President’s Message

September always brings that familiar shift from summer vacation to the first days of school. This year, it may feel a bit heavier for many of us across our state. The intense wildfires in Oregon this summer and early fall have brought so many in our community into entirely unfamiliar territory. Whether you were personally affected, evacuated, choked on smoke, or simply worried about loved ones, it has been a stressful season.

But if nature teaches us anything, it’s that there is always rebirth, new growth, and strength that rises from the ashes of a fire. As we settle back into our routines, let’s carry that resilience forward, remembering how important it is to support one another, rebuild, and keep growing together.

Looking at the month ahead, we have some meaningful dates to recognize, and each one ties right back to what we do every day:

• Office Manager Appreciation Month: This month is all about celebrating the incredible administrative leaders in our practices. From juggling chaotic schedules to fighting with insurance companies, they handle the front desk so we can focus entirely on patient care. High-quality care truly takes a village, and our office managers are a vital part of the team. Please take time to thank them this month!

• Labor Day (September 7): Labor Day celebrates the achievements of the American worker, and our profession has a beautiful history here. Irene Newman’s licensure in 1917 was a massive milestone. Before her, women in dental offices were mostly kept in untrained assistant roles. Newman’s license legally validated dental hygiene as a distinct, highly skilled trade. She was the very first worker in a field that now employs over 200,000 of us across the country! When the U.S. Department of Labor tracks healthcare growth today, dental hygiene stands out as indispensable. It’s amazing to see how our career pathway continues to evolve.

• National Suicide Prevention Month: Mental health awareness is so close to my heart. As dental hygienists, we build unique relationships with our patients and are often the first to notice small, systemic changes in their well-being. Sometimes, simply providing a safe, compassionate, and listening ear while they are in our chair can make a profound difference for someone going through a crisis.

• National Recovery Month: In the opiate and addiction recovery journey, oral health rehabilitation is often a massive milestone. We have the distinct privilege of helping these individuals restore not just their smiles and oral comfort, but their confidence to start fresh.

• World Alzheimer's Month: This month reminds us to focus on the specialized care required for patients experiencing cognitive decline. It’s a great time to audit our approaches, adapt our home-care strategies, and ensure we are creating a gentle, patient clinical environment for those navigating dementia.

Just like a season of new growth, this time of year is also the perfect opportunity for us to look ahead at our own professional requirements. With licensing renewals always on the horizon, I highly encourage everyone to audit their continuing education (CE) hours.

To make it easy to cross-reference your logs, here is a quick breakdown of the Oregon Board of Dentistry renewal requirements:

Continuing Education Requirement 

Dental hygienists licensed in Oregon must complete 24 hours of continuing education

related to direct clinical patient care or the practice of dental public health every 2-year renewal cycle. Dental hygienists who hold an Expanded Practice Permit must complete 36 (12 additional) hours of continuing education every 2-year renewal cycle to renew this permit.

The following continuing education courses are required for license renewal in Oregon:

• Medical Emergencies: 3 hours required

• Infection Control: 2 hours required. (Note: If you use an OSHA course, your certificate must indicate that there was 2 hours of infection control).

• Cultural Competency: 2 hours required

CPR/BLS Requirement

After the initial BLS certification, a Board-approved BLS for Healthcare Providers or its equivalent hands-on or online renewal course is required for license renewal. A BLS certification card with an expiration date must be received from the BLS provider as documentation of BLS certification. The Board considers the BLS expiration date to be the last day of the month that the BLS instructor indicates that the certification expires.

Whether you need to finish up your required hours or just want to learn something new, ODHA has your back. We are currently finalizing a fantastic lineup of fall CE opportunities designed to fit your busy schedule. Let’s use this season to sharpen our focus, learn together, and strengthen our hygiene community.

Thank you so much for your dedication to our profession, your patients, and your teams. Wishing you all a safe, happy, and productive fall!

