Cleaning Teeth vs. Impacting Lives? Elevating Our Role in Patient Care
Friday, January 30, 2026
2:00 – 5:00 pm
Course Code:
661RL
Cost:
$130
Credits:
3
CE Hours
Are we simply ‘cleaning teeth’ or are we truly impacting lives? We have an extraordinary opportunity and ethical responsibility to change lives through the power of our message and the science of our treatment. By understanding the intersection between oral health and systemic health, dental hygienists can provide patient-centered care that extends beyond cleaning teeth to enhancing both the quality and quantity of lives that we treat. The mouth is not separate from the body, and neither is our impact. It is time to put our words into action and recognize our role in reducing inflammation and sustaining overall health for our dental patients. This course will challenge you to redefine your purpose in practice. Our time is NOW to shift the perception of our role from ‘just a cleaning’ to life-changing healthcare.
Speakers
After this course attendees will be able to:
- Understand the role of the dental hygienist in minimizing the risk of oral and systemic disease
- Enhance awareness and treatment of periodontal disease as an inflammatory condition with systemic implications
- Discuss the roles of chronic inflammation in initiating disease states
- Evaluate present assessment protocols related to risk intervention of oral and systemic disease
- Empower today's dental patient to understand the critical importance of oral health
- Breakdown the barrier of the insurance-driven mindset
Handouts are available for this course: Download Now – Handout 1 , Download Now – Handout 2 & Download Now – Handout 3
The Solventum grant has been applied to this course.
The Massachusetts Dental Society is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider
ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at
ADA.org/CERP