International dental hygiene leaders: striving to improve the oral health of their respective countries.

"The need for dental hygiene services is universal and unrestricted by race, colour, age, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status."

--from the IFDH Code of Ethics

Dental hygiene continues to be a professional career that is occurring in about 37 other countries globally. Is this great news? Definitely, and this issue of Access is focusing on Global Dental Hygiene. As you can see from the cover, Claudine Paula Drew, RDH, CDA, MS, EdD, an American dental hygiene educator, is currently teaching in Bahrain, where dental caries is on the rise and the need for dental hygienists is increasing. What a wonderful international opportunity to be involved in, and we have her story in our special feature article, "The Profession of Dental Hygiene in Bahrain: A Dental Hygiene Educator Working and Living in the Kingdom of Bahrain."

Lead Article--International Thought Leaders

I had the opportunity to interview six dental hygiene thought leaders from around the globe. Marjolijn Hovius, president of the International Federation of Dental Hygiene; Terri Slough, acting president of the Dental Hygienists' Association of Australia; Noriko Kanazawa, president of the Japan Dental Hygienists' Association; Corina Julien, president of the Dutch Dental Hygienists' Association; Yael Carlin, president of the Israel Dental Hygienists' Association and Marialice Boldi, president of the Associazione Igienisti Dentali Italiani (AIDI). As you will see after reading this article, there are similar trends in oral diseases affecting the populations where these thought leaders live, as well as changes in the scope of practice in these countries, with dental hygienists are able to receive additional training to become dental therapists in Australia and dental hygienists who can own their own offices in Holland.

Clinical Feature--Partnership for the Americas

How would you like to work on a United States naval ship for several months out of the year to provide dental and dental hygiene treatment to people in the Caribbean and South America? LT Nicole Glines, RDH, BS, had the opportunity to work for the Partnership for Americas program last year, and she shares her story with us.

Special Feature--Strive Global Experience

Haley Dollins, RDH, and Cindy Amyot, BSDH, EdD, write a fabulous story about Dollins' experience as a student in the United Kingdom learning about the United Kingdom Dental Therapist credential and how this can be compared to the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner credential being created in the United States. We want to thank Dollins for providing Access with her story.

Great Columns for March!

"Strive--The Student View"--Did you ever think about evaluating and diagnosing the tongue? Jelena Karcas, a student in the dental hygiene program at New York University, tells us about this new interest in how tongue diagnosis could be an option considered in practice, as well as more research conducted in this specialized area.

"Infection Control"--Louis DePaola, DDS, MS and Jacquelyn Fried, RDH, MS, write a fascinating article on "Microbial Resistance: An Overview for Oral Health Providers," which discusses antimicrobial resistance, the incidence and transmission of Methycillin-Resistant Staphlococcus aureas (MRSA), prevention options utilized in practice and treatment of the MRSA infection.

"From Research into Practice"--Christine Klausner, RDH, MS, RDA, is a contributing author to the published article in the winter issue of the Journal of Dental Hygiene entitled, "Mothers' and Guardians' Knowledge about Promoting Children's Oral Health. Klausner writes a commentary article for Access on their findings from the research her team conducted with mothers to identify the factors that may affect their level of knowledge about the important task of promoting good oral health for their children.

"Nutrition"--We were taught to do nutritional counseling in our dental hygiene programs, but how many of us are providing this service in practice? Luisa Nappo-Dattoma, RDH, RD, EdD, writes an interesting article on nutritional counseling techniques that dental hygienists can use with patients. After reading this article, you may want to introduce this responsibility or start it again in practice.

"Accessing Life"--After a long day at the office, do you do any type of extracurricular activities to reduce your stress level and stretch your tired muscles? Christel Autuori, RDH, BS, a certified AcuYoga instructor and Reiki I and II practitioner, writes about "AcuYoga for Optimal Health." Her article may inspire you to take up yoga, if you haven't already, to reduce both physical and emotional stress, promote balance and create a feeling of mind and body wellness. This article features photos of exercises you can even do between patient appointments.

"Working"--Get to know Bernice Mills, RDH, MS, a dental hygiene educator, and find out what education as a career has meant to her.

"Profile"--Stephanie Mericle, RDH, of Shreveport, La., never wanted to be anything but a dental hygienist. She shares her viewpoint on a host of professional topics in this month's "Profile."

Corporate Supplement--Osteoporosis and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw 

We want to thank Procter & Gamble for sponsoring this month's supplement on "Osteoporosis and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw," written by Jon B. Suzuki, DDS, PhD, MBA, and Andrea B. Klemes, DO, FACE. Osteoporosis and osteonecrosis of the jaw may affect some of the patients whom we as dental professionals treat in practice. Suzuki and Klemes provide us with pertinent information on osteoporosis and reducing the risk of osteoporotic fractures, and treatment and prevention of osteonecrosis of the jaw and working collaboratively with patients' medical professionals to discuss the benefits and risks of bisphosphonate therapy for the treatment of osteoporosis. Please take the online questionnaire to obtain 1 continuing education credit.

Wishing you a very happy spring and Easter this month! The April issue of Access will discuss the importance of lifelong learning in our careers as dental hygienists. See you next month as we await the spring flowers to bloom!

Best regards,

Christine A. Hovliaras-Delozier, RDH, BS, MBA

Editor-in-Chief, Access