Respectfully,

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

Bridging the Language Gap: Spanish Essentials for Dental Teams

Thursday, September 17, 2026 | 6:30 - 8:30 pm | Cultural Competency Course | 2 CE's

Course Summary

Effective communication is the foundation of patient-centered care, especially in diverse communities. This interactive course introduces dental professionals to the fundamentals of Spanish language use in the dental setting, focusing on practical vocabulary, pronunciation, and culturally sensitive communication strategies. Participants will learn the Spanish alphabet, common dental terms and phrases, and key conversational skills to improve interactions with Spanish-speaking patients.

Course Learning Objectives

• Identify and correctly pronounce the Spanish alphabet and commonly used dental terms and phrases relevant to routine clinical interactions.
• Apply basic Spanish conversational skills to enhance communication with Spanish-speaking patients during appointments, instructions, and patient education.
• Demonstrate culturally sensitive communication strategies that support patient-centered care and improve trust, comfort, and understanding in diverse dental settings.

Whether you're looking to strengthen communication with your patients, build practical language skills, or complete your cultural competency CE requirement, this course offers tools you can put into practice right away.

Presenters

Wilber Ramírez-Rodríguez is a dedicated dental professional and educator who is deeply committed to serving underserved communities. He is a Full Professor at Pacific University’s School of Dental Hygiene Studies, where he teaches, supervises students, and leads community outreach programs. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in Peru and later completed degrees in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy at Pacific University. Throughout his career, he has focused on preventive care, public health, and hands-on education for future oral health professionals.

In addition to his academic work, Ramírez-Rodríguez has been a strong leader in community dental care and professional organizations. He founded Dental Reach Inc. and co-founded Misión Dental Esperanza to improve access to dental care for underserved populations. He serves on the Board of the American Dental Therapy Association and is active in several national and local dental and public health organizations. His work has been recognized with multiple awards for leadership, community service, diversity, and public health impact.

Kristen L. Moses, MS Ed, DT, EPDH, RDH is an Associate Professor in the School of Dental Hygiene Studies at Pacific University and a licensed Registered Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist in the state of Oregon. She holds a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Policy and a Bachelor of Science in Dental Health Science.

Kristen teaches and presents topics related to patient-centered care, effective communication, and dental hygiene practice for diverse and underserved populations. She has developed Spanish-language educational modules for dental students and professionals that emphasize practical dental vocabulary, pronunciation, and culturally responsive communication to support improved access to care for Spanish-speaking patients. Known for her approachable teaching style, Kristen focuses on communication strategies that can be applied immediately in clinical practice.

September is Dental Infection Control Awareness Month

Dental Infection Control Awareness Month (DICAM) is sponsored in September each year by the Association for Dental Safety (ADS) formerly known as OSAP. The theme of DICAM 2026 is "Safety Starts With Every Step — small, consistent behaviors that add up to The Safest Dental Visit.”  The goal of DICAM is to educate, engage, and inspire the dental community to maintain the safest possible dental visits. DICAM is designed to promote infection prevention in dental settings, educate the dental community, and strengthen patient and team safety.DICAM raises awareness of the everyday infection control practices that protect patients and dental staff.

Founded in 1984, the Association for Dental Safety (ADS) is the only membership organization dedicated exclusively to dental infection prevention and safety for both patients and providers. ADS empowers oral health professionals with evidence-based education, practical resources, and a collaborative community—all working together to make every dental visit a safe visit.

ADS provides the following resources:

• Social Media & Marketing Toolkit — ready-to-use graphics, messaging, and patient/staff scripts.

• Infection Prevention & Safety Resource Toolkit — checklists, ICC responsibilities, and topic-specific tools.

• Ask ADS — an AI-powered assistant for quick, evidence-based answers on infection control questions..

For more information, click on www.myads.org/dicam. 

Students Provide Dental Hygiene Care in Jamaica

In August 2026, 11 senior year dental hygiene students from the Oregon Tech Klamath Falls campus traveled to Ocho Rios, Jamaica to participate in the 1,000 Smiles project sponsored by Great Shape! Inc.

The Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association has an annual awards program that recognizes ODHA members & community partners who have demonstrated exemplary service, dedication & 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, visit www.odha.org/rdh-and-industry-awards. Awards nominations are due by Friday October 9, 2026, and will be presented during ODHA's virtual Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 11, from 7 to 8 pm.

