Editor’s Note

A significant piece of legislation regarding oral health care was recently passed.

It’s difficult to believe that nearly a year has passed since my brother Frank had a stroke.

When I graduated from dental hygiene school, I wasn’t really thinking about 10, 20, or even 30 years down the road.

While I’ve long appreciated the role that physical therapy plays in prevention and rehabilitation, I never truly realized how vital physical therapists are until recently.

Part of the mission statement of the Arizona Board of Dental Examiners states: “…to protect the oral health, safety and welfare of Arizona citizens through a fair and impartial system.”

Experts in communication, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are integral members of the therapy team. Communication is not merely forming words and pronouncing them, it’s essential to a productive life.

I wrote this memo from Columbus, Ohio, where I attended the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) Annual Meeting with the team from Dimensions of Dental Hygiene.

In the April issue of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, I highlighted the work of respiratory therapists and how they are partners in the care we provide.

In our professional lives, we may take our knowledge for granted, expecting that others know what we know.

As oral health professionals, we know that achieving good oral health for children is sometimes not a simple proposition.