Amy completed her dental hygiene education in Pueblo, Colorado in 2013. Early in her career she quickly started to realize that the role nutrition plays in oral health is much more complex than the common knowledge that sugar contributes to dental decay. Alongside her hygiene career she also has a passion for fitness, where she was also able to incorporate the importance of diet in a healthy lifestyle. While she received various fitness and nutrition certifications, in 2021 she went back to school to pursue her interests in nutrition. She graduated with her bachelors and masters in Human Nutrition from the University of Alabama in 2023. During this time, she noticed how limited the field of oral health research is, and even smaller when you combine the topics of oral health and nutrition. This knowledge, along with the knowledge of the oral health disparities that plague such a large number of individuals, she decided to pursue a career in research and started her PhD in Public Health at the University of Montana in 2023. Amy’s long term career goals involve conducting research regarding oral health and nutrition to reduce the global prevalence of oral health disparities by identifying innovative approaches that improve oral health in limited resource settings.

Nutrition Review

Fundamentals of basic human nutrition and how dietary choices affect overall health and wellbeing. 

Course Objectives:

1. Identify the role that diet plays in inflammatory processes throughout the body.
2. Understand what food is and how the macronutrients are digested.
3. Define the dental hygienist's role in nutrition coaching.

Oral Health Coaching 

Fundamentals of coaching principles and how to apply them to your dental hygiene practice.

Course Objectives:

1. Discuss the process of change.
2. Describe the fundamental components of coaching.
3. Review the fundamentals of coaching in clinical and non clinical settings.

Tamara’s journey from RDH to Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy began with her own personal and family experiences with orofacial dysfunction. Being tongue tied, she went through OMT to eliminate her oral dysfunction. Upon finishing the program, the spark grew for her to continue with the OMT endeavors. In 2016, Tamara began exploring the field of OMT and with extensive training and education, she became a Certified Specialist in Orofacial Myology (CSOM) at the Graduate School of Behavioral Health Science. In 2017, she opened Facial Physique and  in 2020, she became a Myofunctional Therapy Advisor to oversee and guide other professionals in OMT. Tamara volunteers her time as the Creative Director with Airway Circle, a platform dedicated to educating, connecting and sharing knowledge to both professionals and the public.

Airway and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Overview 

A review of airway anatomical structures and airway physiology. An introduction of orofacial myofunctional therapy and how it relates to airway health. Emphasis on developing the students knowledge and ability to identify the systemic link between airway and orofacial dysfunction. 

Course Objectives: 

1. Visualize the anatomical structures of the airway.
2. Identify the basic physiology of breathing including the role of gas exchanges and their importance systemically.
3. Demonstrate familiarity with orofacial myofunctional therapy goals.
4. Observe and identify core orofacial disorders.
5. Name systemic diseases linked to airway health.

Medical Terminology 101 

This course gives students an in-depth instruction on recognizing and forming medical terms and identifying medical diseases and procedures. Students will learn medical root words, prefixes and suffixes and apply them to body systems. This course will give a review of medical terminology to help understand different terminology used in each body system.

Objectives: 

1. Analyze how medical terms are built using common words.
2. Name common diseases and procedures associated with each body system.
3. Recognize common procedures associated with each body system.

Since hygiene school, Carla has envisioned herself in clinical-alternative roles and has worked in private practices, public health and government clinical settings, higher education in dental assisting and hygiene programs, and in long-term care facilities. She volunteers clinically and non-clinically in professional associations advocating for our profession and for public health. The perio-systemic link, particularly the respiratory system and ventilator-associated pneumonias, and interprofessional collaboration and education were main focuses in her graduate education research and continue to be primary professional interests. She believes that improved oral health can save lives, money, and undue suffering and hopes to lend to better dental-medical integration in the future.

The Perio-Respiratory Link: An Overview of Infections and Comorbidities

In this course the learner will apply existing knowledge of the human airway, the oral-systemic link, and medical and dental care. Offered in this course are overviews of oral pathogens and diseases, how they invade the respiratory tract and exacerbate existing lung diseases or contribute to the formation of new cases, and why the current medical approach isn’t working to treat and prevent chronic and acute respiratory diseases. This course will prepare the learner to apply existing knowledge to the specialized area of respiratory health in the medical setting. The learner will be able to create and custom-tailor oral health information for specialists during collaborative preventive healthcare interactions.

