPPORT of this rule change. 

TAKE ACTION TODAY by using the forms below. Instructions are included for your emails to the Oregon Board of Dentistry. 

Help Add Botox to Dental Hygiene Scope of Practice

Help Clarify that Scaling Assistants are not Legal in Oregon

OralDNA Salivary Diagnostics: Precision Guided Periodontal Therapy in Clinical Practice

When Couples Share More Than Just Dinner Plans: The Bacterial Transmission Reality

We've all had those patients—the ones who come in with picture-perfect oral hygiene but somehow still develop aggressive periodontal disease. Then, six months later, their spouse shows up with similar symptoms. Coincidence? Not quite. Research has consistently demonstrated that periodontal pathogens can be transmitted between intimate contacts, with studies showing that couples often harbor

DNA fingerprinting techniques have confirmed that Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis are readily transmitted among family members, with saliva serving as the primary vector (Petit et al., 1993). This isn't just academic trivia—it has real clinical implications for treatment planning and long-term maintenance protocols, particularly when dealing with aggressive periodontitis cases or those frustrating treatment-resistant scenarios we all encounter.

Click here to continue reading the full article on page 2.

October CE Oppts: Cultural Competency & Complications of Local Anesthesia

Next Wednesday, October 15, ODHA will host its second course in the Fall Education Series, Dental Outreach: Expanding Your Horizons and Cultural Awareness. In partnership with Mt. Hood Community College, this interactive program panel features Ilya Babiy, RDH, MS, EPP; Lori Killen Aus, RDHEP, MA, FADHA; Jennifer Aubry, RDH, MS, EPP; and Tracy Brunkhorst, RDH, EPDH, FADHA. Each professional will share how they've used their time and talents to improve the well-being of people at home and around the world, and gained so much cultural enrichment in the process! An interactive program, audience participation is welcome and encouraged. Details on organizations you may serve with will also be shared! This program satisfies the cultural competency requirement of 2 CEs. 

On Thursday, October 30, ODHA will partner with the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls to host Complications of Local Anesthesia with presenter Stacie Neely, MSAH, RDH. Here, we delve into effective pain management, an essential to comfortable patient care—but what happens when local anesthesia does not work as expected? Managing patient comfort while staying on schedule can be challenging and frustrating for both patients and providers. This course explores the common causes of local anesthetic failure and equips you with practical strategies to address them. We will examine clinician-related factors, patient-related psychological and physiological barriers, and physical or chemical influences that may interfere with anesthesia. Additionally, we will review alternative injection techniques to help improve anesthetic outcomes. By the end of this course, you will be better prepared to make confident, informed decisions when managing local anesthetic complications in clinical practice.

Individuals have the opportunity to attend October's live programs in person or virtually via Zoom. For those who cannot participate on the above dates and times, on-demand viewing will be available, providing 90 days for viewing and course completion.

ADHA & ODHA professional members receive the ODHA Fall Education Series at no cost as a benefit of membership. New Professionals and Graduate Members who are receiving significant member discounts or complimentary memberships from the ADHA can register for the Fall Education Series for $99, or $24.75 for individual courses. Non-members can register for the Fall Education Series for $249 or $62.25 for particular classes. To view course descriptions, presenters, and to register, click here today!

Secretary's Message

Hello dental hygienists and friends,

Whether you are an ODHA member, a non-member, or practicing outside Oregon, you are warmly welcomed to this update.

It’s been a wonderfully busy season, and I’m eager to re-engage more fully as we move into fall. I’m excited to shift back into the rhythm of teaching and mentoring students at Portland Community College and to refocus on developing continuing education opportunities as well as full engagement in ODHA and spreading the word about our organization. Staying connected to our professional association is vital; it allows us to advocate for our scope of practice, protect our licensure, and keep our voices strong in legislative and public-health conversations. By participating and encouraging others to join, we help ensure that dental hygiene continues to grow, evolve, and remain a respected, united profession.

Looking ahead, I’m especially enthusiastic about the continuing education courses in the works and a New Graduates symposium you’ll want to keep on your radar; more details to come soon!

As our president Kim Perlot has shared in previous updates, we will not be holding our ODHA Annual Conference this year. We’re taking this time to thoughtfully reimagine and strengthen the event so we can come back refreshed and better than ever.

