RDH Under One Roof highlights

The Keynote Session of RDH UOF featured Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN, CSP, CPAE, and Gail B. Stoops, RDH, BSDH, Sr. Manager of Professional Relations for Philips Sonicare, who sponsored the session. Karyn presented Amazed & Amused: How to Be Successful, Significant and Happy in Challenging Times. Karyn is a neurohumorist, author and master keynoter. She is an expert on the mind-body-spirit connection, and a practitioner of applied humor. She provides scientific proof of the Biblical adage, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine”; she shares neurological research that shows why Norman Cousin’s experience wasn’t a fluke; and she shows that—personally, professionally, and globally—“Humor is power.” Scientists have shown that people’s attitude and mindset play a crucial role in our health and resilience; our ability to perform and succeed; our ability to connect and be significant; and our overall happiness. Bestselling author, RN, and expert in psychoneuroimmunology, Karyn shared how we can better achieve our mission of creating a culture of optimal health and well-being for our patients (as well as for ourselves!). She was fabulous!(1)

Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, MS, and Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN, CSP, CPAE

Also amazing was the keynote delivered by Gail B. Stoops, RDH, BSDH. She regaled us with stories about Alaska, Grandmother Zelda, and a hilarious anecdote about a dentist, a toupee, and a belt-driven handpiece. I think you have the image in your mind! Gail emphasized the importance of clinical dental hygiene stories as educational tools, highlighted in a humorous address. This was followed by a Call To Action for dental hygienists to participate in studies to ensure that prevention and product innovation are aligned with both patient and dental professional needs.

With so many consumers refusing or rarely using floss, an alternative product, AirFloss was developed by Philips using only 2 teaspoons of fluid. Studies demonstrate AirFloss has high patient compliance rates and the ability to reduce gingivitis.

Good news! Philips will be shipping to all those RDH’s registered to attend the 2013 RDH UOR meeting, a Philips AirFloss within the next three (3) weeks so dental hygienists can have first-hand experience with this innovative interproximal cleaning device.

Thank you Gail and Philips!

The Wrap Up Session was entitled: 100th Year Celebration - Evolutionary Transformations in Dental Hygiene, featuring four panelists, and was moderated by Gail B. Stoops, RDH, BSDH. Betsy Reynolds, RDH, MS, discussed It’s a Bug’s Life: A Look at Microbial Challenges That Have Shaped Today’s Practice of Dental Hygiene; Tricia Osuna, RDH, BSDH, FAADH, spoke on Share Your Passion – Career Opportunities to Set Yourself Apart from Others!; Stacy McCauley, RDH, MS, presented Straight Talk About the Prophylaxis: Myths and Realities; and Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, MS, talked about Oral Cancer and the Human Papillomavirus: What is the Controversy?

It was a fun and collaborative session, with break-out groups and much interaction. I featured my topic in the last newsletter, and Stacy’s is contained in this newsletter. For more information, go to the Facebook page!

Regarding oral cancer, specifically carcinoma of the tongue, a case series analysis of prognostic factors and surgical outcomes was recently published by researchers from Turkey.(2) The researchers found that tumor thickness greater than 8 mm and lymph node metastasis were independent predictors of inferior survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. The best significant predictive factor is when nodal metastasis is present in the neck area.

All in all, the RDH UOR meeting was a huge success. Thanks to all that contributed to RDH UOR, and to this newsletter.

I am off to South Africa on August 6 for the International Symposium on Dental Hygiene. I hope to see you there!

References
1. http://karynbuxman.com/.
2. Süslü N, Hoşal AŞ, Aslan T, Sözeri B, and Dolgun A. Carcinoma of the Oral Tongue: A Case Series Analysis of Prognostic Factors and Surgical Outcomes. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Volume 71, Issue 7, Pages 1283-1290, July 2013.

Sincerely,