RDH Under One Roof (UOR) is a dynamic event offering quality continuing education, workshops, exhibits, social events, and lots of time for networking. At RDH UOR, dental hygienists experienced continuing education courses with some of the leading speakers in the profession. This year the event had record attendance. For fun with RDH UOR go to www.youtube.com/RDHUnderOneRoof.
In addition to social events and exhibits, RDH UOR offered a variety of continuing education courses and workshops. The courses included Infectious Diseases of the Mouth, Oral Pathology, Moving New Products from Inception to the Marketplace, Periodontal Diseases, Oral-Systemic Link, Yoga, Ergonomics, Communication, and many, many more.
Hands-on courses included hand and ultrasonic instrumentation, polishing, and others. The polishing course was an interactive hands-on workshop designed to provide the practitioner with polishing skills to move beyond the competent clinician to master clinician. Current scientific information, patient communication, as well as hands-on experience with an innovative device focusing on protective hand and postural ergonomics for musculoskeletal wellness were covered.
This issue of RDH eVillage FOCUS will highlight four of the many courses presented at the conference. The next issue will cover four more courses.
“Inflammation: Are You Burning to Know the Facts? Explore the Periodontal Systemic Disease Connection,” by Marilyn Cortell, RDH, MS, FAADH, presented research in the areas of immunity and inflammation. Oral infections, most prominently periodontal disease, may have powerful and multiple influences on the occurrence and severity of systemic conditions and conversely systemic conditions may impact oral disease. Marilyn highlighted this in her course and in her article.
Cathy Hester Seckman, RDH, explains her course “Kidspeak: Bridging The Communication Gap With Toddlers, Tweens, And Teens.” It highlights age-appropriate language and communication. Respect, validation, and listening are vital components of the communication process.
We all want our patients to be as comfortable as possible, while maintaining optimal chair side positions as clinicians. “Positioning for Success in Hygiene: Ergonomic Guidelines to Prevent Pain & Extend Your Career,” was delivered by Bethany Valachi, PT, MS, CEAS. In her RDH UOR course, Bethany focused on ergonomic positioning strategies for the patient and the hygienist, as well as proper selection and adjustment of ergonomic equipment. She will share some positioning "gems" from her presentation to help us work more productively and comfortably.
Last, but not least, I will discuss my part of the program: “The “New” Periodontal Disease: Navigate the Emerging Solutions.” I shared this presentation with Samuel Low DDS, MS, MEd, and Casey Hein, BSDH, MBA.
In the morning session, we presented how our understanding of periodontitis has changed, that now it is both a major chronic infection and a disease of inflammation. The challenge is to determine who is at risk and the corresponding therapy. This seminar gave clinicians the science and also the technology, tools, and techniques needed to manage the complex periodontal patients presenting in today’s practice of dental hygiene and dentistry.
In Part Two, we had two hands-on sessions, entitled: “Put the Power in Your Hands: Effective Periodontics through Technology and Technique.” The workshops helped to develop a balanced approach to optimal periodontal care through technology and technique. We worked through actual patient cases as the students implemented a combination of advanced manual and ultrasonic instrumentation techniques, in tandem with risk assessment modalities. The results were a better understanding of the science, an enhanced armamentarium, and long-term periodontal success.
If you attended these courses, this will be an overview for you. If you did not have the opportunity to do so, this issue of RDH eVillage FOCUS will hopefully provide some “news you can use” in your practice.
Sincerely,
Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, MS
To read previous RDH eVillage FOCUS introductions by Editorial Director Maria Perno Goldie, go to introductions.
