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If Your Runway Is Bumpy, Your Flight Can Still Be Glorious

Welcome new graduates to the profession of dental hygiene! Barring the need to retake any of your exams, most of you probably have your license and a job now. What you accomplished this year is no small feet, and I am very proud that I can count you as a colleague.

I remember when I graduated, I finally felt like the hard part was all over. No more tests, or hunting down patients to meet clinic requirements, no more studying until 1:00am, and no more memorizing hundreds of bones, muscles, nerves, and diseases. Free at last!!! Then I went to work….. And found out there were a few more hurdles to jump over.

I found out that your back, shoulders, and arms get tired out and sore from working on patients all day. I found out that my employer expected me to work very quickly and never get behind. I found out that the patients were used to the last hygienist, and weren't ready to accept me as their new hygienist right away.

I had two employers, one of which was a cranky old man I could never do anything right for. His staff were almost as cranky as himself, and the receptionist was the meanest of all. She was a chain smoker, with a froggy, nasal voice, who delighted in pointing out anything she thought I did wrong. She would croak from the front desk, in front of all of the patients, and down the hall, "Alison, what is wrong with you! What were you thinking?". The other DDS I worked for was a periodontist, and wonderful person, but always wanted to double check all of the hygienists work, so it was a bit like being back in school at the clinic. (I actually learned quite a lot from that periodontist and am very grateful now that I had him as a mentor.)

Needless to say, the confidence I felt on graduation day, was quickly deflated. I struggled, and worked, and tried to please my employers, and often felt like a failure. I cried every night, and was becoming more and more certain that going to school to be a dental hygienist had been a huge mistake.

Then one day, that cranky old Dentist berated me for several minutes in front of a patient, and the patient held up her hand and said "that's enough! No wonder you have a new hygienist every time I come here." I can't remember now what answer he came up with, but it was a real wake up call to me. His behavior was not reasonable, and his treatment of his hygienists had been this way for a long time. HE was not going to change.

I sent out resumes the next day, and had a new job within a week. I still work in that new job I found 4 ½ years ago, and I truly enjoy being a dental hygienist. I am so glad I didn't give up on this profession, and now I can look back and laugh at that froggy receptionist and that cranky old dentist!!

If I may leave you new hygienists with some words of encouragement: Your body will get used to the work, and the sore muscles will build endurance over time. You'll get faster and faster, and some day you will look back and wonder why you were once so slow. The patients will come to know and trust you if you just keep on doing a good job, being kind, thoughtful, and thorough. Most of all, you will find the right job, the right fit for you, even if it wasn't with this first job.

There is another resource out there for you as well. Remember that when you attend a UDHA meeting, you will have the opportunity to meet other hygienists who understand what you are going through, and are there to support you. Those first few months are like a bumpy airport runway, but once you get passed those pot holes, lift will overcome drag and you'll be flying.

Alison Carlisi, President UDHA

We still need help with the 2007 Junior League CARE Fair on August 3 and 4, 2007

at the Horizonte Education and Training Center at 1234 Main Street, Salt Lake City.

We are excited to add sealants and additional dental stations this year to help serve more than the 800 children

and adults helped in 2006. Thank you for your help in providing the community dental services at the largest free health fair in Utah.

UDHA would like to announce the formation of the UDHA Members Only section of our website. Information on how to access this new section of the website can be found on the membership link. This is where members will be able to access employment opportunties and other information designated for members only. If you have any questions or problems logging on please e-mail our webmaster Lori Brogna, RDH at brognal@comcast.net. Please remember that this new section is a BENEFIT of your membership. Please do not share your login or password with others. The login and password is unique to each member.

New Online CE Opportunity!
The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) is pleased to announce the availability of a new web-based continuing education (CE) course, Special Care: An Oral Health Professional's Guide to Serving Young Children with Special Health Care Needs. Four CE credits through the ADHA will be awarded upon successful completion of the course. This CE course contains 5 Modules and is free of charge. (http://www.adha.org/news/05232007-ohrc.htm)

Access Needs Your Assistance!
Access  is looking for dental hygienists who have experience in financial planning.  Please email Access editor-in-chief, Chris Hovliaras-Delozier, at christineh@adha.net at your earliest convenience.  If Chris is interested in speaking with you, she will get back to you shortly.

Access ' Body Basics column has offered information on correct sitting postures, movement strategies, and stretching and strengthening routines.  We are asking our readers to provide questions for Drs. Jacquelyn Dylla and Jane Forrest.  Please send your ergonomic inquiries to communications@adha.net.  Please title your email message - Body Basics Inquiries.  Access appreciates your assistance.

Access  wants your questions about nutrition for our Nutrition column.  Please send your nutrition inquiries to Dr. Luisa Nappa-Dattoma at communications@adha.net and title your email message - Nutrition Inquiries.

Access  is interested in interviewing dental hygienists who are breast cancer survivors.  Please contact Chris Hovliaras-Delozier at christineh@adha.net at your earliest convenience.  Access appreciates your assistance in these requests.

American Dental Hygienists’ Association Announces 2007-2008 Leadership
Chicago-July 12, 2007-Jean Connor, RDH, Cambridge, Mass., was elected the 2007-2008 president of the Chicago-based American Dental Hygienists’ Association on June 26, 2007, at the association’s 84th annual session held in New Orleans, La.

Full press release

ADHA Submits Comments in Support of South Carolina FTC Ruling
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) recently submitted comments in support of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consent order settling charges that the South Carolina State Board of Dentistry “unlawfully restrained competition in violation of section 5 of the FTC act by adopting a rule that required a dentist to examine every child before a dental hygienist could provide preventive care—such as cleanings—in schools.” The charges against the State Board of Dentistry were originally brought in September of 2003.

Full story

85th Annual Session
Albuquerque Convention Center
Doubletree Hotel Albuquerque
Hyatt Regency Albuquerque
Albuquerque, NM
June 18-25, 2008

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