Professional trends discussed at ADHA Annual Session in Orlando

2006 Philips Oral Healthcare/RDH Magazine Mentor of the Year Award Reception for Kristen Simmons, BSDH. Philips and RDH magazine hosted a beautiful evening for Kristen and Cara Kao-Young, whom she has mentored. Current ADHA Executive Director Ann Battrell spoke on Kristen's behalf, and Gail B. Stoops, past president of the ADHA, facilitated the award ceremony on behalf of Sonicare. You can read about this special woman and her accomplishments by clicking on RDH article.

ADHA Hosts Discussion on Development Status for the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner. In an effort to address the severe oral health disparities plaguing millions across the United States, ADHA adopted three key resolutions at its 81st Annual Session in 2004 in Dallas that set the stage for creating an advanced dental hygiene practitioner (ADHP) designation, which will impact the oral health of the public. The curriculum development has been underway in the last year. This year, ADHA discussed the status of the curriculum development, which included a presentation of the revised curriculum and feedback received from the ADHP Advisory Committee. An overview of the legislative achievements, policy updates, and collaborations with other professional health-care and/or community organizations was also featured. Already a major topic among those in dentistry, the ADHP is a key development in the advancement of the dental hygiene profession.

Oral Health and Systemic Health Connection Featured in Continuing-Education Course on Inflammation. Research continues to explore the link between periodontal (gum) disease and many systemic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. Dental hygienists are instrumental in identifying the presence and extent of the periodontal infection, and work with patients both to treat existing periodontal problems and to prevent future complications. ADHA supplied dental hygienists with current information and evidence on this link through a continuing-education course, Give Me Fever: How Inflammation and the Periodontal Infection Influence Systemic Health: A Look at the Current Evidence, by Deborah Lyle, RDH, MS. This program also discussed the rationale for biological principles and risk factors for disease, as well as a review of the diseases with known or potential inflammatory links.