Objectives:

1. Describe the airway and exhibit understanding of how oral pathogens immigrate to the lower airway.
2. Explain how oral diseases like chronic periodontitis exacerbate lung diseases; define nosocomial and aspiration pneumonias, and explain how poor oral health and hygiene contribute to their incidences.
3. Quote current medical approaches to controlling infectious respiratory diseases, the perio-respiratory link, and how dental hygiene practices in medical settings can help control disease.

Kriston Reisnour RDH, BSDH, CCSH, CSOM passionately coaches and lectures to dental teams on their collaborative role in today’s integrated healthcare system.

Comes highly recommended having been the Dental Program Director for the BaleDoneen Method, recent work at Seattle Study Club, and her extensive experience and knowledge of the comprehensive oral and systemic approach to optimal care. 

She is a credentialed clinical health educator, certified specialist in orofacial myology, and an airway ambassador. MS. Reisnour is an accomplished speaker, writer, owner of “Intentional Hygiene”, “Orofacial Myology of PNW”, and a dental hygienist of over 30 years’ experience.

Her ability to combine scientific depth and empathy is unique. As a proficient author, she is regularly featured in peer-reviewed publications. She is a member of ADHA, WSDHA, AAOSH, and DeW.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Cardiovascular Disease and Vascular Health

This course is designed to give you an elemental overview of the cardiovascular response to chronic inflammation and how identifying the source of inflammation, assessing the extent of the diseases, and treating the underlining root cause can halt disease progression and or mitigate vascular events. We will look at the inflammatory process and how it initiates breaking down the protective endothelial lining leading to several vascular events. We will discuss blood, urine, and genetic testing that can determine how inflamed the body is. Finally discuss a collaborative integrated approach between Dr. Amy Doneen, me, and her referred patient wanting optimal health. 

Objectives

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the BaleDoneen Method versus traditional medicine.
2. Discuss what really causes a vascular event.
3. Express the student’s abilities to identify the conditions on medical and dental health histories which are associated with inflammation potentially leading to vascular disease and or an event. 
4. Illustrate  the oral health component in vascular disease and related conditions.
5. Identify blood, urine, and genetic testing that can determine vascular health and potential for a CV event . 
6. Demonstrate ways to integrate a collaborative approach to patient treatment within a multi-disciplinary team.

Inflammatory Cascade

We will take a journey in the human body, learn, and identify the many ways that inflammation effects the body and leads to chronic end stage disease, poor quality of life, and premature death.

Inflammation is the bodies way of stopping invaders, foreign bodies, and infection from ravishing our system. It is about survival. However, if all the biochemical reactions that take place in this process are not halted after the initial threat is contained the body will turn on itself and widespread destruction of cells, tissue and organs will follow.

Objectives

1. Describe inflammation and how the inflammatory process causes disease and destruction.
2. Describe the role bacteria, viruses, and fungi plays in the systemic inflammatory cascade.
3. Observe the relationship between common health conditions (cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea and breathing issues, obesity, diabetes, gut health) and systemic inflammation and how this inflammatory process can lead to chronic disease and disease progression. 
4. Enhance the clinician's ability to critically analyze conditions as presented by the patient while determining optimal treatment decisions to help them achieve overall health and wellness.

Sarah Eller, RDH, IPDH is a 2014 graduate of NHTI - Concord’s Community College’s Dental Hygiene program where she was awarded the Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler Award for Professionalism. 

With a passion for advocacy, Sarah went on to volunteer for the Maine Dental Hygienists’ Association, eventually holding roles as Vice-President, President-Elect, and currently, President. Sarah is also the secretary for the 501c3 non-profit the National Network of Healthcare Hygienists (NNHH) and is the only original board member still serving, besides the Executive Director, helping aid in the development of the network from day one.

Sarah is also a Certified Stress Management Coach, and currently works as a newsletter editor and CE facilitator for the company Dental Toaster, which provides online CE access for dental professionals. She has also been published in RDH Magazine, DeW Life Magazine, RDH Graduate, and others.  

