Event Information

CDHA Alternative Practice Council Presents: Non-Traditional Career Options for Dental Hygienists        

 

Oral healthcare needs continue to go unmet, dental hygienists have the potential to assume greater roles and responsibilities in the provision of quality care. CDHA Alternative Practice Council supports opportunities for California dental hygienists. We work to create smoother pathways toward alternative careers for dental hygienists so that they can provide fulfilling oral health care for all!          

         

EARN 4 CE UNITS!        

         

RDHAPs can practice in a variety of situations where there is no to low access to care due to factors such as disability, age, and socioeconomic status. Some RDHAPs practice in brick-and-mortar office or travel with mobile equipment to residential or nursing facilities, rural areas, places where dental offices are scarce, and in school settings. Travis Trammel has one of the most successful school-based programs. Travis will share his journey and impart wisdom that he has gained through his experiences working with the schools in his area.        

         

Learning Objectives:  

1. Participants will learn how to approach a school and/or school district.

2. Participants will learn how to write up a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

3. Participants will learn where and how to apply for grants.

4. Participants will learn the process of hiring another RDHAP, Dentist, Assistants, and other staff.        

   

Travis is a dedicated Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice with an emphasis on holistic dentistry and promoting the greater good of the underserved community. He employs an entrepreneurial mindset as founder of Gerismiles, a mobile hygiene practice. He demonstrates a passion for dentistry beyond the traditional dental practice, incorporating dental professionals into public schools, health fairs, homeless shelters, and churches. He has a Doctorate of Clinical Christian Counseling with a strong desire to promote hope, healing, and awareness through dentistry.      

     

Orofacial Myofunctional Treatment as an Adjunctive Oral Health Therapy presented by Joe Siegfried, RDH OMT
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy sounds like it's just emerging in the oral health field, but this therapy has been in our scope since before the 1950s. So why does it seem so prevalent now? In this 2 hour long talk we will be discussing some of the functional characteristics of the oral facial complex, their disfunction and the role they play in achieving better oral health outcomes.      

     

Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will understand the history of myofunctional therapy
2. Participants will understandoral rest posture and its role in oral health and development.
3. Participants will learn to recognize possible orofacial myofunctional disorders.
4. Participants will learn about myofunctional therapy's role in Dental Sleep Therapy, Orthodontics and Periodontal health.
5. Participants will learn screening tools to help clients find better health solutions.    

 

Embarking on a career in oral health in 2006, Joe is very proud of his accomplishments and the level of education he provides his clients and colleagues. Myofunctional Therapy became part of his practice in 2016 and has become a passion in his daily practice. Joe believes that all RDH’s should identify as educators. At the forefront, we teach oral health. Joe is an advocate in letting each client become involved in their care and seeks out new ways to help them obtain and maintain healthy tissues and teeth. He has spent countless hours researching sleep medicine, sleep dentistry and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy. He is also proud to be a rdhu speaker and the creator of their myofunctional therapy curriculum.