The official newsletter of the Dental Hygienists Association of Australia Ltd Issue 64 September-November 2022 FearsFighting Strategies anxioustechniquesandtomanagepatients PositionedPerfectly We cut through the confusion of provider numbers STATE ROUND-UP Find out what’s happening in your local area How aregoing?youREALLY Dealing with the very real and surprisingly widespread issues of mental overload
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COVER STORY 20 How are you really going?
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• Early intervention • Managing ongoing and long-term conditions. Are we primary health care providers? How often do patients see us as their first point of contact? Or are we something else? The reason I’m asking is that we are often labeled as auxiliaries, allied dental professionals and the list goes on! I think it’s time we consider calling ourselves primary health care providers. This could open better public access to our services, put oral health promotion at the forefront and new models of care where we don’t need to be a dental clinic all the time. Food for thought! A/Prof Carol Tran DHAA National President 1 Better Health Vic, Primary healthcare explained, servicesandsupport/primary-healthcare-explained,https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/accessed12Aug2022
10 Get your CPD fix online Great courses to improve skills and top up CPD hours.
Contents 04
So, what’s next on the DHAA agenda? For those who may not be aware, the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is currently under review with the Department of Health and Aged Care. DHAA will be submitting a response on behalf of our members and we will keep you all informed of its progress.
• Promoting good health
Perfectly positioned
What does the future look like?
14 Be your own boss Get inspired by those who have paved their own path. 18 Ask DHAA Your poignant questions answered by our experts.
• Preventing health problems
On the advocacy front, we are listening to our member’s needs. Both the DHAA and ADOHTA are aware of the current limitations with provider numbers. Our next step will be to advocate to the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) to access their dental benefits schedule, Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) to recognise OHTs/DHs/ DTs to provide a referral for OPGs to radiology clinics, and various private health insurers to ensure that patients are able to claim for the services that we provide.
The
About 12 months ago, someone described to me what a primary health care provider is and asked if this applies to us: ‘Primary healthcare is the first contact a person has with the health system when they have a health problem.’ 1 Services delivered by primary healthcare providers include:
Dealing with the very real and surprisingly widespread issues of mental overload 24 Fighting fears Strategies and techniques for managing an anxious patient. 26 The power of training
How to unstick your ‘stuck’ by getting coaching. 30 Becoming self-aware Part 1/4: Learn the fundamentals to building your leadership muscle. 34 State of the Nation A countrywide round-up of what’s hip and happening. 37 Event calendar It’s CPD diary-filling time! Bulletin is an official publication of the DHAA Ltd. Contributions to The Bulletin do not necessarily represent the views of the DHAA Ltd. All materials in this publication may be readily used for non-commercial purposes. The Bulletin is designed and published by eroomcreative.com
It seems like the year has flown by - it’s now August and already so much has happened! The implementation of provider numbers went as smooth as it could. While we recognise the current limitations with provider numbers, I’m hopeful that this is a step in the right direction. One day, it will lead to the public being able to access our services in a much more equitable way.
The DHAA Darwin Symposium was a huge success. We had more than 250 delegates attending. This was one of the biggest events the DHAA has hosted outside the eastern seaboard! I’d like to thank all our staff, the PCO, our symposium chair, volunteers, sponsors, speakers, and most importantly, the delegates for attending and making the event a huge success.
The DHAA and ADOHTA position on provider numbers. 08 Excellence recognised DHAA member Leah Hobbs talks about her recent award.
• Diagnosis, treatment and care of people with health problems
Key Contacts BillCEOSuen CONTACT BULLETIN EDITOR Brie Jones CONTACT MEMBERSHIP OFFICER Christina Zerk CONTACT CarolPRESIDENTTran CONTACT
positionedPerfectly The new arrangement regarding provider numbers can be confusing. The DHAA and ADOHTA have created a joint positioning statement to help convey a bit of clarity on the subject
T he implementation of Medicare provider number access to oral health practitioners occurred on 1 July 2022 as planned. This momentous milestone represents the completion of our journey to becoming a truly independent registered health practitioner.Whiletheprovider number leads to access to Medicare and private health insurance payments, it also carries additional responsibilities in managing the privilege. The DHAA and ADOHTA have developed a joint position statement on provider numbers to guide our members. DHAA members have access to provide number resources, updates and education webinars through the member portal of the DHAA website: Provider numbers A provider number is a unique formation of letters and numbers that any eligible health professional can obtain. This number enables
All health professionals should consider referring a patient to a specialist, consultant physician or allied health professional; also in some situations request diagnostic imaging as appropriate. If referring, the patient referral letter/form or request must include the practitioners name and provider number for the location where the referral or request was written and/or the address of the practice location at, or from, which the referral or request was written. If Medicare Benefits for these referrals or diagnostic imaging requests are needed, they must go through a dentist and/or a medical practitioner. Compliance requirements and audits related to a provider number Diligence and attention is needed in making appropriate claims for services provided. If found to have made or authorised false or misleading statements relating to service benefits, individuals could be found to have committed an offence and may incur penalties such as fines, or be investigated further. If a benefit is deemed as incorrectly paid, subject to or following investigation, the Private Health Insurer or Department of Health may also request recovery of that benefit from the practitioner who provided the service. Serious cases of fraudulent claims against a PHI fund may lead to the practitioner being referred to the police, and the fund may notify AHPRA. It is an offence under Section 19 CC of the Act to provide a service without “ A provider number is a unique formation of letters and numbers that any eligible health professional can obtain”
Practitioner responsibilities Holding and utilising a provider number Dental Board of Australia defines all dental practitioners as independent practitioners and maintaining professional conduct (“Dental Board of Australia - Guidelines for scope of practice”, 2022). For transparency of service delivery and accountability, ADOHTA and DHAA encourage all independent practitioners to obtain and claim under their unique and appropriate Medicare Provider Number. In some practice settings, such as public sector services, there may continue to be utilisation of a single provider number through a Representative Public Dentist (RPD).
Medicare Provider Numbers are also used by Private Health Insurers to issue benefits to practitioners for the provision of dental services.
