3 minute read
Utah Dental Association Dental Hygiene Affiliate Membership
from UDA Action
have access to the best dental care. These changes would provide value to VA dentists as well as support the ADA values of helping veterans.
HRSA
Dr. Adam Barefoot was appointed in May as the Chief Dental Officer of HRSA. HRSA oversees a range of programs that treat the underserved and train dentists, so this aligns with the ADA’s values and also supports dental students and new dentists.
The ADA had lobbied the HRSA leadership to appoint a Chief Dental Officer to oversee these important programs. After Dr. Barefoot’s appointment, the ADA sent him a letter and met with him to outline the ADA’s priorities for the agency.
Smoking and Vaping
The ADA and other stakeholders are asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. In August letters, a coalition led by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids commented on two FDA-proposed rules. One would ban menthol in cigarettes; the other would ban added flavors in cigars. Removing these ingredients will help advance the ADA’s values of reducing the likelihood that young adults will begin smoking.
Nutrition
The ADA is leading a coalition that is nominating Dr. Teresa Marshall to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Formerly known as the Food Pyramid, the Dietary Guidelines are updated every five years to help the public make informed choices about their nutritional needs and diets.
Nominating Dr. Marshall to the Committee would help advance the ADA’s values of supporting good oral health through healthy nutrition.
These are just a few of the efforts from the Council of Government Affairs team during the short time that I have been on the council. With support from dentists like us, our voice is being heard on Capitol Hill. As we join together, we will continue to make a difference locally and nationally. Thanks for all your support of the UDA and the ADA.
Dr Darren Chamberlain ADA Council
The Utah Dental Association is excited to continue the growth of the UDA Dental Hygiene Affiliate Membership. This program started in Fall of 2019 but had been on the mind of the UDA Board for many years before that. The UDA Board wanted to and continually wants to give hygienists in Utah an opportunity to network with other hygienists, and to be able to attend UDA CE Meetings.
In 2022 the Dental Hygiene Affiliate members participated in Spring Seminar, learning about Oral Medicine from Dr Bryan Trump, Digital Dentistry from Dr David Howard and Opioid Addiction from Dr Jared Hemmert. They also attended the 2022 UDA Convention in March learning from speakers including Dr Michael Czubiak and Janet Press, RDH. September also brought about an opportunity to participate in the Fall Hygiene Seminar. This meeting included presentations on HVP Cancer Prevention, Pediatric Dentistry and the National Diabetes Prevention Program.
2023 will also be a great year to be a member of the UDA Dental Hygiene Affiliate Membership. The Spring Seminar will include lectures on TMJ from Dr Kevin Mangelson, Ethics from Dr Brent Larson, Implants from Dr Nicholas Egbert and Ergonomics from Gayle Masters, RDH.
The UDA has heard from many hygienists that they would like to have a refresher course on local anesthesia. The 2023 Convention will have a 3 hours local anesthesia refresher course with the additional option of taking a hands on local anesthesia class. These courses are specifically for dental hygienists and the UDA Convention Committee hopes that they will take advantage of these courses. The Convention will also have classes both days presented by Amber Auger, RDH, MPH. Amber is a national speaker and speaks on multiple hygiene related topics.
2023 will be the second year the UDA will host a hygienist luncheon. This will be held at the Marriot across the street from the Salt Palace. The speaker will be Michelle Hendrickson, RDH, MEd. Michelle will cover Dental Implant Maintenance for the Dental Hygienist.
The UDA Dental Hygiene Affiliate Membership is an annual membership, January to December each year. The cost is $50 for the year.
A member hygienist will save $70 to attend the Spring Seminar. A member hygienist will save $70 to attend the 2023 UDA Convention. A member hygienist will save $25 to attend the Hygienist Luncheon held at the Convention. A member hygienist can attend the Fall Hygiene Seminar for free.
If you are a dentist that pays for their hygienist to attend the convention. By paying for your hygienist to be a member of the UDA Dental Hygiene Affiliate Membership you can save money and he/she will be able to take advantage of other CE that is offered just to Affiliate Members.
Hygienists can register as Dental Hygiene Affiliate Members at www.uda.org.
