February is National Children’s Dental Health Month!
A Message from our President...
Greetings!
​
As we near the end of the second month of 2021, I hope this message finds you well, optimistic about the year ahead of us, and continuing to do everything possible to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. I am thankful that we, as oral health providers, were included in the first round of vaccines for health care workers. I have had both of my vaccines and feel a sort of relief and pride in doing my part to get our lives back to normal. You can view the continuing efforts of ADHA in the fight against COVID-19 and their efforts to protect hygienists at https://www.adha.org/covid19.
​
Your Indiana Dental Hygienists’ Association Board of Directors (BOD) has been busy working on its 2021 goals. The Policy Manual Task Force continues to review policy and make recommendations for policy changes to be brought before the IDHA membership at the 2021 General Assembly in November. We continue discussions with the Indiana Dental Association (IDA) about inclusion in their legislative bills this session. We have reached out and are assisting several Components with their mandatory Spring business meeting and are continually recruiting and developing leaders, committee members, and a new Executive Director. If you are interested or want more information on how you can make an impact on your profession through involvement in the IDHA, please contact me. I am happy to answer your questions and share the amazing personal and professional impact being a leader in IDHA has provided me.
​
The 2021 ADHA Annual Conference is June 18-20 in Phoenix, AZ. Registration is open and the early bird registration ends on March 15, 2021. The ADHA House of Delegates will be held virtually June 25-27. Please visit https://adha2021.org/ for conference details and registration information.
​
Save the date for the 75th IDHA Annual Conference on Friday and Saturday, November 12-13, 2021 at the Fort Harrison Garrison Conference Center in Indianapolis. It is our heartfelt hope that we will ALL be together again, in person, to share continuing education, networking, social events, awards, camaraderie, and real hugs.
​
As always, the IDHA Board of Directors is here to lead, support, advocate and advance our profession for, and with YOU! Please contact me or any of the board members with questions, concerns, suggestions, interest, or offers to join in this journey.
​
Warmest regards,
Sheli R. Taulbee
IDHA President 2019-2021
COVID-19 Resource Center for Dental Hygienists
CDC: Interim Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Dental Settings During the COVID-19 Response
12/4/2020
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated Guidance for Dental Settings.
Key highlights from CDC
-
Dental settings have unique characteristics that warrant specific infection control considerations.
-
Prioritize the most critical dental services and provide care in a way that minimizes harm to patients from delaying care and harm to personnel from potential exposure to COVID-19.
-
Proactively communicate to both personnel and patients the need for them to stay at home if sick.
-
Know the steps to take if a patient with COVID-19 symptoms enters your facility.
ADHA Board of Trustees Meeting Highlights
The Fall ADHA Board of Trustees Meeting, October 17-19, 2020, may have been held virtually — but we made some very real progress!
Working together to make wise decisions for leading ADHA into the future requires an intense commitment to assess, affirm, and carefully pivot when things change. And we’ve certainly experienced a lot of change in 2020. Following are some highlights from the three-day intensive:
​