Greetings from the ADIA Executive Director Lynn Mortilla

Dear Colleagues,

Sometimes I feel that we get so caught up in new trends, technology, and education that we overlook some of the basics of the care we provide for patients. I'm not saying that new and improved isn't good; I'm just saying that in our already overloaded minds, we must still remember to focus on the fundamentals of care.

As dental-care providers, it is our job to help eradicate oral diseases. Caries, gingivitis, periodontal disease, abscess, edentulism, and malocclusion are all on our hit list of offenders to combat. We mustn't overlook the fact that we also need to be eliminating germs and bacteria. Hand washing, infection control, PPE, barriers, and sterilization are just as important to address as the oral diseases. I remember showing the video "If Saliva Was Red" to my dental assisting students. I remember their faces as many of them became obsessed with good techniques. This month's article focuses on an important task — infection control. So, in your busy day with far too many tasks on your to-do list, I encourage you to review your techniques and be sure you're up to par with the basics.

As many of you dig out from the snow that has been pounding the nation, I invite you to focus on warmer weather and be with us this spring in New Orleans, April 22-24, 2010. Our two-and-a-half-day auxiliary program will feature a variety of speakers, lunch-and-learn sessions, and hands-on components to our Implant Coordinator Training Program and our Dental Assisting, Practice Management, and Dental Hygiene Implant Certification Programs. We hope you will join us for 22 hours of exceptional continuing education, camaraderie, and Jazz Fest in New Orleans. For more information, please visit the upcoming meeting page at www.adiaonline.org.

Sincerely,

Lynn Mortilla
Executive Director, ADIA