To be eligible to apply for a provider number, it is necessary to be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or an approved registration body (“Dental practitioner recognition”, 2022). Multiple Medicare provider numbers are required if a practitioner delivers health services in more than one health profession or location. To prevent fraudulent use of your practitioner provider number, it is important to notify Medicare Australia promptly to close your provider number when practising is ceased from a location. There are multiple fee schedules within governmental funding. Benefits can be claimed by many divisions of Dental practitioners from the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) and Department of Veteran Affairs Dental Schedule (DVA). Medicare Provider Numbers for Dental Hygienists, Dental Therapists and Oral Health Therapists (collectively referred to as Oral health Practitioners) provide access to the CDBS only, there is no access to DVA Dental Benefits or other Medicare benefits at this stage.
Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) The CDBS provides eligible children with funding for items defined within the schedule. Dental practitioners and Oral health professionals should make relevant claims within their individual scope of Servicespractice.Australia provides an apt eLearning Module (code MBSM11) designed at helping a health professional by giving an overview of eligibility and understanding of how to apply for a provider number from Medicare. Private Health Insurer (PHI) Private health insurance can be obtained by individuals to subsidise the cost of private dental services. For most PHI’s, dental and oral health professionals are referred to as ancillary providers, and benefits are paid from ancillary, or extras cover. It is important to read and ensure compliance with the terms and conditions applicable to the relationship with each PHI. Funds will be at different stages of systems changes to allow acceptance of the new provider numbers. Referrals
5 practitioners to be able to bill, claim, refer or request health care services. It must be noted that provider numbers and item codes are systems used in payment arrangements among clients, service providers and funding agencies. They do not have any legal bearing in professional practice. This is governed by relevant State and National legislations. Individual practitioner’s scope of practice is not determined by the item codes that they have access to, but their training and competencies as described by the Dental Board of Australia registration standards.
Peer Support Service Call for volunteers
THE DHAA PROVIDES professional indemnity (PI) and industrial relations (IR) support to its members. While these services provide professional advice, members are often under a high level of stress throughout the process. Furthermore, the oral health profession and its environment have been undergoing rapid change, complicated by workforce shortage and commercial pressure, putting many practitioners in unprecedented stressful situations. There is a need for the DHAA to provide emotional support and oral health profession-specific advice to members facing these challenges.
6 first informing a patient where a Medicare benefit isn’t payable for that service, for example the service is not listed in the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), or the oral health practitioner does not have access to Medicare Benefits.MostPHI’s reserve the right to request patient and/or treatment records for any of their clientele for any reason, and the recognised provider must provide copies at their own cost, of those records within a time frame specified by the individual PHI of such a request. Appropriate claiming and recording keeping Under section 51 of the Health Insurance Regulations 2018, certain information must be included on an account or receipt. Services cannot be billed nor claimed prior to the services being provided. A patient may not be charged for a service, nor a deposit taken for a service that is identified as later needed, until that service has been provided. Accounts must reflect true and accurate records to the servicesPractitionersprovided.are required to comply with the Dental Board of Australia’s Guidelines in Dental record keeping (“Dental Board of Australia - Dental records”, 2022). Writing and maintaining clear yet detailed and accurate records, not just for good practice and continuity of care, but also may assist if an audit were to occur. It is important to establish the administrative record keeping standards within the practice and encourage consistency amongst yourself and colleagues. The DBA’s selfreflective tool for dental record keeping should be used and supported by appropriate professional development. Having accurate and reliable records during an audit will ensure benefits or payments received for services were correct and clinically appropriate.
The DHAA Peer Support Service (PSS) was established in 2020 to support members (including graduates and students) on matters related to the many challenges and demands they face in their career. It provides an experienced oral health practitioner to act as a listening ear and to advise on relevant support services in times of stress over the phone. The volunteer may also provide career-related advice asTheappropriate.serviceis provided by volunteers operating under the following arrangements:•Oralhealth practitioners with mental health first aid training
Section 4 of the Dental Benefits Act defines a “clinically relevant service” as a service that is generally accepted in the dental profession as being necessary for the appropriate care or treatment of the patient to whom it is renderedToclaim a fee for services provided, it must be provided in accordance with the item number descriptors within the current edition of the ADA Schedule of Dental Services and Glossary (Ref 4) Claimants must be familiar with item conditions or restrictions within the Child Dental Benefits Schedule rules. For example, 88161 can only be used up to four times on that given day, any subsequent sealants performed are claimed under 88162. It is important to read and understand each PHI’s terms and conditions, to adhere to their regulations, record keeping and preferred provider schemes. Communication with the public The role of oral health practitioners may not be well understood and dental practices solely serviced by oral health practitioners without a dentist
• Additional training is provided on IR, AHPRA and the DHAA PSS processes.
• A structured, communication template is provided to guide the
AS AN ORAL health practitioner, practising effective communication is crucial to ensuring that a client understands all aspects of treatment and ensures the safety of patients. How oral health practitioners communicate with patients can impact treatment. Poor communication can lead to a breakdown of the treating relationship and it may jeopardise the trust between the oral health practitioner and their patient.
Section 133 of the National Law provides detail of legislative obligations for the advertising of regulated health services, which are services provided by or usually provided by a health practitioner. Under this Law, oral health practitioners must not provide any communication for the health services that may be false, misleading or deceptive. n conversation between the member and volunteer.
7 are rare in the past. Acquisition of provider numbers provides oral health practitioners the opportunity to conduct business without the need of other professionals’ provider number for billing and claiming payment for services rendered. If an oral health practitioner sets up a dental service without engaging a dentist, every effort must be made to ensure consumers are fully informed of the scope of service and that no dentist is available on site. It is important that the public is adequately informed of the qualification, registration division and ranges of health services that oral health practitioners are offering.
• Member’s consent is gained to be paired with the volunteer. Unlike the Dental Board’s Dental Practitioner Support Service which offers a one-off advice line, the DHAA PSS provides support to the member throughout the full period.
Barry.Nilsson. Lawyers communications are intended to provide commentary and general information. They should not be relied upon as legal advice. Formal legal advice should be sought in particular transactions or on matters of interest arising from this communication.
BMS Risk Solutions Pty Ltd (BMS) AFSL 461594 ABN 45 161 187 980 is the official and exclusive insurance broker for the DHAA member insurance program.
This article has been facilitated by DHAA’s trusted insurance partner BMS and written by leading health law firm, Barry. Nilsson. Lawyers.
• Be aware of a patient’s health literacy and adapt communication accordingly; and
• Spend time reflecting on a practitioner’s own communication style and undertake communication mentoring with a senior colleague. Training for staff Safeguards for dental clinics help ensure that all practitioners are practising effective communication. This may include training for all new staff on communication styles. Clinics can also organise staff meetings to discuss effective communication and how best to communicate with a variety of patients. What if miscommunication occurs?
