Greetings from the Linn County Dental Hygienists’ Component.

We had a great year of diverse continuting education and community activites.

Last September we got together with the officers of the component to plan and finalize community projects and continuing education courses.

In October we gathered to brainstorm  ideas for community outreach andsocial gathering.

In November we hosted a 2.5 CEU course on “Update for Today’s Dental Office in Periodontics” presented by Dr. Karen Wolf, local periodontist.  Also in November mentoring hygienists from our component met with Kirkwood students to support them and to get them involved in our association.

In December we had a holiday party and discussed an I-Smile Project community outreach project.

In January 2008 A CPR recertification course and “Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office” (6 ceu) was presented by Anita Shubert,

In February Sue Hyland RDH presented a 2 ceu course on “Smoking Cessation”. Also in February Linn county and Mercy Cancer Center hosted a cancer continuing education course.

In March Trisha Willenborg RDH, Linn County Oral Health Coordinator will present a 2 ceu course “I Smile Dental Home Project” which will be part of our community project. Also Joan Wollschager, will be presenting a 1.5 ceu course on “Clinical Management of Risks Involving Repetitive Motion.

In April Jane Feldman offers a con-ed course “Dental Concerns for the Patient with Diabetes 1.5 CEU.

On April we work together with the I smile Dental Home Project to sponsor a community outreach event for children. Hygienist will be doing a puppet show and assisting the public health hygienist in oral screenings and fluoride treatments. The goal is to refer children and their families to dental offices in the community that will suit their dental needs.

This summer the Linn County component officers will be busy preparing for the 2007-2008 continuing education year as well as social gatherings. We invite you to attend our meetings when we meet again this fall.

A newsletter with the schedule of Linn County for the upcoming year of meetings and activities will be in the mail in August/September 2008. This information can also be found on the component meetings page. We hope to see you there.