Call for ODHA Leadership Positions

ODHA is seeking passionate & engaged members to join the 2026-2027 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 & work in partnership with you to guide our association & advance our profession. 

Any ODHA member in good standing is eligible to run for a position. If you are interested in leadership or would like to nominate someone, please complete the online Nomination Form by September 30th. Individuals must consent to having their names placed in nomination.

The Nominating Committee will review all nominations & recommend a slate of candidates for election. The slate of candidates will be emailed to all ODHA members 14 days before the ballot is sent. The ballot will be sent to all ODHA members & they will cast their votes online. The results of the election will be announced in November & the 2026-2027 ODHA leadership team will be introduced at ODHA’s virtual Annual Membership Meeting on Wednesday, November 11, from 7-8 pm PST. 

The following ODHA leadership positions are available this year:

Continuing education doesn’t have to wait for a conference, webinar date, or approaching license renewal deadline. With ODHA’s On-Demand CE Library, you can invest in your professional growth throughout the year—on a schedule that works for you.

The entire 2025–2026 Winter & Spring CE Series is now available on demand, giving dental hygienists the flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere, and at their own pace. No travel. No schedule conflicts. Just quality education designed specifically for dental hygiene professionals.

 From advocacy and professional engagement to clinical topics and emerging trends, these courses provide valuable insights while helping you stay current and meet your continuing education requirements.

ODHA members receive some of the most affordable continuing education opportunities available:

 Professional & Student Members

• Included as a member benefit at no additional cost

 New Professional & Graduate Members

• $159 for the complete series (8 CE credits)
• $24.75 per individual course

Non-Members

• $399 for the complete series (all 8 CE courses — a $39 savings)
• $54.75 per individual course

Not only is summer a great time to complete your CE requirements, butit's also an opportunity to learn from respected presenters and gain knowledge that can immediately benefit your patients, practice, and career.

Don't wait until your license renewal deadline approaches. Take advantage of the flexibility of on-demand learning and complete your CE requirements on your schedule.

To register, click here and make this summer a season of professional growth.

Oregon Board of Dentistry News

ADHA News

ADHA White Paper on Self-Governance

ADHA has released a new white paper, titled “Dental Hygiene Self-Governance: An Ethical and Economic Imperative,” that distinguishes self-regulation from self-governance and calls for authority over dental hygiene to align with the profession’s education, competence and accountability. The paper argues that preventive oral health policy cannot be fully modernized while dental hygiene remains governed by systems outside the profession.

The paper draws a clear line between two ideas that are often used interchangeably. Self-regulation reflects authority delegated by the state to oversee members within an existing system. Self-governance reflects the inherent authority to define scope, standards, educational expectations and the systems through which care is delivered. Dental hygiene’s current model, the paper argues, grants the profession partial oversight but insufficient authority to shape the structures that determine access to preventive care.

The paper was authored by Derik J. Sven, DHSc, MBA, MPH, RDH, CDT, FADHA, FAADH, an ADHA Fellow and president of the Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association who worked with ADHA to develop the Dental Hygiene Modernization Act. “Dental hygiene has operated under another profession’s authority for more than a century, even as the evidence for what hygienists can safely provide keeps growing,” said Dr. Sven. “Self-governance isn’t about independence for its own sake. It’s about aligning authority with the competence the profession already demonstrates.”

Click on the following link to access this new white paper. https://adha.org/whitepapers

ADHA Earns International Recognition for Hygienist Inspired Ambassador Program

ADHA has earned first place in the Large Association category of the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH) Impact Awards for its Hygienist Inspired Ambassador Program, a national workforce development initiative funded by the Delta Dental Foundation.

The Impact Awards, sponsored by Colgate, recognize a member association’s most impactful program promoting the oral health of its country’s citizens during the calendar year. Awards are presented in three categories based on association size, and ADHA was honored alongside recipients from Australia and Slovakia. Click on the following link for more information. https://www.adha.org/newsroom 

Dental Hygienist Career Recruitment Program

The goals of this program are to address workforce shortages, improve access to care and increase diversity in the profession.

