"Inspire Change" is the title of the program Oral-B is working on with Jillian Michaels, best known as the strength trainer and life coach on NBC's hit series The Biggest Loser (To view her Web site, click here.) This program was initiated to help empower hygienists to motivate their patients to make healthy choices when it comes to their oral health.
Oral-B and Jillian launched this program at the recent ADHA Annual Session and again at the 2008 RDH Under One Roof Conference in Chicago. Click on this link to see an interview I was able to conduct with Jillian. I was nervous at first, yet she was friendly and truly passionate about oral health. She loves dental hygienists!
Hygienists who attended the UOR breakfast with Jillian Michaels were automatically enrolled as "Champions for Change" in the Oral-B Inspire Change program. As Jillian and dental hygienist Amy Hazlewood discussed, in a few weeks, these hygienists will receive an "Oral Health Champion's Guide" at their offices. This tool was especially designed for dental hygienists by Oral-B and Jillian to support them in their efforts to help patients make changes for better oral health. It provides a Recommendation Script Pad for the patient to take home with a reminder of their problem areas, a place to recommend a specific power brush that's right for each patient, and a high-value coupon. Oral-B and Jillian have also included health and wellness tips such as stretches to ease the stresses brought on by the daily in-office routine.
For those who were unable to attend either the ADHA or UOR breakfast, there will be an opportunity to join Oral-B and Jillian at upcoming events. The next one is at the ADA Annual Session in October. Also in October, dental hygienists who didn't attend an event can log onto dentalcare.com to watch a portion of Jillian's presentation and pledge to become a "Champion for Change" in the Inspire Change program to receive the Oral Health Champion's Guide.
This program inspires ...
Kristine A. Hodsdon, RDH, BS
Director, RDH eVillage