There are a number of safeguards oral health practitioners can implement to help ensure they are effectively communicating with patients:
General code of conduct An oral health practitioner should keep in mind the general code of conduct in respect to general health services. Oral health practitioners are generally required to practice in a manner that is competent, caring, responsible and consistent with their obligations. This includes practising effective communication with patients and ensuring treating medical practitioners are kept informed regarding a patient’s care.
If patient miscommunication has occurred or if there is uncertainty about how best to discuss a particular health concern, you are encouraged to seek assistance from a senior colleague, association or other appropriate advisor. n
To ensure the ongoing viability of this service, more volunteers are needed - would you like to be part of this valuable member support initiative? Please email contact@dhaa.info if you wish to express interest or seek further information on this important service. n Scott Shelly and Ashlee Sherman of Barry. Nilsson. Lawyers explain why effective communication with patients is essential and how to avoid breaching professional obligations.
Risk management
• Employ a clear and straightforward language when speaking with and instructing patients; • Request that a patient confirms what has been said;
• Volunteers only assist one member at a time.
Tips for effective communication
Was it difficult working in an inter-professional team?
During the height of Covid uncertainty, a chance meeting between the Metro South Public Health Unit (MSPHU) and Metro South Oral Health (MSOH) department gave life to a new interprofessional healthcare team. Members from both departments worked collaboratively helping with Covid-19 contact tracing. The team worked tirelessly to prevent outbreaks within the community. They were presented with the Interprofessional Recognition team award in the 2022 International Nurses Day awards at PA Hospital. This has established a blueprint for how teams can think outside the box and forge exceptional working relationships to address emerging issues.
There was also lots of Face to Face training session with a Public Health Nurse for Ongoing in-service training as well as additional training through the Public Health Unit: John Hopkins University online CTO Course” Did you learn new skills?
Oral Health Therapist – Leah Hobbs, was part of the team and has kindly shared her experience with us.
“I worked with many other healthcare members, including Public Health Nurses, Public Health Physicians and Registrars, Epidemiologists, Environmental Health Officers, Hospital nurse staff, and Public Health administration teams. The partnership between MSPHU and MSOH has stood the test of time managing 13 outbreak situations; from the return of overseas travellers before the international borders were closed, through to support for Victoria, 10 organisational, restaurant, and school clusters and then the management of the community cases and aged care outbreaks after state borders reopened.”
How has this experience benefited you?
HEALTHSOUTHMETROOFCOURTESYIMAGE
New skills included exposure to additional computer programs that are not normally used in oral health therapy practice, as well as the management of complex phone calls and complaints. I feel this has helped me manage my patients in the dental chair”.
“The Metro South Oral Health Director at the time of the pandemic outbreak floated the idea of the oral health and dental therapists supporting the Public Health Unit. At the time, oral health services were working under Tier 3 and 4 restrictions and some therapists had training in public health. The therapists were fully trained and deployed whenever there was an outbreak in the health service area.” Was there extra training? And if so, what was involved?
“Yes, I am grateful to have learnt new skills working collaboratively in an inter-professional team.
How were you redeployed?
The partnership that stood the test of time to win the recognitionInterprofessionalaward
“I have been exposed to so many areas and teams within the health care Excellence recognised
“Yes, there was extra training provided to us. This involved training to be a Contact Tracing Officer (CTO) on iLearn (Queensland Health online training platform). This was mandatory for appointment as a CTO in Queensland.
I have been very fortunate to have worked with so many amazing people at the MSPHU. Every outbreak was a ‘crisis’ but the kindness shown to us was appreciated. No question was too silly, escalation was an easy process, and the nursing team supported our contribution. Saying yes to working late nights, weekends and public holidays was never an issue due to the team’s kindness and support to all of us.”
Bill Suen DHAA CEO
“I enjoyed my time working in an interprofessional team and learning new skills, but am happily now back working full time in the dental clinic, treating patients”. Is there anything else you’d like to add or share?
Spring clean Now’s the time to get your house in order – both professionally and personally. The DHAA can help
“Working with the Public Health Unit was such an enjoyable time in my working career. I have an undergraduate degree in Public Health as well as a BOH degree so it was fantastic to have the opportunity to apply both skill sets and help my community. The PHU team were so fantastic to work with and lifelong friendships have been made. Through this redeployment, I met a wonderful sexual health nurse and we collaborated recently to give a lecture to the CQU students on links between oral health with risky behaviours for teenagers and young adults”. Thank you for sharing your unique experience with us Leah and thank you for your tireless efforts in keeping our communities safe throughout the pandemic. n DISCOVER MORE... Click on the link to read the original article.
9 service. This has mostly benefited the patients that I treat, as I am more aware of allied health services that patients are able to access and have a further understanding of referral pathways within the health service.
I also got to work with therapists that I would normally never see as they work in different locations. It was amazing to put a face to a name and get to know my colleagues better and make new friendships. Are you still working within this role or are you back in the clinic?
FROM THE TOP I WOULD LIKE to remind members that the current Dental Board CPD cycle is due soon in November. You will need to complete a minimum of 60 CPD hours between 1 December 2019 and 30 November 2022. To support members in meeting this mandatory registration standard, the DHAA has scheduled a number of face-to-face education events, online webinars and recorded videos offering a broad range of topics and interests. I would like to acknowledge and thank the hard work of the state committees, the CPD committee and staff. They work tirelessly together to make all these activities possible. Please visit the DHAA website to explore these opportunities. The implementation of provider numbers went smoothly on 1 July 2022 as scheduled. I would also like to thank the expert advisory group that comprises experts from both the DHAA, ADOHTA, ADA and Private Health Australia for the generous contribution of their time and expertise in working with me and the Commonwealth Department of Health staff to implement the change. I invite you to read the position statement released in this issue of the bulletin. Our IR advisor Katrina Murphy will be presenting a special live webinar for DHAA members on Wednesday 21 September. She will address the frequently asked questions in relation to the impact of provider numbers on workplace arrangements, including employment contracts and Facility Service/ Contracting agreements. To register please go to the DHAA events page. Thursday 8 September is R U OK? Day and that reminds me of the great work of the DHAA Peer Support Service volunteers. They have provided a listening ear and a helping hand to DHAA members through some very rough and challenging periods since its inception in 2020. Please join me in thanking them for their caring and passionate work. There is currently a call out for more volunteers so that we can support more members in need. Can you help? Check out the Peer Support Service (PSS) Call for Volunteers article on page 6 or email contact@ dhaa.info for more information.