Thank you for your continued support of ODHA and for the meaningful work you do every day for our profession and our patients. I look forward to an inspiring year together. 

Call for ODHA Award Nominations

The ODHA's annual awards program 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 & 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, & national levels for an extended period of time, & who is known widely for their achievements & 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 & networking opportunities for dental hygienists & the dental hygiene profession.

For more information or to submit a nomination for any of these awards, click here. Awards nominations are due by Friday, November 7th. Award recipients will be announced during the 2025 ODHA Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, December 11, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm via Zoom.

ODHA Future Leader Awards

The ODHA Future Leader Award recognizes the next generation of leaders in the dental hygiene profession. This award may be presented each year to one graduating student from each of the accredited dental hygiene programs in Oregon. 

Award recipients are nominated by their faculty based on their potential to pursue leadership roles in our professional association. Award recipients must be student members of ADHA and demonstrate active participation in their student chapter of ADHA. Only one graduating student may be nominated from each school.  

ODHA's Annual Membership Meeting

You're invited to join ODHA for its Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, December 11, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm via Zoom. An invitation with Zoom call-in and login information will be emailed to members. 

This meeting will include:

• Message from ADHA President Lancette Van Guilder

• Report from our ADHA District XI Director Laura Vanderwerf

• ODHA Accomplishments & Annual Reports

• Award & Scholarship Recipients

• Introduction of 2026 ODHA Board Members

• Preview of ODHA 2026 event
  

The Coalition for Modernizing Dental Licensure (CMDL) is a coalition of over 130 national and state organizations, institutions and programs representing dentistry, dental education, dental specialties, dental hygiene and nonprofit groups working to improve public access to oral health care.

Since its founding in 2018, the Coalition has focused on two essential goals:

• To eliminate single-encounter, procedure-based patient examinations, replacing them with clinical assessments that have stronger validity and reliability evidence.

• To increase licensure portability to allow for professional mobility and improved access to care.

Coalition founders based these objectives on findings shared by the Task Force on Assessment of Readiness to Practice (TARP). These recommendations continue to guide the Coalition’s work as they unite to modernize licensure practices for dentists and dental hygienists.

The Coalition welcomes organizations, agencies and education programs that support dental licensure reform. Partner organizations actively participate in national, state and local efforts to advance the Coalition’s goals and lend their names to reform efforts and may participate in Coalition activities as appropriate. The Oregon Dental Association, Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association, Oregon Health & Science University, Pacific University and Portland Community College are partner organizations.

For more information about CMDL, visit www.dentallicensure.org. 

Dental Hygiene Successories

Concorde Career College - The inaugural class of 31 dental hygiene students had a pinning ceremony with student awards on September 10th. As a new program, these students had a very challenging educational journey. Each of them persevered completing their course work and clinical requirements. They have passed their clinical board exams and are scheduled to take their written board exam. They will graduate on October 16th.

Mount Hood Community College - On Saturday September 13th, nine dental hygiene students, three faculty and family members took part in Oregon’s Oral Cancer Walk in Corvallis. StudentRDH, the board exam preparation company, collaborated to sponsor their participation and raise money for the cause. There were free oral cancer screenings and raffle prize giveaways. An oral cancer survivor shared her moving personal story and participants walked in honor of loved ones. MHCC took first place for biggest team! It was an amazingly refreshing team building activity for an incredible cause. For more information click on OCF Walk / Run Events - Oral Cancer Foundation | Information and Resources about Oral Head and Neck Cancer.

 

Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls Campus - Krista Beaty was recently appointed as the new department chair for the dental hygiene program. Krista is succeeding Paula Rusell who served as department chair for the last eight years. Paula is returning to full-time teaching and will continue to serve as online director for OIT’s BS degree completion program.

 

 

Oregon Institute of TechnologySalem Campus - Seven dental hygiene students, two instructors and alumni helped provide care for 896 patients in the West Indies Country of Grenada during the last week of August. In partnership with Great Shape! Inc., a group of about 56 volunteers from around the United States and Canada gathered for the sole purpose of providing free dental care. Multiple clinics were set up in the classrooms of Happy Hill Secondary School. Dentists, oral surgeons, hygienists and dental hygiene students performed 181 extractions, 248 fillings, 372 cleanings, 576 fluoride treatments and 2,186 sealants. A team of six volunteers were also dispatched to the small sister island of Carriacou for three of the days we were there and four of our students were able to participate in this trip. This type of experience not only helps a community in need but sparks a fire of volunteerism in our students that often continues throughout their career. 

