Women Play Growing Role in Economy
By Jim Giguere on Friday, December 4, 2009.
If your family's budget has become more reliant on the female members of the household, you are not alone. A recent University of New Hampshire study shows that the percentage of wives' contribution to family earnings rose to 45% in 2008, representing the largest single-year increase in a decade. Poverty-stricken families are even more reliant on wives and mothers--they supply a full 59% percent of earnings.

 

Ever wanted new inspiration in your life? Maybe a new direction to take your career? How about find a purpose for all those ideas you have?  Come join some fellow hygienists and women from many different professional backgrounds for the 3rd Annual Women's Leadership Summit on June 11th.  Sponsored by the NH Women's Leadership Institute, the events of the day are designed to enhance motivation, build confidence and provide inspiration.  To learn more, visit www.nhwi.org.

 

 

Put those older issues of Access, RDH and Dimensions of Dental Hygiene to good use! Give them to your local legislator and tell them that hygienists do more than "just clean teeth!" Educate consumers about the importance of oral health and the role of dental hygienists for wellness and total health.

 

                                 

 

Sen. Martha Fuller Clark, far right jokes with three-year-old Grace Ames of Litchfield, held by her dad, American Cancer Society representative, Peter Ames, as Susanne Kuehl, president of the NH Dental Hygienists Assoc., 2nd from right, looks on, during a celebration, of the historic passage of Federal Health Reform, at the South Church in Portsmouth, N.H., Saturday April 24, 2010. (Portsmouth Herald Photo Cheryl Senter)

 

Aside from reduced fees for CE (this benefit pays for itself in one year), discounts on insurance and Access magazine to keep you informed and up to date with all issues impacting YOUR career, your state dues make sure YOUR voice is heard at every health care "table" to make sure that access to dental hygiene services is part of the conversation. In April alone NHDHA has been very busy ADVOCATING for our mission:

 

 

 

For just $17 a month (you spend that much on Netflix), your dues dollars supports these activities. You can't afford to not have career insurance!  Make sure we are at the table and support NHDHA with your membership so that you can stay informed about all legislation and regulation that impacts your profession. Membership matters!

 

NHDHA was in the news! Read this excerpt below:

 

The New England Rural Health RoundTable (NERHRT) is a non-profit, membership-driven organization composed of a diverse group of individuals and organizations committed to improving health and health care throughout the rural New England communities.

 

And More Good News on Oral Health: NH Legislature Approves Sealants Rule Susanne Kuehl, President, New Hampshire Dental Hygienists' Association (NHDHA), reports that the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCA) has approved a rule that will allow dental hygienists under public health supervision to apply sealants without a prior examination by a dentist. The Board of Dental Examiners approved the rule in September; the last step before the sealants rule takes effect is for the Board to file the final rule with the Office of Legislative Services and this action is expected soon. Kuehl says the sealants rule is a huge step forward for preventive dental healthcare. NH hygienists will soon be able to provide services to more children who now needlessly suffer from tooth decay, she says. According to the Centers for Disease Control, "...only about one-third of children aged 6-19 years have sealants. And, although children from lower income families are almost twice as likely to have decay as those from higher income families, they are only half as likely to have sealants." 

 

NH Survey of Third-Graders Shows Improvement in Oral Health
Here is good news from Nancy Martin (RDH), Oral Health Program Manager, NH Department of Health and Human Services:
New Hampshire has just released the results of its 2009 Third-Grade Healthy Smiles-Healthy Growth Oral Health-BMI (Body Mass Index) survey. More than 3,000 students were reached state-wide, in 81 schools. The survey data represent the first state and regional obesity data and the first oral health data. When compared to 2001statewide data from the first oral health survey, the 2009 results indicate that the oral health of NH's children has improved.

NHDHA held its' first CE Event of 2010 on March 20 at SNHU.  The presenter was Richard Nagelberg, DDS and the course was titled, "Periodontal Medicine, Medical Manifestations of Periodontal Disease."  I am proud to say this event was an overwhelming success.

 

Based on the course evalutations, the speaker, the topic, and the venue were all well received.  Our presenter, Dr. Nagelberg commented on the attentiveness of the audience and how thorough and well thought out  participant questions were.

 

I would like to personally thank the hygienists that helped with the registration table, the CE Committee, Staff at SNHU, NHDHA Executive Board, and Lexian Management for making this day run seamlessly. 

 

I would also like to thank our sponsors because without their continued support events like these would not be financially possible.  Thank you to our:

Gold Level Sponsors

Additional Sponsors

NHDHA hopes that when you are shopping for your professional needs you support the businesses and organizations that support your professional association and make CE Events like this a huge Success.

 

Finally, I would like to Thank all of the dental professionals that attended this event.  Without your support, NHDHA would not be able to host events such as this and we would not be able to advocate for the profession of dental hygiene.  I hope to see you all at our October 1, 2010 CE Event.

 

Thank you,

Sue Higgins, CDA, RDH, BS

President Elect and

CE Chair, NHDHA

 

 

Details and locations of both events TBA, check our website soon for details.