September is nomination time for DHAA board directors. This year it is Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory’s turn. The appointment will commence from the October AGM for a period of two years. A call for nominations for the state committee chairs and deputy chairs will be sent in November. These are excellent opportunities for DHAA members to get involved and shape the professional association at both national and state levels. I encourage you to consider nominating either yourself or a peer, as the future is in your hands. n
The study examined the prevalence and socio-demographic correlations of these major lifestyle risk factors in a large sample of Australian adolescents. Cross-sectional data from the Health4Life Study analysed a cluster randomised controlled trial of an e-health intervention at 71 schools in 2019 and found that most of the survey participants did not meet national guidelines for screen time, physical activity, or sleep, and having multiple risk behaviours was common.
Our regular update on some courses to your skills and top up your CPD hours
• Published online: 22 November 2021
This study aimed to establish the efficacy of a rubber bristles interdental cleaner (RBIC) as an adjunct to toothbrushing (TB) compared to that of the adjuvant use of other interdental cleaning devices and TB alone on plaque and gingivitis parameters. Additionally, the safety aspects and panelists’ appreciation were evaluated.
ur pick of the crop this month covers a range of subjects including; aged care, inflammatory disease and powered toothbrushes, so there really should be something for everyone.
The efficacy of a rubber bristles interdental cleaner on parameters of oral soft tissue health-a systematic review
improve
Preventing long-term issues
Time to get our teeth into reducing obesity: should dentists screen and deliver interventions to reduce obesity in the population? Little attention has been devoted to how dentists and dental teams may be able to contribute to reducing obesity, such as screening and offering weight management interventions to those who might benefit. Drawing on the NHS ‘Making Every Contact Count’ campaign, this paper presents a case as to why dentists have an instrumental role in contributing to the global public health effort to reduce obesity in both adults and children. This paper suggests how dentists might learn lessons from GPs and practice nurses about how to best address and raise the topic of weight management within patient consultations. Lastly, this report offers some tangible plans of action for further research on this question.
• Published online: 28 January 2022
• Authors: Amanda J Daley
• Authors: Various • Suggested CPD hours 0.25 scientific
FIND OUT
FIND OUT MORE Rubber bristles
Databases were searched for randomised controlled clinical trials
great
10 O
Lifestyle risks for chronic disease among Australian adolescents: a cross-sectional survey Physical inactivity, poor diet, alcohol use, smoking, poor sleep, and excessive recreational screen time are lifestyle risk factors that emerge during adolescence, continue into adulthood, and often occur together. They are linked with obesity and mental health problems in the short term as well as an increased risk of chronic disease in adulthood.
ReducingMOREobesity
• Suggested CPD hours 0.25 scientific
Get onlineCPDyourfix
• Published online: 15 May 2021
• Suggested CPD hours 0.5 scientific
11 (RCTs) evaluating plaque (PI), bleeding (BS), and gingival index (GI) scores, safety assessments, and participants’ appreciation.Basedona descriptive and a metaanalysis of the available literature, it is synthesised that in gingivitis patients, a weak to very weak certainty exists that a RBIC is indicated for gingivitis and plaque reduction. The evidence supports user safety and participants’ preferences.
Keeping it natural Do natural ingredients in a dentifrice contribute to prevention of plaque and gingivitis?
The objective was to test the effectiveness of a dentifrice containing the turmeric and licorice extract compared to a control for preventing plaque and gingivitis over a four-month period.Ninety (non-dental) participants with moderate gingival inflammation (≥ 40%) were selected. The triple blind study consisted of two phases, namely at first a three-week pre-experimental phase of using an oxygenating and chlorhexidine (CHX) mouth rinse. Secondly, a four-month experimental period in which participants were randomly assigned to a test or control group. All were instructed to brush their teeth twice daily for two minutes with their assigned dentifrice. Gingival bleeding (BI), plaque (PI) and gingivitis (GI) were assessed. Within the limits of the current study design, dentifrice formulation and concentration of turmeric/licorice extracts, the results show that the adjuvant effect of the natural ingredients in the test dentifrice was not evident in clinical parameters of gingivitis and plaque.
Plaque planning Dental plaque control strategies for the elderly population: a scoping review.
• Suggested CPD hours 0.5 scientific FIND OUT MORE
• Published online: 23 March 2021
• Authors: Dagmar Else Slot,Eveline van der Sluijs,Nienke Lisette HennequinHoenderdos
• Authors: María del Rosario Ruiz Núñez, Mariane da Luz Raulino, Renata Goulart Castro, Ana Lúcia Schaefer Ferreira de Mello
• Suggested CPD hours 0.5 scientific FIND OUT MORE
• Published online: 25 February 2021
FIND OUT Aged-careMOREcaries control Caries disease among an elderly population—A 10-year longitudinal study This longitudinal study revealed no increase in the prevalence of dental caries lesions, indicating that good oral health can be preserved among elderly people. The highest risk for dental caries lesions was among participants with inadequate oral hygiene routines (toothbrushing once a day or less and seldom using interproximal devices) and in need of help in daily living, emphasising the importance of oral >>
The objective was to review the scientific literature and identify dental plaque control strategies focused on elderly people that improve plaque indices. Eligibility criteria included studies on interventions for plaque control in elderly people (60y+). Epidemiological studies and those focused on caregivers, health professionals and periodontal maintenance therapies were excluded. The literature reports that mechanical, chemical and educational strategies have some efficacy in dental plaque control in the elderly population.
• Authors: Cees Valkenburg, N. A. Martijn Rosema, Nienke L. HennequinHoenderdos, Paula A. Versteeg, Dagmar Else Slot
This study revealed that patients lacked medical knowledge of osteoporosis drugs, whereas dentists and physicians lacked each other’s expertise. All patients reported undergoing dental treatments during the osteoporosis drug treatment, but dentists and physicians had different MRONJ experiences depending on their work setting in primary or secondary care. Patients expressed dissatisfaction with the current system of communication with health professionals via letter as they found this to be a slow process. Dentists and physicians reported the need for effective communication because they felt defensive when sending and receiving medical consults.
