Education, new products, and celebration are key elements of annual meeting
By Fred W. Michmershuizen, Senior Editor, Inside Dental Hygiene
“The annual conference is a chance for hygienists to learn, network, and have some fun,” said Erin Haley-Hitz, RDH, BSDH, MS, FADHA, MAADH, president of the ADHA, who met with Inside Dental Hygiene for an on-site interview during the meeting. “It’s a time to celebrate who we are and what we do. After all, there are many amazing ways that hygienists contribute to oral health every day. At the conference, we celebrate our award winners, we present scholarships, and we recognize outstanding students. Education is important, and that’s also one of the many things going on over these three days.”
Haley-Hitz said that with the concept of medical-dental integration being elevated, the ADHA’s “Hygienist Proud” breakfast program, sponsored by Crest + Oral-B and presented Saturday morning by Dr. Hazel Glasper and hygienist Andrea Johnson, MS, RDH, was especially relevant. Haley-Hitz pointed out that initial diagnosis of systemic disease can often happen in the dental hygiene chair, which is why it’s so important that dental hygienists have enough time to provide all the assessments necessary.
The address by Dr. Glasper was one of many educational events available to attendees at the meeting. Other sessions included hands-on courses, product presentations, and lectures on a wide range of topics. JoAnn R. Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AAFAAOM, FADHA; Tammy L. Filipiak, RDH, MS, FADHA; and Beth Jordan, RDH, MS, FADHA, participated in an opening general session panel discussion, moderated by Andrea Johnson, RDH, MS, titled “From Evidence to Action — The Power to Improve Oral Health.” Linda D'Amico, RDH, BS, presented “The Dental Professionals Role in Managing the Diabetic Patient,” and Christina L. Reinhardt, RDH/LDH, presented “FBI Dental Fraud Investigations and the Hygienist.”
There were also topics related to mental health. Sherri M. Lukes, RDH, MS, FAADH; Carol A. Jahn, RDH, MS; and Susanna Scherer, BS, RDH, presented a “Brunch & Learn” session, titled “Down and Out or Down and About? Raising Awareness of Mental Health Issues in Dentistry.” In addition, Diane Mullins, RDH, MS, CDIPC, presented “Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training.”
New products
In the exhibit hall at ADHA24, dental hygienists had the opportunity to explore some of the newest technology and products.
Henry Schein Dental showcased a comprehensive display of offerings from its ACCLEAN preventives portfolio, including new disposable prophy angles, curettes, scalers, and diagnostic instruments. Stephanie Melton, RDH, delivered a presentation spotlighting the company’s products and tools and provided product education in the company’s booth on the trade show floor.
Henry Schein also was a sponsor of the ADHA Institute for Oral Health Foundation’s community service event, taking place during the meeting, in which participants assembled take-home bags of essential oral care products donated by Henry Schein, including ACCLEAN toothbrushes and floss, donated to Clover New Orleans, a local charity supporting underserved communities in the New Orleans area.
VOCO reps were on hand to tell meeting attendees about its products, including Remin Pro triple protective tooth cream and Profluorid Varnish.
Meeting attendees could also visit the Love Hygiene booth to test out Love Hygiene Air, a newly developed solution for periodontal therapy that uses powder for biofilm disruption and removal. To add to the excitement of its new technology, Love Hygiene reps also distributed beverages, swag bags, and t-shirts to meeting attendees.
At Ivoclar, meanwhile, reps were on hand to demonstrate how the company’s VivaDent aerosol reduction gel can be used to reduce mist from ultrasonic scaling. Xlear dispensed information about its oral and sinus care products, plus plenty of samples, while BISCO presented its FluoroCal brand of sodium fluoride varnish with tri-calcium phosphate.
At its booth, Waterpik showcased its selection of water flossers and related products, with company reps on hand to dispense information.
New exhibitors at ADHA included DentiCalm, a company offering topical pain relief for bruxism, available in a roll-on applicator; and CaviSense, a pH-sensing toothpick designed to detect harmful biofilm acids in interproximal spaces.
More news at ADHA24
A representative from the American Dental Association was on hand at the ADHA meeting to discuss the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, which allows for license portability across state lines. According to Haley-Hitz, the compact is an advocacy priority for ADHA, because it allows hygienists to redistribute across the country, thereby helping alleviate the workforce shortage and improve access to care. In addition, the compact is of benefit to military families across the country, she said.
The meeting also hosted a screening of the film “Filling the Gaps,” which depicts how a dental hygienist in Maine, Amber Lombardi, founded Mainely Teeth, a non-profit mobile dental clinic serving the needs of the underserved from a mobile dental clinic.
The ADHA has also announced that its next annual conference, ADHA25, will be held during National Dental Hygiene Month, October 4 to 6, 2025, in Long Beach, California.
Pictured top: New Orleans, Louisiana, hosts ADHA24, the annual conference of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. Above: At the Elevate Oral Care booth at ADHA24, Cheryl Clements, RDH, MS, tells dental hygienists about products for patients experiencing dry mouth. (Photos: Fred W. Michmershuizen, Inside Dental Hygiene)
