Ms. Amber Auger

Donuts, Diabetes, and Dentistry: The Vital Role of Dental Professionals

8 - 9:30 am

34.2 million Americans have Diabetes. Another 88 million Americans are considered Pre-Diabetic. As dental professionals, we play a vital role in the early detection of Diabetes. This course is designed to uplevel your practice's current Diabetes standards for treatment.

• Review Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes
• Identify what is contraindicated for dental treatment based on the patient's A1c levels
• Discover the risks of soft and hard tissue disease among Diabetic patients
• Investigate the latest technologies to prevent the progression of oral diseases both chairside and at home

Ms. Stephanie Botts

Protecting your Most Valuable Instrument: Your Body!

9:30 - 11 am

The dental profession is at high risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), with up to 96% of practitioners reporting pain due to clinical work habits. This is due to repetitive movements, bending, twisting, reaching, incorrect operator and patient positioning, and performing repetitive movements in a static posture. Ergonomics is the science of fitting the working environment to the practitioner, instead of forcing one's body to acclimate to the environment. Practicing proper ergonomics can increase productivity, decrease pain, and lengthen one's career. Allowing the individual to practice pain-free, ergonomics can increase the quality of one's life and work satisfaction. At the conclusion of this course, participants will learn ergonomic techniques, stretches and equipment choices to allow them to practice pain-free.

Lunch is on your own from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Ms. Jo-Anne   Jones

First on the Scene

12 - 1:30 pm

By definition a first responder is “a person with specialized training who is among the first to arrive and provide assistance at the scene”. The dental hygienist is a ‘first responder’ to the oral cavity with our profession being optimally situated at the portal of entry and the gateway to systemic health. The oral-systemic link conceptually is not new, however the reduction of the burden of chronic inflammation has become a benchmark of healthcare delivery. Emerging research is signaling a strong reactionary link with the COVID pandemic and deterioration of oral health. Our actions and assessment as a critical stakeholder dictate treatment outcomes, and strongly influence both the quality and quantity of life of every client seated in our treatment room.
Course Objectives:

• Understand the biological pathways of periodontitis and the impact on systemic health
• Understand the role and influence of the dental hygienist in risk intervention strategies
• Discover how science and technology have influenced today’s oral care products
• Integrate educational resources into your dental hygiene practice and social media outreach

Ms. Rachel Wall

Surviving To Thriving: 3 Core Principles to Re-gain the Momentum and Mindset for a Thriving Hygiene Team

1:30 - 3 pm

So many dental teams have come out of the last few years weary, exhausted and unsure how to move forward. Discover core principles that can catapult hygiene teams from surviving to thriving for a great year and many years to come.

By attending this course, dentists and hygienists will be able to:

• Shift from a mindset that limits potential to one that empowers providers to deliver an elevated standard of care
• Incorporate updated information and verbal skills to improve patients' overall health and well-being
• Determine where the opportunity lies to take the hygiene-dentist collaboration to a new level

The ability to save a life through earlier diagnosis is the gratification that may not be compared to anything else we do in dentistry. Conversely, when we ‘miss’ a diagnosis, the sorrow that ensues is challenging to overcome. Through a guided visual journey of inspiring and moving oral cancer stories of survivors and those who have lost their lives, learn the subtle life-saving symptoms and critical screening techniques that will increase our opportunity to save a life! This is a presentation you will never forget. 

Xerostomia or dryness of the oral cavity is now affecting 1 out of every 5 adults and has become one of the most common oral health pathologies. There are over 1100 drugs which contribute to this oral condition. Also advances in medicine and therapeutic modalities have resulted in a steadily increasing human life expectancy. With longevity we can expect salivary hypofunction. The rapid rise in diabetes and autoimmune disorders only further magnifies this oral condition and warrants the need for chairside assessment and strategies to treat.  As the population ages and the ‘silver tsunami’ rolls in, are we prepared to address the challenging condition of xerostomia?

Technology Recommendations

When viewing a live or pre-recorded course, we suggest the following:

Close all other applications and programs on your device
Consider limiting the streaming on other devices in your viewing location
Optimal viewing is on a computer or tablet
A minimum 5MB connection is recommendation, but please note that a 15-20MB connection is optimal
The best way to prevent or stop buffering when streaming is to reduce anything that impedes the stream.

Date Available: January 20, 2023

Date Reviewed: March 1, 2023

Date Removed: May 31, 2023

 Dentistry provides us with the ultimate gratification any human can desire and that is to serve others.  However, this ideal concept comes with a cost. Rest and self-care are vitally important to self-preservation. We cannot serve from an empty vessel. Attendees will explore the areas of their life that impact energy and healing. We have one life, and it can change in a heartbeat.  Let us make it the best it can be! Join Jo-Anne for a humorous and insightful look at the life of today’s dental professional. 

The ability to save a life through earlier diagnosis is the gratification that may not be compared to anything else we do in dentistry. Conversely, when we ‘miss’ a diagnosis, the sorrow that ensues is challenging to overcome. Through a guided visual journey of inspiring and moving oral cancer stories of survivors and those who have lost their lives, learn the subtle life-saving symptoms and critical screening techniques that will increase our opportunity to save a life! This is a presentation you will never forget.