Excitement abounds at RDH Under One Roof

The excitement is building for RDH Under One Roof (UOR) as I write this newsletter. RDH UOR is a three-day action-packed event offering quality dental hygiene education. Dental hygienists will learn from leading speakers in the industry during the educational courses. All attendees are invited to visit the exhibit floor to view the newest dental hygiene products and dental equipment from the exhibitors. We continue to celebrate 100 years of dental hygiene!

On Thursday (yesterday) I presented The Skinny on Eating Disorders: Food for Thought, Hope and Healing. Eating disorders are potentially life threatening and have not lost their relatively poor prognosis in the last decades. Whereas the increase in incidence and prevalence rates of anorexia nervosa over time are questionable, an increasing trend in incidence and prevalence of bulimia nervosa has been reported. Dental hygienists and dentists are often involved in treating teeth of patients with both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa because the teeth of these patients are regularly affected by erosion and caries. Without identification of the underlying evidence of psychological problems and consequent treatment, a patient's medical and dental health will deteriorate as the eating disorder progresses. This presentation reviewed specific signs and characteristics to alert the clinician to these potentially fatal disorders for assessment, oral treatment, and medical referral. More on this topic in a future issue! One of the joys of RDH UOR is learning about new products. I have featured one in this issue. I have also included information on obesity prevention in youth and older adults. Enjoy the newsletter, and I will see you in Las Vegas!!!