AI has the potential to revolutionize the dental industry, from standardizing diagnosis to transforming treatment. For dental hygienists, the COHA Facebook community is a great place to exchange ideas and ask questions about oral health, products, patient care, and office management. Even beyond the pandemic, teledentistry is becoming increasingly popular as it provides a convenient way for patients to maintain their dental care between in-person appointments. To stay up-to-date with your state's requirements, check your state's dental board website and dental office law.
Connecting with your local dental dealer representative and Colgate oral care consultant is a great way to network. Facebook and LinkedIn are excellent resources for connecting with dental hygienists, dental professionals, and dental product companies. Participating in the dental hygienist community and networking with colleagues will help you stay informed about technology and practices in the field. Nowadays, most of a dental hygienist's continuing education credits can be earned online.
Many states allow dental hygienists to receive CE credits through reading, online education, and home study platforms. Connecting with your local community of dental hygienists can provide an opportunity to attend local educational events. Attending a dental conference is a great way to complete several CE credits in one day or weekend. For patients, perioscopy can have a huge impact on their long-term oral health through early prevention, and in some cases of advanced gum disease, it can even avoid the need for surgery.
You can join a committee to advocate for the dental hygiene profession and make it stand out among your peers. Local components often use the ADHA database and Facebook to inform dental hygienists about upcoming meetings. Mattingly was also president of the Georgia Association of Dental Hygienists and a former delegate of the American Dental Hygiene Association.