Qualitative focus group interview study of communication between patients, dentists and physicians for efficient osteonecrosis of the jaw practices
• Authors: Yiseul Choi, Heajeong Park, Namki Hong, Yumie Rhee, Wonse Park
• Suggested CPD hours 0.25 scientific
• Suggested CPD hours 0.5 scientific
• Suggested CPD hours 0.5 scientific
Whilemodels.theintestinal toxicities of TCS require the presence of gut microbiota, the molecular mechanisms involved have not been defined. Here we show that intestinal commensal microbes mediate metabolic activation of TCS in the colon and drive its gut toxicology. Using a range of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo approaches, we identify specific microbial-glucuronidase (GUS) enzymes involved and pinpoint molecular motifs required to metabolically activate TCS in the gut. Finally, we show that targeted inhibition of bacterial GUS enzymes abolishes the colitispromoting effects of TCS, supporting an essential role of specific microbial proteins in TCS toxicity. Together, our results define a mechanism by which intestinal microbes contribute to the metabolic activation and gut toxicity of TCS, and highlight the importance of considering the contributions of the gut microbiota in evaluating the toxic potential of environmental chemicals.
• Published online: 10 January 2022
• Authors: Various • Suggested CPD hours 0.5 scientific
• Published online: March 2022
• Authors: Filippo Graziani, Lior Shapira
• Suggested CPD hours 0.5 scientific
• Authors: Kristina Edman, Anders Holmlund, Ola Norderyd
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FIND OUT AutoimmuneMORE reactions Autoimmune mucocutaneous blistering diseases after SARSCov-2 vaccination: A Case report of Pemphigus Vulgaris and a literature review Cases of autoimmune blistering diseases are emerging as potential adverse events of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Bullous Pemphigoid is the most common blistering disease, followed by PemphigusAutoimmuneVulgaris.blistering diseases have been observed either after the first or the second vaccine dose administration. The median of bullous lesion eruption was of five days. All the patients could be managed with topical/systemic corticosteroids with or without immunosuppressive drugs.
• Published online: April 2022
FIND OUT MORE Colitis causes Microbial enzymes induce colitis by reactivating triclosan in the mouse gastrointestinal tract Emerging research supports that triclosan (TCS), an antimicrobial agent found in thousands of consumer products, exacerbates colitis and colitisassociated colorectal tumorigenesis in animal
12 hygiene and collaboration between dental services and community-based health care.
• Published online: April 2022
FIND OUT MORE Covid lessons learned The importance of the dental professional in prioritising oral hygiene: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic era The article described the impact of COVID-19 on patients’ oral health and dentistry and the new norm in dental practices. It highlighted the important role of oral hygiene instruction during and post-COVID and advocated for a future of prevention.
• Published online: 1 February 2021
• Authors: Elena Calabria, Federica Canfora, Massimo Mascolo, Silvia Varricchio, Michele David, Mignogna, Daniela Adamo
FIND OUT MORE Poor communication
Step 2
The deadline is looming
With the broad definition of practice, CPD is therefore not limited to clinical or scientific educational activities. Educational activities related to other skills may be counted as CPD, depending on individual needs. They could be language, business administration, writing, communication, and many more. The DBA has, however, required that at least 80% (48 hours) of the CPD must be of a scientific nature.
M
aintaining
Step 1 Head to our DHAA Member Portal (direct link - www.dhaa.info/Portal or by clicking ‘Member Portal’ on the DHAA website home page menu).
The DBA undertakes annual sampling audits. Practitioners are required to keep a CPD log and submit it only when requested by the DBA for audit purposes. The CPD log must contain the following information about all CPD activities: n CPD provider’s name n CPD activity name n Journal name, article name and author (where appropriate) n Content title n Date, time and location of CPD activity n Number of actual CPD hours taken (scientific/non-scientific)DHAAmemberscanaccess their online CPD log via the DHAA member portal. They can also retrieve all DHAA CPD certificates by going to the ‘Emails & Preferences’ tab of their member profile.
How to access your DHAA CPD records
mandatorydevelopmentcontinuingadequateprofessional(CPD)isarequirement for all AHPRA registered health professionals. The Dental Board of Australia (DBA) sets a minimum CPD standard for all dental practitioners to keep up to date and maintain competency. This is to be measured as a total of 60 hours of CPD over a threeyear period. The current CPD period commenced on 1 December 2019 and concludes on 30 November 2022. The mandatory CPD requirements are applicable to anyone who holds a general registration as a dental practitioner with AHPRA, irrespective of whether the individual is working or not. There is a common misunderstanding that CPD and Professional Indemnity Insurance are not required if you are not undertaking clinical work, or taking extended leave such as maternity leave. In fact, these mandatory requirements are registration standards linked to one’s registration, not employment status.
(DHAA Members only)
13
Hover over ‘CPD & Events’ and then select ‘My CPD Log’. Your CPD log will open.The top part is your personal CPD log where you can input any CPD you have attended and upload an attachment as supporting evidence (attendance certificate, notes taken etc).
You can export your CPD log as an excel spreadsheet. Unfortunately, attachments are not able to be exported in excel format and will need to be downloaded separately.
The DBA definition of ‘practice’ is very broad. It includes all professional activities, remunerated or not, and is not restricted to clinical work. Activities such as research and education, management, policy development, sales and marketing, and any other activities that may impact health outcomes are regarded as ‘practice. It is also important that individuals select CPD activities that are relevant to one’s current and future professional needs.
Hit CPDyourtarget
theandhaveeventsofkeepsrecord.attendanceyouryouCPDyourUnderneathpersonallogwillfindDHAAThistrackanyDHAAyouattendedlistsCPDhours. This is not editable by members and can take one-two weeks after the event to update as our staff manually process event registration records.Wewill be adding a feature shortly so you can download this as a statement of attendance so watch this space!
I currently work independently, I don’t have any staff at this stage so I do everything from admin and accounting to clinical treatment and daily business operations.Idesigned the flow of the business and the fit-out to accommodate practising
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Be ownyourboss
In previous columns, I have explored a multitude of avenues that are available to dental hygienists and oral health therapists as they look to diversify and develop their careers. Two such avenues go neatly hand-in-hand –entrepreneurship and small business owner. When you have a brilliant idea or a vision or a passion that doesn’t neatly fit into any job or organisation, then sometimes you need to be brave and build the dream to make it a reality. Such an endeavour can be quite daunting, but as you are about the see, big risks can equal big rewards. In this edition I interviewed three young, inspiring, and positive women who have started their own businesses, turning their visions into reality.
