Breaking News
CODA Accepts Recommendation to Require Needs Assessment to Determine the Feasibility of Proposed Dental Hygiene Programs
Chicago, February 3, 2012—Today the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) ruled to accept the recommendation to require a formal needs assessment to determine the feasibility of proposed dental hygiene programs.
Full Story

DentaQuest Institute and Kellogg Foundation Release New Report on Oral Health Quality Improvement
Recently the DentaQuest Institute and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation issued a report titled "Oral Health Quality Improvement in the Era of Accountability" which focused on the increasing cost of oral health care, the widespread access to care issue, and the enormous oral health disparities in varying segments of the population. The report outlines potential improvements in areas such as data collection, accountability and new ways of delivering oral health care, which the report's author, Paul Glassman, DDS, MA, MBA, feels could play a critical role in addressing shortcomings in the current oral health care delivery system.
Full Story

HRSA Announces Faculty Development Grant Program
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently announced a new grant program under Title VII, Section 748 (42 U.S.C. 293k), that is dedicated to faculty development in general, pediatric and public health dentistry and dental hygiene. The overall purpose of the program is to increase access to oral health care through continued training, recruitment and retention of a diverse and cultural competent dental workforce.
Full Story

ADHA Develops Environmental Scan to Explore the Future of the Dental Hygiene Profession
In order to provide a basis in data for this year’s strategic planning process the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) contracted futurists Marsha Rhea and Craig Bettles and commissioned an Environmental Scan to help explore the future of oral health and the changes dental hygienists must make to contribute to the health and well‐being of society. This report intentionally focused on issues that could challenge assumptions about the profession and require ADHA to explore new and often challenging opportunities. The ADHA board used this scan to make strategic decisions about the association’s priorities, programs and services in the process of developing the new 2012-15 strategic plan.
Full Story

Please Donate to the Irene R. Woodall Special Needs Trust
Irene R. Woodall, a leader in the field of Dental Hygiene, was an internationally recognized speaker and educator for continuing education courses  as well as dental hygiene program director at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and the University of Pennsylvania.  She also was a published author of several books including:  Legal, Ethical, and Management Aspects of the Dental Care System and several editions of the text book Comprehensive Dental Hygiene Care.  Woodall  was an innovator in technical areas such as the use of ultrasonic scalers vs. hand instrumentation. Woodall served as Senior Editor of RDH Magazine from 1981–1993 and was a strong advocate for self-regulation, challenging myths and the traditional role of the profession.  Her talent for persuasion, her ideals and her vision have inspired generations of hygienists.
Full Story