Hygienist Inspired Ambassadors submit a pledge to ADHA that they will inspire the next generation of dental hygienists through conversations with their patients. Due to the level of commitment required, Ambassadors receive an annual stipend, attend in-person, expenses-paid training and agree to play an ongoing and active role in the recruitment program. Ambassadors cultivate connections, conduct presentations and train other dental hygienists to have effective chairside conversations with prospective dental hygiene students.

The following states are currently participating in the Hygienist Inspired program: Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Each state supports approximately three Ambassadors. Click on the following link if you are interested in learning more about this program. https://www.adha.org/hygienist-inspired/  

SEPA Strengthens Alliance with ADHA

The Spanish Society of Periodontology and Osseointegration (SEPA) has entered into a collaboration agreement with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), with the aim of strengthening continuing education, knowledge exchange, and the development of joint initiatives that contribute to improving both oral and overall health.

The agreement, signed by SEPA President Dr. Paula Matesanz and ADHA Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Hill, establishes several areas of collaboration. These include the development of educational programs aimed particularly at dental hygienists, the exchange of scientific and educational resources, the organization of joint symposia and sessions at the annual congresses of both organizations, and the launch of international training activities. In addition, both organizations will explore new opportunities to promote collaborative projects that advance the profession and improve oral health care.

With more than 6,000 member periodontists and oral health professionals, SEPA is the Spanish scientific society dedicated to periodontology and implant dentistry, and is recognized as a global leader in periodontal science and clinical practice. The Society promotes high-quality clinical training, the dissemination of scientific knowledge, and research in oral health.

Click on the following link for more information. https://www.adha.org/newsroom

ADHA Annual Conference

It’s not too late to register to attend the 2026 ADHA Annual Conference to be held Friday, September 24 – Monday, September 28 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Oregon dental hygienists presenting at this conference include:

• Lori Killen Aus will present Deep in the Heart of Compassion: Accessing Vulnerable Populations 3:15-4:15 PM CDT on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

• Lisa Rowley will be one of three presenters for the Educators Workshop 12:45-3:45 PM CDT on Friday, September 25, 2026.

Click on the following link for more information. https://www.adha2026.org

ADHA Hygienist Hub

Hygienist Hub is ADHA’s resource for short articles on clinical updates, career strategies, highlights & can’t-miss stories. Click on the following link to access any of the following topics. https://www.adha.org/hygienist-hub 

• When a Routine Hygiene Visit Signals Heart Disease

• The Periodontal EFDA Rule in Missouri, A Conversation with Diann Bomkamp

• Presence, Passion, Purpose: How One Ambassador Is Changing How Communities See Dental Hygiene

• The Question I Was Asking Wrong About Pride Month

ADHA Hygiene Rising Podcast 

Hygiene Rising: Real Talk on Oral Health is the official podcast for the ADHA. Join us as we discuss relevant thoughts, ideas, & best practices for dental hygienists throughout the United States. Be sure to reach out with ideas for our show on any of ADHA’S social media channels. Former ADHA President Matt Crespin, MPH, RDH, FADHA is the host for these podcasts. Click on the following link to access these topics. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hygiene-rising 

• Live from Milan: Voices from ISDH Podversations from the live event (Ep 182)

• Your Mouth, Your Brain: The Alzheimer's Connection Dental Hygienists Need to Know (Ep 181)

• From the Clinic to the Capitol: ADHA's Advocacy Day in Action (Ep 180)

ADHA Foundation Update

Wellness Challenge at 2026 ADHA Annual Conference

The ADHA Foundation Wellness Challenge is a fun and engaging way to focus on your well-being while making the most of your experience at the 2026 ADHA Annual Conference.

This year, the entire wellness challenge will be condensed into a single day at ADHA26. Instead of completing activities throughout the conference, you will have one day to tackle six secret wellness missions designed to help you recharge, connect with fellow attendees, and have fun along the way. Whether you're a first-time participant or a returning challenger, everyone has a chance to join in and compete for prizes.