Pacific University - Three dental hygiene students accompanied by faculty advisor Wilber Ramirez-Rodrigues, represented the Pacific University Student Hispanic Dental Association (SHDA) Chapter at the Hispanic Dental Association’s 35th Annual Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Two students received national scholarships from the Hispanic Dental Association Foundation. Ebby Gracia was awarded the Procter & Gamble Bridges Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship in the amount of $4,000, and Victor Collins-Wright received the Colgate Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship in the amount of $2,500.

Faculty member Lesley Harbison was recognized as ADHA's 2025 Standout Seven Research Award winner! Celebrating 25 years as a dental hygienist, Lesley combines clinical expertise with her passion for research in person-centered care, access to care and mental health. Her dedication to discovery and inspiring students truly elevates our profession. The 2025 ADHA Standout Seven Awards are sponsored by Acclean by Henry Schein. 

Rogue Community College - Dental Hygiene students and faculty recently participated in a humanitarian outreach trip to St. Lucia in partnership with Great Shape! Inc.'s 1000 Smiles Project. During the trip, the team provided essential dental hygiene services to more than 700 local residents, many of whom had limited access to oral healthcare. This immersive, hands-on experience offered the students an unparalleled opportunity to enhance their clinical skills and professional growth gaining in one week what could take months to learn in a traditional dental education setting. Most importantly, the team contributed to addressing a critical need by delivering care to an underserved population in urgent need of dental services. We are so proud of our students.

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY NEWS

Continuing Education Audit Process

Each year the Oregon Board of Dentistry audits continuing education for approximately 15% of licensees who renew in that year. The audit process for licensed dental hygienists and dental therapists begins in October each year after the license renewal period closes on September 30th.

Be prepared for an audit by completing your required continuing education prior to your renewal and keeping all certificates of completion. Licensees must maintain a record of successful completion of continuing education for at least four licensure years consistent with the licensee’s licensure cycle. Licensees may download a CE Log form from the OBD website at www.oregon.gov/dentistry/pages/CE.aspx. For questions, contact the Board staff at [email protected]  

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Dental Therapy Committee Meeting

The Oregon Board of Dentistry’s Dental Therapy Rules Oversight Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 8th beginning at 5:00 PM. This meeting will be held via Zoom. One of the agenda items will be discussion of a proposed rule change to allow dental therapists to place space maintainers. Dental therapists are already allowed to remove space maintainers. For additional information, visit the Board website at www.oregon.gov/dentistry. Scroll down to About Us and click on Meetings.

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October Board Meeting

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, October 24, 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. The next Oregon Board of Dentistry meeting will be held on Friday, December 12.

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What is an Expanded Function Preventive Dental Assistant?

The expanded functions preventive assistant (EFPDA) certificate is an Oregon credential that allows a dental assistant to polish the coronal surfaces of teeth with a brush or rubber cup as part of oral prophylaxis to remove stains providing the patient is checked by a dentist or dental hygienist after the procedure is performed before the patient is discharged. The EFPDA primarily works in pediatric dental practices. Upon successful completion of a course of instruction in a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association or other course of instruction approved by the Board, the EFPDA may also apply pit and fissure sealants provided the patient is examined before the sealants are placed. The sealants must be placed within 45 days of the procedure being authorized by a licensee (dentist, dental therapist or dental hygienist).

In order to be credentialed as an EFPDA, the dental assistant must provide proof of Certification of Radiologic Proficiency and passage of the Oregon Expanded Functions with Infection Control examination; or passage of the Coronal Polishing with Infection Control examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB), or prior passage of the Infection Control Examination and passage of the Oregon Expanded Functions General Dental Assisting exam or Coronal Polishing exam, administered by DANB; and certification by an Oregon licensed dentist that the applicant has successfully polished the coronal surfaces of teeth with a brush or rubber cup as part of oral prophylaxis to remove stains on six (6) patients. The dental assistant must submit within six months’ certification by a licensed dentist that the dental assistant is proficient to perform all the expanded function preventive duties. If no expanded functions preventive certificate is issued within the six months, the dental assistant is no longer able to continue to perform expanded function preventive duties until EFPDA certification is achieved.