In February 2020, Sarah launched her own company, Sarah Clark, RDH - Dental Advancement Advocate - a rebrand of her former platform ‘Mindful Hygienist’. Here she creates informative and interesting CE presentations that share the messages of practicing at the top of the dental hygiene scope and achieving career satisfaction. 

Sarah’s passions include helping the dental community advance current practice methods, advocating for programs that allow dental hygienists to practice independently or in non-traditional settings, and working towards career advancement. 

If you were asked to define stress, you would probably think of that negative feeling we all get when we are under too much pressure, but that is only one of many definitions of stress. There isn't one singular definition. Stress is much more than a feeling and its complexity ties into many different body systems and functions that greatly differ in their effects on the body - both positive and negative. This course will take a deep dive through the many different subcategories of stress, the physiological effects of stress, and understanding some management techniques for stress.

BIO

Megan Reutter, RDH, DHSc is a dental hygienist, educator, published researcher and oral health advocate. She has worked in a variety of settings, including clinical practice, education, and public health. She serves as a Trustee and Student Relations Chair for the Illinois Dental Hygiene Association. Megan’s research interest is interprofessional education and has presented her research at several seminars. She is passionate about educating the public and other health professions on the oral-systemic link.

Megan’s Doctorate focused on Leadership and Organizational Behavior from A.T. Still University.  In addition to interprofessional education, she is also passionate about leadership and evaluating leadership roles in multidisciplinary teams.  

Dr. Reutter works in private practice and serves as adjunct faculty at multiple universities including Parkland College in the dental hygiene program, University of Illinois in the Community Health program, and Campbell University in the Doctor of Health Sciences program. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The purpose of this section is to provide an overview of the endocrine system.  During the first lecture, students will review hormonal imbalances and how it directly affects oral health.  The information covered will be valuable as students complete a comprehensive medical history and initial assessment.  The second lecture will cover endocrine disruptors and the connection between oral health and fertility.  Concluding this section, students will receive a screening questionnaire dental hygienists can use to identify high-risk patients and establish a referral process with a primary care provider or endocrinologist. 

Endocrine System Objectives: 

1. Name the glands of the endocrine system and the hormones they produce
2. Discuss disorders associated with the endocrine system
3. Describe oral manifestations of endocrine disorders
4. Define endocrine disruptors and how it affects one’s overall health
5. Discuss the connection between oral health and fertility
6. Recognize common signs and symptoms of endocrine disorders and further action dental hygienists can take to establish a referral process within the medical system

As an educator Jennifer strives to bring awareness to the oral/systemic link and importance of interprofessional collaboration. Jennifer earned a Master’s Degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and moved to Maryland to pursue teaching in the dental hygiene program at Hagerstown Community College in 2015. Jennifer is also a nationally certified and state licensed pharmacy technician. She loves that she is able to combine her two passions to advocate for total personal wellness, access to care, and increased health literacy in the community.

Type 1, Type 2, and YOU! Treating Your Diabetic Patient

Diabetes is a major public health problem that is approaching epidemic proportions globally. A report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the number of Americans with diabetes continues to rise, with 9.4% of the U.S. population (30.3 million people) estimated to have the disease, and more than a third of those aged 20 and over in the U.S. now thought to have prediabetes. As dental professionals, we know the risk factors involved with periodontal disease and diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease and numerous other conditions. In this presentation, educator and speaker Jennifer Suminski, CPhT, RDH, MS will provide an overview of the various types of diabetes, a diabetes medication update, nutritional considerations for diabetics, diabetic emergencies and how to avoid them, and strategies for treating the diabetic patient including a review of the new CDT code for in-office HbA1c testing. 

Objectives:

1. Differentiate between Type 1, Type 2, gestational diabetes and PCOS as an endocrine disorder.
2. Discuss the link between periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus.
3. Identify the systemic and oral signs, symptoms, complications of diabetes and PCOS.
4. Differentiate  the indications and effects of the available medications used to treat diabetes mellitus.
5. Discuss and compare dietary and nutritional recommendations for diabetic patients.
6. Describe the various diabetic emergencies which may occur during a dental appointment and ways to avoid them.