Get inspired by those who have paved their own path
Dr Melanie Aley (nee Hayes) is a dental hygienist who has enjoyed a diverse career in clinical practice, teaching, research and management. She has a Masters of Education majoring in Career Development, and after working in multidisciplinary roles, is now an Associate Professor and the Bachelor of Oral Health Program Director at the University of Sydney.
Amy Canard Dental Hygienist – Say Ahh
By Melanie Aley
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I have had a vision for quite some time. To help break down the effects of hundreds of years of dental fears and anxieties. To bring down the walls that separate people and medical professionals allowing people to trust and feel safe. To make preventative dentistry a vibrant and fun experience and empower each and every person to become healthier and happier through their smile. Say Ahh is all about that vibrant energy, fun music, and genuine connection to people, changing lives one smile at a time in our studio space specifically designed for those with anxiety and sensory challenges.
Covid was a big push for me to take this leap. In March 2020 I was stood down from my job. Like many others, the security of employment was gone at the drop of a hat. I decided I will no longer rely on leaving my life, career and future in the hands of someone else.
Tell us about your dental business, including your role in the business.
I have not completed any specific education or training in business before starting, but my experience in many differentiating roles within dental practices over the last 15 years allowed me to put all the pieces of knowledge together and feel confident that I could run a business.
Although I try to regularly remind myself that I am the boss and I can leave early if I need or want to. Sometimes giving
In saying that, there have been countless webinars, hundreds if not thousands of hours browsing the net and many conversations with mentors, friends and family that have all helped me gain knowledge and insight into opening and running a successful business. What are the day-to-day activities in your business/role?
myself an early minute to focus on my life admin or go for a walk can be all that’s needed to get back into the swing of things the next day. Throughout my career, I have tended to put my work above my own needs. However, before starting up, I envisioned creating a career that is reverential to my lifestyle. And now having a business, I can see the temptation to push myself to the side and focus on work, so I have strict boundaries in place out of respect for myself, life and family. Many day-to-day activities are that of general dental clinics, however, some things are done a little differently. For example, the structure of my clinical appointments and the verbal and clinical choreography of patient-centred care. For the patients that I see that are also under the care of a dentist, correspondence letters are offered to maintain communication of mutual care.
And for those who haven’t seen a dentist for some time, I really like to get to the root of why they haven’t seen a dentist and work towards getting the patient back on track with a practitioner that suits their dental needs.
There are so many to list, I will try to remember as much as I can - General administrative tasks and managing appointments, recalls, letters, banking, accounting and BAS lodgment. Managing the sterilisation room, stock control and documentation of daily weekly and monthly infection control processors. Providing clinical treatment, including creating treatment plans, consent forms and pre- and posttreatment information flyers. General cleaning and maintaining equipment and the fit-out integrity. And occasionally creating social media content when I feel creative and have some spare time.
My dad has always had his own business’, and although in a completely different industry, I absorbed a lot of understanding of business operations when I was growing up.
What’s the most interesting/exciting part of owning your own business?
I love that I have been able to create this vibrant and comforting space to work in. The studio design is a reflection of my personality. This warm inviting atmosphere exudes kindness and “I love that I have been able to create this vibrant and comforting space to work in.”
solo. From what I know of starting a business, is that you need to keep your overheads as low as possible, especially during the first few years. When I was in the planning stage in the months before opening, I anticipated days and even weeks that I would have no patients come in. This planning and awareness are what ensured I was able to survive the first year as a business. Planning was such an integral part of starting Say Ahh. I researched and prepared processes for the best and worst outcomes in all aspects of operating the business. I created templates, treatment protocols and training and practice manuals. Did you need any specific education or experience in establishing or running your business?
Some days it feels like there are just not enough hours in the day and some days I am just not that productive with my time.
16 relate-ability, making it the perfect space for neurodivergent people, first-timers and people who just want a more relaxed approach to dental care. Being neurodivergent myself, I am quite sensitive to certain things, it is so nice to come into work every day and no longer feel anxious about visual or audible triggers. And the greatest thing about creating this space to reduce underlying anxieties is that patients feel so much more relaxed, open and safe. I have found patients crave real understanding and human connection to relate to, and providing these services in such a beautiful space is another step closer to breaking down those barriers of fear in dental appointments.
Tell us about your dental business, including your role in the business. Distinctive Dental Design is a small online business that creates customised, bespoke patient education brochures on over 40 different oral and dental health topics. Our brochures are designed to be aesthetically pleasing, easy to read and comprehensible.Whatinitiallystarted out as making educational material for our own patients to use in our day-to-day practice, soon became a creative online business that launched in March 2022. Within the business, Brittany’s main roles include graphic design, client liaison, marketing, ordering and printing. Heather’s main roles include writing copy, accounting and client liaison. Did you need any specific education or experience in establishing or running your business? While many business skills are learned on the job, both of us had some prior experience and education before launching Distinctive Dental Design Heather is a practice owner of two thriving clinics in the Hunter Valley with several years of business ownership and management under her belt. Brittany completed a Certificate IV in New Small Business in preparation for Distinctive Dental Design and also worked in social media marketing for dental practices prior, gaining marketing experience over a three-year period.
@sayahh.dentalstudios
The scariest part was knowing, hearing and guessing the opinions of others…and the most challenging part was accepting those opinions, holding my head high and progressing forward. I believed that this business would help people and I had to trust myself to deliver what I set out to create. This has been a huge learning curve for me, and although I continue to welcome differing opinions, they no longer affect me or get me down like they did at the beginning. Were there people along the way who helped you get the career you wanted? Absolutely. I cannot thank everyone who has been involved in this incredible journey. There are so many people that mean the world to me and have helped in more ways than you would know. I also cannot thank enough, those people who didn’t believe in me, because that gave me a hunger that continues to grow.
What are the day-to-day activities in your business/role?
Both of us continue to work in clinical practice, Brittany working full time and Heather part-time in a clinical role and the remainder of the week in practice management. Distinctive Dental Design is a “side hustle” for both of us, and due to the nature of the work, daily tasks and activities are flexible. However, in an average week, we will both work on capturing/creating digital content, marketing activities including social media and email marketing, replying to website and email enquiries, as well as working on orders for clients. Working with new clients takes some time and liaising to ensure the brochures reflect the branding of the practice and fit seamlessly into daily use within the clinic. However, once this is established Distinctive Dental Design remains busy with reorders as the educational brochures are widely loved and utilised.
Brittany Trudgett & Heather Cavanagh
What was the scariest/most challenging part of starting your business?
