Editor's note: Erin Haley-Hitz is the current ADHA president. Learn more about Erin's journey and career.
It’s October, and National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM) is in full swing! This year's celebration, themed "RDH Investigates," highlights the unique and critical investigative role dental hygienists play in uncovering and addressing oral health challenges. Hygienists must recognize the value of what we can discover during the time we spend with patients educating, building relationships, asking probing questions, and applying critical thinking. It’s an art to uncover oral health mysteries. Our oral health expertise is a superpower, and by leveraging these skills we’re contributing to diagnoses and optimal treatment paths that can be critical to patients’ oral and overall health.
ADHA established NDHM 16 years ago to promote good oral health, celebrate dental hygienists’ dedication to the profession and contributions to oral health care, and emphasize our critical role in person-centered care. With a quick greeting from my operatory, I kicked off this year’s special month-long celebration on October 1. Watch here.
What to look forward to this month
- Weekly patient case studies: Each week, a new case study will be released online, via email, and on social media. Follow @youradha for clues to piece together the patient case puzzles. Then read the full case at adha.org/ndhm and see how it was handled.
- Weekly prizes: These are for engaged participants who share their comments, diagnoses, and thoughts on care and treatment.
- Signups: There will be special giveaways and events at adha.org/ndhm.
- A fresh podcast episode. The podcasts feature Amanda Hill, BSDH, RDH, CDIPC, Phyllis Martina, RDH, MDA, FADHA, and host Matt Crespin, MPH, RDH, FADHA, discussing how dental hygienists use their investigative skills to make specific treatment and product recommendations, and the importance of fostering collaboration between hygienists, patients, and dentists.
- Oral care trivia: Take part in the fun all month long on social media!
For those who haven't yet participated, it's not too late to join the fun. Just visit adha.org/ndhm to see all the great National Dental Hygiene Month content that’s waiting for you!
I hope we’re making this message clear. As I mentioned in the closing general session at the ADHA24 annual conference, dental hygienists are not “teeth cleaners.” We are educated health-care providers, skilled investigators who play a crucial role in patients’ oral health, which is frequently the key to their overall health. Our dedication, expertise, and celebrated investigative skills give people everywhere more reasons to smile—this month and every month.