BIO

Melissa Calhoun, MSDH, RDH, is a distinguished professional in the field of dental hygiene, having graduated from Pensacola State College's dental hygiene program in 2005. Throughout her career, Melissa has gained valuable experience across various dental specialties, including pediatric, implant, and general dentistry. Driven by a passion for educating others about oral health, Melissa's commitment to excellence led her to pursue further academic achievements. In 2021, she proudly earned her master’s degree in dental hygiene with a concentration in education from MCPHS University in Boston, MA, enhancing her expertise in the field. 

Currently based in Keller, Texas, Melissa serves as an instructor of dental hygiene at Tarrant County College in Hurst, Texas, and a faculty member at Sanders Board Preparatory. She is continuing her love of education by contributing to shaping the next generation of dental professionals. Additionally, she serves as a dedicated professional educator with Arm & Hammer, sharing her insights and expertise with a broader audience. Melissa also takes on the role of an SDA trainer with EMS Dental, further showcasing her commitment to advancing dental hygiene practices. In her commitment to professional organizations, Melissa holds significant leadership roles. She currently serves as the President-Elect for the American Academy of Dental Hygiene, demonstrating her dedication to fostering professional growth and collaboration within the dental hygiene community. Melissa Calhoun is a dynamic and forward-thinking professional who continues to make significant contributions to the field of dental hygiene. Her multifaceted roles in clinical practice, education, and professional organizations underscore her commitment to excellence and her proactive approach to advancing oral health awareness and education.

COURSE DESCRIPTION - Oral Wellness From Bump to Baby

Module 1 - Pregnancy and Oral Care: Ensuring Maternal and Fetal Health

This course explores the critical relationship between pregnancy and oral health, emphasizing the physiological changes that affect dental care during pregnancy. Participants will gain knowledge of common oral health conditions such as gingivitis, periodontitis, and enamel erosion that can occur during pregnancy. The course highlights safe dental practices for pregnant patients, including the use of local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, and radiographs. Attendees will also examine the impact of maternal oral health on fetal development, including how periodontal disease may increase the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. The course will provide evidence-based guidelines for dental care during pregnancy, as well as strategies for educating pregnant patients on maintaining optimal oral health for both mother and baby.

Module 2 - Infant Oral Care: Establishing Healthy Habits from the Start

This course provides a comprehensive overview of infant oral health, emphasizing the importance of establishing a dental home by 12 months of age. Participants will learn about the developmental milestones for infant oral care, the role of caregivers in preventing early childhood caries (ECC), and the significance of anticipatory guidance. The course covers key topics such as proper nutrition and feeding practices, teething, fluoride use, and the prevention of oral habits that may impact long-term dental health. Participants will also explore the importance of early dental visits and how caregivers can support healthy oral hygiene practices from birth. By the end of the course, participants will have a deep understanding of the foundational steps for promoting oral health in infants and toddlers.

OBJECTIVES

Module 1

1. Recognize the role oral health plays in pregnancy. 
2. State the key oral findings in pregnant patients. 
3. Identify the myths associated with pregnancy and dental care. 
4. Examine the relationship between caregiver oral health and infant oral health. 
5. Demonstrate a good understanding of the importance of establishing a dental home. 
6. Illustrate a deeper understanding of the anticipatory guidance recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. 
7. Describe the key components of an infant/toddler dental appointment.

Brooke is the professional education specialist for Elevate Oral Care. She is a past VP of the American Mobile and Teledentistry Alliance (AMTA), serves on the public health committee for the Virginia Dental Hygienists' Association and on CareQuest's United States Teledentistry Advocacy Coalition. Brooke is passionate about educating her fellow colleagues on pediatrics because she has seen the destruction caused by caries and a lack of treatment and understanding. Brooke has dedicated the last several years of her dental hygiene career to public service and working with the pediatric population in varied settings. Brooke is a strong advocate for the pediatric population and believes strongly in the need to educate on the oral systemic link. Brooke’s passion is collaboration with medical providers and wants to empower other hygienists to do the same. Together we can help set these children up for oral health success.

Pediatrics 

This unit will cover multiple aspects of the pediatric population. We will discuss the rates and prevalence of dental decay in children. We will discuss the barriers and risk contributors to our pediatric population. We will review the current trends in treating the pediatric population. This unit will discuss the specific skills needed to work with pediatrics and the ways to be successful as a hygienist when working with children. We will discuss the oral systemic link and the lasting impact left on our pediatric population. This course will explore the health inequities that exist and opportunities to address those inequities. And we will discuss ways to engage our medical providers to ensure that each child’s dental and medical needs are met. This unit will build upon the knowledge you already have and empower you to look for ways to collaborate with your medical partners. 