Do you have any advice for any DH or OHT who may have a great business idea that they want to put into action? Break the idea down, then break that down further, and then again once more, until you have the whole picture of your idea. This really helps you have a detailed understanding of your idea and makes for a confident first step of action. I also found it incredibly helpful asking for advice and people love giving advice! Use this opportunity to actively listen to the experience and insight of what has worked or not worked for others. At the end of the day business is just that - business, so don’t feel restricted in only seeking advice from your industry, explore conversations with people in other trades and professions, their business acumen can be so helpful.
Distinctive Dental Design
And just the greater dental community. There were so many people when designing our brochures who proofread, gave feedback, and generously gave time and expertise without ever expecting anything in return. There is one particular super women (she knows who she is) who was invaluable and we got this far because of the kindness of her and others.
Do you have any advice for any DH or OHT who may have a great business idea that they want to put into action?
Our families pick up all the pieces, cook our dinner, wash our clothes and support us when we have a million other things to do. We also have an incredible admin team who guide us through all the aspects of what you generally don’t know as an oral health therapist. Like accounting software, business registration, invoicing and all those little things you don’t learn at university.
The what’s next and where else can we take this. Exactly like the opportunity of being able to write for this blog. What was the scariest/most challenging part of starting your business? This is a difficult one. I’m going to pick two. I would say the fear of damaging relationships and the unknown or failure. You generally build business relationships with people you deeply care for and trust. At times you can disagree and have different visions. Workloads can be unfair. Finances can be complicated. You’re completely relying on the other person to have your back always and approach conflict in a mature manner.
Give it a go. Don’t be afraid of negativity. You will always come across people who will try to put you down or make you believe you can’t succeed.
@distinctive.dental.design distinctivedentaldesign.com/
Surround yourself with believers. With kindness and people who make you believe that there is actually no other option other than success. Then look back and watch. The negative people will stay in that same position and not do any more than the bare essentials whilst you continue to conquer all of your dreams.
“ Give it a go. Don’t be afraid of negativity. With kindness and people who make you believe that there is actually no other option other than success”
Whether you’re a one-man band, a team of two, or many. You rely on either yourself or others and there can be fear of either someone letting you down or you being the let down. You can generally manage this by having faith. Or a difficult conversation. However, that fear can be present.
ABSOLUTELY. Each other. We were meant to cross paths. We build each other up and have each other’s back.
What’s the most interesting/exciting part of owning your own business?
I think the flexibility that it can offer along with the opportunity to meet and collaborate with like-minded people. You can go as far as you will allow yourself to go. When I look back to when I finished university I assumed I would work only in clinical practice. Business ownership provides you with so many other opportunities and experiences that you wouldn’t have imagined were even possible. Still to this day I get excited about the potential of the future. I don’t believe in luck. I believe in dedication and hard work. I believe in doing your best in every role and then other opportunities present. When you look back you generally earn what you have achieved. I believe that is what excites me the most.
And the famous fear of failure. Sometimes things can be slow. Or not profitable. This can be overwhelming and at times mentally draining. The key here has been faith and back to hard work.
What more can be done? Were there people along the way who helped you get the career you wanted?
Ask Your opportunity to ask the questions, check the rules and share your knowledge
No need to sign new contract when you get a provider number
a
Dear DHAA... If I get a provider number, and services are not paid/the patient doesn›t receive a benefit/rebate under my number, can the services then be billed under the dentist’s provider numberso the patient receives a benefit? You must practise within your scope and therefore can only claim item codes within your scope. However, there will be PHIs that restrict the range of item codes that they will pay even if they are within your scope. Usually, if a claim is rejected, then the claim could be re-submitted with the correct claim information. This would include the provider number of an eligible provider for a particular item code, or the correct item code. Dear DHAA... The practice I work at received an email from a private health fund today stating that hygienists/OHTs need to supply a provider number for claims and have given a 12 month grace period to do so. My understanding was that the provider numbers were an ‘opt-in’ scheme and the current arrangements can stand. As provider numbers are new to our profession, there will be a lot of situations when clarifications and a better understanding of the situations are required, and the DHAA will support members through this transition period over the comingProvidermonths.numbers and item codes are purely commercial conditionsentityarrangement.beandpatientsistheundersetinsurer.agency,universalasforinsuranceproviders,agreementsarrangements/amongthepatientsandcompanies/payershealthservices.Medicare,agovernment-runhealthinsuranceisalsoafunder/Asfunders,theytherulesandconditionswhichtheywillfundtreatmentrendered.ItuptotheprovidersandtoacceptthetermsconditionsandagreetopartofthecommercialEachfunderisaseparateandtheysettheirownbasedontheir
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Dear DHAA... May I get copies of my membership invoices and CPD certificates, please? DHAA members can find your PDF tax invoice on your profile under “Billing and Invoices”. All CPD certificates are emailed to attendees up to a couple of weeks after the events. You can retrieve these certificates by going to the “Emails & Preferences” tab of your profile and checking the email communications you have received within these date ranges. Dear DHAA... Do we need to sign a new employment contract when I get my provider number? There is no practical or legal need to change any existing employment arrangement and/or conditions; except that you may be required to assign the income received through your provider number to your employer as part of your employment arrangement.Thereisnoneed to make a new employment contract, just a supplement clause to be added. Of course, a new agreement can be negotiated if both parties agree to do so.
DHAA...
5. Recency of practice standard applies even within one’s original scope - if you have not performed a treatment/task for over 5 years, or if you do not feel competent in any tasks that are within your original scope, you must not proceed without seeking further training and update until you are competent and confident. Dear DHAA... I am currently not practising clinically and working in research and management. According to AHPRA, research and management is considered practicing, so of course, I still have my AHPRA registration to uphold however where does this come in with indemnity insurance? You are correct in recognising the Board’s definition of ‘practice’ to include a range of non-clinical activities. Please also note that practice is not limited to paid work. CPD and professional indemnity insurance are mandatory requirements for maintaining general AHPRA registration, regardless of whether you are actually working, or ‘practising’. When you renew your registration each year you are required to declare that you meet all four registration standards which include CPD and PI Insurance. CPD and PI Insurance are not needed only if you change from ‘general’ registration to ’nonpractising’ registration. n
2. You can not extend your scope by undertaking CPD. 3. For formal training (from Universities or TAFEs), the training provider usually indicates clearly if the training extends one’s scope.
The scope is defined by one’s original training that led to the registration (and each individual is different due to variations in their training).