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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:

• Up to three complimentary sessions (a one-time benefit that can be spread across multiple years)

• Appointments are generally available within three business days

• Care without a “paper trail” or reporting to insurance or professional board

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ADHA News

ADHA Foundation Scholarships

ADHA Foundation scholarships support students in associate degree, bachelor’s degree and graduate degree education programs. ADHA student and professional members are eligible to apply for ADHA Foundation scholarships The application portal for all scholarships opens on October 1st. All scholarship applications are due In February 2026.

Applicants for Associate Degree Scholarships must be ADHA members, enrolled in an accredited dental hygiene program, completed a minimum of one year of a dental hygiene curriculum and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or above. Students may be in the process of completing their first year when their application is submitted. Students entering their first year of dental hygiene school or in their final year of dental hygiene school are not eligible.

Applicants for Bachelor’s Degree Scholarships must be ADHA members, enrolled in an accredited dental hygiene program, completed a minimum of one year of a dental hygiene curriculum and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or above. Students may be in the process of completing their first year when their application is submitted. Students entering their first year of dental hygiene school or in their final year of dental hygiene school are not eligible.

Applicants for Graduate Degree Scholarships must be ADHA members, enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program in dental hygiene or an accredited degree program related to the professional roles of a dental hygienist and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or above. Graduate students must hold an active dental hygiene license and a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.These scholarship programs would not exist without the generous support of individuals like you. Each donation of any amount makes a difference. The ADHA Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and all donations are tax deductible. Donations of $50+ appear on the Donor Honor Roll at the ADHA Annual Conference and the ADHA Foundation Annual Report.

For more information about ADHA Foundation scholarships, visit www.adha.org/foundation/. 

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October is National Dental Hygiene Month

October is National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM)coinciding with ADHA's 2025 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, October 4-6, 2025. The goal of National Dental Hygiene Month is to increase public awareness of good oral health, empower patients with the latest information and techniques, and support their journey toward overall wellness. 

It’s our time to celebrate the work we do and promote the importance of oral health access for all. It’s our time to celebrate what we accomplish together through collaboration and collective action. This year’s theme, “The Power of Us,” reflects how our united dental hygiene community can create lasting change for our profession and the communities we serve. All month long we’re sharing digital resources, activities and social media content! Follow us@youradha!

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New ADHA White Paper

The ADHA has released “Missed Potential: How Expanding Dental Hygienists’ Roles Can Bridge America’s Oral Health Gaps,” a white paper exposing systemic barriers to oral healthcare & demonstrating how expanded dental hygienist autonomy can improve access to preventive care. The research reveals that 40% of Americans who plan to receive dental care never actually receive it due to access barriers. The white paper shows 24.7 million Americans live in dental care shortage areas, 1.7 million cannot access care within a 30-minute drive, and periodontal disease costs $154.06 billion annually in lost productivity.

“The evidence shows that expanded dental hygienist autonomy dramatically improves access to preventive care, especially for underserved populations,” said Dr. JoAnn Gurenlian, ADHA’s director of education, research and advocacy. The white paper calls for four policy changes: 1) allowing dental hygienists to practice to the highest national level, 2) removing practice setting restrictions, 3) supporting mobile, portable and tele-dentistry utilization, and 4) providing direct reimbursement for dental hygienist services.

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ADHA Model Autonomy Legislation

The ADHA has developed The Dental Hygiene Modernization Act, model legislation designed to be a reference for state associations pursuing autonomy policy in their respective states. The model act creates a Registered Dental Hygienist in Advanced Practice (RDH-AP) who will provide services independently while fostering professional collaboration with licensed dentists. The model act also creates a dedicated Board of Dental Hygiene to ensure profession-specific oversight, public protection, and alignment with Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) standards. Please see The Dental Hygiene Modernization Act and the accompanying FAQ for more details.

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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/.

• Increasing Dental Hygiene Scope of Practice
• How Public Health and Advocacy Inspired Me
• Students Making an Impact: Real Stories of ADHA Student Chapter Wins
• Your Smile Says More About Your Health Than You Think