Objectives:

1. Summarize dental hygiene services in pediatric dentistry and medicine.
2. Explain current trends in treating the pediatric population.
3. Discuss the implications of untreated decay and early childhood caries.
4. Identify opportunities and ways to engage our medical partners.

 Angie experienced the decline of the dental health of her mother-in-law and her grandmother once they were in a situation of being cared for. Upon seeing this issue, Angie went to work to create a model of care that would reduce dental disease and unnecessary suffering in the dependent adult population.

A Lifetime of Service: After many years of reading research, doing research of her own and putting her new found knowledge into application she developed the HyLife Oral Health Alliance (HOHA). It is through this group that seniors will receive a lifetime of oral care. This care results in smiles being preserved, continued ability to enjoy food, and an overall feeling of wellness. Residents experience fewer cavities, if any at all, less gum disease, and improved over all health.

Geriatrics and Oral Health

The world's older population continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. Today, 8.5 percent of people worldwide (617 million) are aged 65 and over. According to a report entitled, “An Aging World: 2015,” this percentage is projected to jump to nearly 17 percent of the world's population by 2050 (1.6 billion). The elder population in the United States already sits at 16%, which translates to nearly 53 million, of the United States 329 million residents.

Among this population systemic illnesses are common ailments. Things like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, dementia and many other conditions are no strangers to elders. What is rare, in this the population, is receiving dental hygiene care by a professional who has specific education regarding the connection between aging and oral health.  

This course will take the attendees on a journey into the world of the aging. It is imperative the dental team understands how to care for the aging population they serve. Recognizing the signs that things are changing for patients is key. Shoring up dental health before systemic disease advances is necessary. Decisions on how oral health will be maintained when the patient is no longer able to care for their own mouth need to be made early and need to be implemented quickly when the time is right. Few receive this kind of care.

1. Describe how systemic illness and oral health are intertwined.
2. Recognize when activities of daily living are changing for patients, what that means for dental health and how to prepare patients to keep their teeth.
3. Describe modifications that can be made to the dental office to assist elders in receiving the care they need.
4. Discover what happens to the oral health of elders and why, when they can no longer travel to your office.
5. Discover how to develop a program to support dental health through the entire spectrum of aging.
6. Recite the basics of Dementia/Alzheimer’s as related to the mouth.

Prehabilitation Concepts - An Intercollaborative Approach to

Oral Care and the Oncology Patient

Course Description: When multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds work together with patients, families, caregivers, and communities to deliver the highest quality of care, it results in improved outcomes, a better care experience and a reduction in health costs. Often, patients visit the dentist more often than they visit their general health care provider. 65% of physician offices reported not having any information, such as pamphlets or website contact information, in order to facilitate referrals to dentists, and over half of responding doctors reported not referring a patient to a dentist in the past year due to this. The dental office can offer screenings for a variety of systemic issues and studies reveal most medical doctors would welcome that contribution. We can also assist the patient in identifying the discrepancies between public opinion and evidence-based recommendations and lead them to reliable Internet-based resources. In our role identifying abnormalities, assessing, and documenting the dental professional can assist doctors in making a proper diagnosis and make sure the patient follows up.

Course Objectives:  

1.   Develop an anticipatory treatment plan for the cancer patient’s oral care needs.
2.   Describe the variety of cancer treatment side effect products available, and when they are indicated.
3.   Recognize the role of dentistry in Interdisciplinary care of a cancer patient.
4.   Translate appropriate oral health recommendations and referrals for cancer patients.

