Also in the news, The California Dental Association (CDA) recently updated its Radiation Safety in Dental Practice guide, which contains the regulations applicable to dentistry and a template for completing a written safety program. All sources of radiation must have a copy of the radiation regulations and a written radiation safety program. While this was written specifically to ensure compliance with state radiation regulations in California, this 72-page guide is helpful to offices in any state. The Department of Public Health (DPH) and dental school faculty members updated the 1996 guide. The recently updated guide can be downloaded for free at the CDA website. The radiation safety program template included in the guide allows the dentist or X-ray machine owner to fill in the necessary information. The template was created with the assistance of the DPH, which also has a guidance document on its website to assist all X-ray machine registrants in developing a written radiation safety program.(2) Good news for dental hygienists! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its Occupational Outlook Handbook, the in-demand job paying more than $70,000 per year is dental hygiene!(3) According to the report, dental hygiene is expected to add 33% more jobs over the next 10 years, which is three times more than the estimated 11% job growth in the U.S.(4) The prediction is that there are anticipated job openings, as a result of greater focus on dental health, an aging population, and Federal health legislation which expand individuals with dental insurance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects more than 114,000 jobs will be added from 2012 to 2022, and 64,000 of those will be new jobs and not simply filling existing jobs of people retiring or leaving the workforce.(3) The bad news, in my opinion, is the Bureau of Labor Statistics makes dental hygiene sound like a technical job, versus a professional career. Until we have baccalaureate entry level, and award dental hygienists a degree commensurate with their education, this will not likely change.
And last, but not least, World Oral Health Day (WOHD) is March 20, and is celebrated every year on the same day. It is an international day to highlight the benefits of a healthy mouth and promote worldwide awareness of issues around oral health and the importance to everyone old and young of looking after oral hygiene.(7) The theme is “World Oral Health Day 2014, Celebrating healthy smiles” because having a healthy mouth is cause for celebration!(7)
As the World Oral Health Day approaches, Oral-B, Procter & Gamble, has started a Sharing Smiles campaign structured ultimately to reach disadvantaged communities that cannot afford dental care products and consultations with dentists.(8) As part of the ways to celebrate the World Oral Health Day on March 20, 2014, and in commitment to total oral health, the campaign is targeted at providing free dental services through Oral B’s Mobile Dental Clinic (MDC) to people who ordinarily cannot afford the service. The campaign kicked off on Jan. 30, 2014.
What will you do to celebrate World Oral Health Day?
References
1. www.cda.org.
2. www.cdph.ca.gov.
3. Morris P. The in-Demand Job Paying More Than $70,000 Per Year. The Motley Fool, Feb 23, 2014.
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Dental Hygienists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm (visited March 01, 2014).
5. http://www.neutrasal.com/.
6. http://www.neutrasal.com/uploads/Post_card_Oral_Analgesic_Kit_Postrcard_v2.pdf.
7. http://www.fdiworldental.org/events/world-oral-health-day/2014.aspx.
8. http://businessdayonline.com/2014/02/procter-gamble-kicks-off-oral-b-smiles-campaign/.
Sincerely,
Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, MS
To read previous RDH eVillage FOCUS introductions by Maria Perno Goldie, go to introductions.
To read more about radiation and dental hygiene, click here.