Speaker, author, and vulnerable populations advocate, Sherri Lukes has been a dental hygienist for 43 years, holding advanced degrees in education.  She is associate professor emerita, Southern Illinois University, where she taught general and oral pathology, public health, and multicultural dental hygiene. Her research focus was oral pathology and migrant farmworker oral health, resulting in multiple peer reviewed publications. Sherri enjoys integrating her years of experience into CE courses and publications to empower dental professionals in the process of care.  She is an approved speaker of and holds a pathology fellowship in the American Academy of Dental Hygiene, is a past president of the Illinois Dental Hygienists’ Association, and a member of the American Academy of Oral Medicine. Community service includes President, board of directors, Rural Health, Inc., as well as annual trips to southern Mexico, delivering preventive care in an orphanage and remote villages. Honors include Community Service, Research, and Teacher of the Year awards at SIU, Illinois Department of Public Health Oral Health Champion, the Sunstar Award of Distinction and Western Society of Perio Dental Hygiene speaker of the year. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

A plethora of mental health issues plague our society today and the healthcare community is not immune. Health professionals encounter multiple stressors in the workplace which may result in significant anxiety, depression, and other emotional outcomes. A large proportion of our patients also suffer with mental health issues which in turn, affect their oral health. Evidence concerning mental health issues nationwide and how patients and health professionals are affected will be presented in this course, along with signs and symptoms of the most common conditions of anxiety and depression. Management and treatment strategies will be discussed, including evidence concerning suicide and approaches for suicide prevention. The knowledge obtained in the session can be utilized in personal as well as patient care for achieving whole body health in ourselves and our patients in all areas of healthcare. 

OBJECTIVES

1. Discuss the evidence concerning mental health issues among health professionals and patients
2. Describe signs and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation
3. Discuss treatment/management strategies for anxiety, depression and suicide prevention
4. List resources for seeking help and information
5. Appreciate the importance of civic responsibility to assist all people with mental health issues

Sonya Dunbar, also known as the Geriatric Toothfairy, is a Registered Dental Hygienist, TEDx, and  national public speaker guided by over 28 years of dental experience in private practice, skilled nursing  facilities, and academia. Sonya and her husband, Gerald Dunbar, are the owners of Mobile Dental  Xpress, providing comprehensive dental care to long-term care facilities. In addition, Sonya is a Geriatric  Oral health educator and trainer. Sonya is a US Navy Veteran and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Gerontology.  Sonya is a serial entrepreneur and successful Cultural diversity workplace coach that increases cultural  awareness, knowledge, and communication through interactive educational workshops.  

She is a Key Opinion Leader on culture and diversity for Crest & OralB and known philanthropist. She is  the Co-Founder of the National Mobile & Teledentistry Dental Conference, The American Mobile  Dentistry & Teledentistry Alliance, and a published author of Golden Nuggets For Life, Co-Author of  Modern Mobile & Teledentistry and The Tooth & Nothing but The Truth Books. And if that is not  enough, the National Day Archives LLC has proclaimed November 9th of each calendar year as The Geriatric Toothfairy Day.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Healthcare is a highly homogenous field serving a diverse population—and that can be a challenge. Diversity in health care goes far beyond a language barrier. It’s about understanding the mindset of a patient within a larger context of culture, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and socioeconomic realities. Health disparities affect segments of the population differently. Attitudes toward health care and treatment can vary among different populations. It is important for Health Care professionals to be able to provide custom care that acknowledges and recognizes these differences

Objectives

1. Describe how to deliver a higher quality of care to help patients meet their health care goals while honoring and respecting patients’ cultural beliefs and practices.
2. Explain the importance of cultural sensitivity across the health-care continuum when making decisions in the health-care environment.
3. Discuss the ramifications of discrimination when it comes to avoiding medical care.

Fran is a Certified Biological Dental Hygienist through the IAOMT and IABDM. She is a Qualitative Director and lectures across the country on biological dental modalities. She is on the board and an instructor/coach for the IABDM and KT Dental Seminars and is the owner of Hygiene Naturally and Integrative Biologic Solutions.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will review the premise and philosophy of biological, also known as holistic dentistry. From its inception in 1979 to where it stands today, the student will learn how the practice of dentistry can be intricately related to the systemic health of a patient. From searching for the root cause of disease to how addressing a patients mental and emotional wellbeing can make an impact on a patient’s overall wellbeing.

Objectives:

1. Identify how biological or holistic dentistry was born and the organizations that continue to research compatible ways to practice dentistry.
2. Discover the philosophy of biological dentistry and how it relates to overall health.
3. Indicate what biological dental practitioners are looking for to aid in patient recovery.
4. Summarize what tests and treatments are used to assist in a patient's return to health.
5. Recall how a biological practitioner diagnoses and treats periodontal disease.
6. Illustrate holistic treatment modalities to address the root cause of periodontal disease and not only the symptom.

Laurie Owens, CPC, CPB is the Director of Medical Billing Education for Devdent. She brings 18 years of experience educating dental practices on billing medical insurance and the techniques to get claims paid. Laurie believes that patients should be able to utilize their medical insurance for procedures due to oral systemic conditions. Through on-site training, medical billing for dentistry courses, follow-up consulting, along with Seattle Study Club, ACT Dental, and AADOM lectures, Laurie has assisted dental practices in successfully billing medical insurance to collect benefits that would have otherwise been unclaimed. Her training on medical billing has increased practice revenue and patient satisfaction.  

Laurie is a member of AADOM, AAOSH, ADMC, AADC, AAOMS, SCN, and AAPC. 

Course Description:

This gem of a course will train hygiene clinical teams the basics of medical billing. You will learn how to press for information regarding medical conditions that will turn coal into diamonds! When this session is completed, you will know how your chart notes can reflect medical necessity and what conditions we can put into the rock tumbler that will turn into medical billing gems for your practice. 

Objectives:

1. Identify conditions that hygienists treat that may qualify for medical billing.
2. State specific verbiage for medical necessity.
3. Give examples of SOAP notes and how to apply them.

Jessica is a team manager and registered dental hygienist for Clinica Family Health in Colorado. She oversees the clinical and integrated care practice for the dental hygienists while also performing administrative duties and partnering with the leadership teams of the organization. Over the years, Jessica has received numerous grants from Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Caring for Colorado. These have all contributed to her becoming a subject matter expert on integrating dental care into a medical setting. The specific population she has worked with served children in foster care and obstetric patients. Jessica draws from her experience with sensitive populations to provide the highest level of care to her patients. This work continues with Clinica’s Integrated Dental Program serving a similar population; her knowledge, expertise, and passion continue to make the program a success. 

As a Colorado native, Jessica obtained her hygiene degree from Colorado Northwestern Community College. After graduation, she spent several years helping private practices growing their pediatric program. Jessica went back to school for a Bachelor of Dental Hygiene and continues to seek a higher education with a focus on Community Health and management.  

Jessica spends her free time volunteering for various organizations and serves as the Vice President for the Colorado Dental Hygiene Association. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will cover multiple aspects when it comes to the Collaborative Care Model. We have heard of registered dental hygienists working with a patient's medical doctor, in medical clinics, out-patient clinics, hospitals, an FQHC, and in schools. How did they get there? What is their role? We will define what the collaborative care model is, discuss roles and care team models, and review the scope of practice across the United States. 

Objectives

1. Define collaborative care model.
2. Review and define care team models.
3. Discuss roles of the dental hygienist in an collaborative/integrated setting.
4. Discuss the scope of practice for the Registered Dental Hygienist.

Pediatric collaborative care is also covered by Brooke Crouch

Kelly earned her PhD in Organizational Leadership in 2019. As a Certified Speaker, Trainer and Coach, Kelly offers workshops, seminars, keynote speaking, and coaching to aid in the personal and professional growth of individuals and groups. Through the study and practical application of proven leadership methods, she helps individuals, teams, and organizations break through to achieve not only their immediate goals but also their full potential.

Kelly understands the universal truth that we all wish to live a life of significance. Her mission is to help her clients understand and achieve their definition of significance through the daily discipline of “being intentional.” Life can distract you from recognizing and acting upon what really matters. By practicing “intentionality,” every relationship you hold will prosper—from the most intimate bond to strictly formal business partnerships. We will ALL leave a legacy. Kelly will help you live with intentionality, so YOUR legacy will impact the generations to come. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Care settings and standards of practice for dental hygiene have evolved rapidly over the last five years. As dental hygienists integrate into more complex health systems, leadership styles and skills must adapt to the organization's care specialties and culture. This module will review dental hygiene archetypes' evolution and discuss ways to apply leadership skill sets in integrated care settings. 

OBJECTIVES

1. Describe ways in which archetypes of the dental hygiene profession have evolved.
2. Discuss the roles of the dental hygienist as leaders within complex health organizations.
3. Identify how hygienists can apply leadership skill sets in healthcare organizations.