4. You can learn to use new tools and/or techniques to perform treatments and procedures within your scope, but not extend it.
Dear DHAA... I have just received my registration with AHPRA to practice dental hygiene. They say to work within ‘your scope of practice’ but do not have clear guidelines on said scope of practice. I was wondering if you would be able to shine more light on that? Thank you kindly.
In respect to scope of practice, please refer to the Dental Board’s scope of practice standard. You may notice that the Dental Board doesn’t specify or list the items that one may or may not perform within each category of dental hygienists, dental therapists or oral health therapists.
The Dental Board’s guideline on CPD can be viewed here: Your minimum required CPD hours will be calculated pro rata. The formula used to calculate the pro rata hours is provided in Attachment A of the guidelines.
The Dental Board expects that as healthcare professionals, you know your scope of practice and do not practise beyond the range of your training, qualifications, experience and competence. This is to ensure the safety of the public, so consumers can have confidence in the dental profession when seeking oral healthcare.Checkout the Dental Board reflective practice tool to help you know your scope of practice and to support your continuing professional development.Someofthe general principles are: 1. Your scope must not go beyond the original training that led to your registration as a hygienist.
19 commercial activities and strategic intents. Medicare has decided that a provider number is an opt-in system but once you acquire it, you must use it for claiming Medicare benefits (DDBS). They are happy to allow dentists to claim services provided by hygienists and therapists if they do not have their own provider number. Each PHI fund are making their own decisions and we know that some are not proceeding with it while many are. The general trend that we are observing for PHIs is that once they recognise the provider numbers, they will seek transparency for services being provided by every provider in their scheme, including hygienists and therapists.MostPHIs will give providers time to make the transition and 12 months is quite reasonable, as there may be local workplace changes to be made.
Dear DHAA... Regarding CPD hours the current cycle is from 2019-2022. I graduated in 2021 and I was wondering since we need 60 CPD hours every 3 years, will the current cycle apply to me or the next one?
Ihave experienced crippling anxiety. Cue racing heart, pressure on my chest, that buzzy feeling under my skin, energy like a tightly coiled spring. I know what it’s like to live with depression, to feel hopeless and numb inside, like nothing is worth the effort, staying in bed for days. I have suffered from complete burnout from work. Become completely overwhelmed and exhausted and incapacitated due to the unrelenting pressure of unmanageable workloads and unreasonable expectations.Iimaginemany of you may have experienced something similar. Or maybe you know someone whoThehas.burden of mental illness is high in the Australian population, with two in five people aged 18-65 experiencing a mental disorder at some time in their life, and one in five having experienced a mental disorder in 2020-21 (ABS National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2020-21). In the dental profession a study of dentists revealed four in five have experienced burnout, with symptoms such as insomnia, fatigue, and feeling directionless (Janulyte, 2008). It is not something we can ignore - we are all either affected directly or know someone who is impacted by a mental disorder. I also think it’s something we shouldn’t be quiet about anymore. To be frank, I’m tired of mental health issues being hidden, managed quietly, or tackled all on our own.
20
By Melanie Aley
I want there to be understanding and empathy in our profession for our colleagues struggling with their mental health and am glad that the peak bodies are on the same page. If you are worried about your mental health or the mental health of a colleague, The Dental Board of Australia has introduced a Dental Practitioner support service, “Today I’m good – but that’s not always the case” >>
Dealing with the very real and surprisingly widespread issues of mental overload
I want us to recognise the common humanity of what we are experiencing and know that we are not alone. I have only recently learned about the concept of common humanity – recognising and accepting that ‘being human’ we all make mistakes and feel pain, which in turn helps to prevent us from feeling isolated in our shame or inadequacy. Reflecting on our common humanity can provide us with comfort and prevent us from magnifying these feelings. Rather, we may begin to embrace our imperfections.
I am a different person because of my anxiety and depression. It’s taken me a while to accept that. As painful and frightening as my experience has been, it has also taught me to be more empathic and to be vocal when I think things are not equitable or inclusive of diversity when others do not consider the impact of their actions on people’s mental health.
How aregoing?youREALLY
I liken my experience to the Japanese art of Kintsugi, which involves mending things with gold, so they are stronger and more beautiful when they are put back together. I like to think I am a better person, embracing my flaws and imperfections, and still being necessary and functional.
“ I am a andofpersondifferentbecausemyanxietydepression. It’s taken me a while to accept that”
more expensive. There are lots of free resources listed at the end for you. I can’t recommend enough taking the time to find a good mental health professional to support you appointmenteligibleafordon’tforandfoundsomeonedoingittocounsellor/therapist).(GP/psychologist/ThefirstpsychologistIwasreferredwasnotagoodfit...andso,Ithoughtwasacompletewasteoftime.Afterabitmoreresearchandfindingwhomightbeabetterfit,Isomeonereallywarmandhelpful,Ileftsessionswithanactionplanthefuture(whichIreallyliked!).Sogiveup,therightoneisoutthereyou.AndtalktoyourGPaboutmentalhealthplan,youmightbeforMedicarerebatesonyourfees.
A mental health professional once advised me that in any life situation, there are four options: 1. Leave; 2. Stay and be miserable (not appealing!); 3. Stay and accept it; 4. Stay and change it. Take a break and rest and recuperate (if you can). Engage in self-care practices. Identify how you can contribute, in a way that doesn’t leave you overwhelmed or exhausted. Engage in career counselling. Discuss solutions with a mental health professional. Talk to your boss.
Change
Journaling
22 which provides free and confidential support to dental practitioners and students Australia-wide. The DHAA also has a Peer Support Service - a team of experienced clinicians trained to help provide support and guidance through challenging times such as an AHPRA or insurance notification, or workplace issues leading to high stress. Take control There are many approaches and strategies that we can use to improve our mental health and well-beingnot all of them will work for you, so it’s a bit of trial and error. Here are some of the things that have helped me, in case you find them helpful too: Walking And it’s not just me. Scientific evidence tells us that walking benefits not only our physical health but also our mental health (Kelly et al, 2018). Some days I don’t want to walk. But I have an understanding with my partner that I sometimes need a push out the door, and I’m grateful for that because I always feel better afterwards. When my anxiety and burnout was at its worst, even walking was a struggle - and that’s ok, sometimes it’s more important to rest.
It can be really hard to open up to others, and sometimes that’s because you aren’t even sure how to articulate what you are thinking and feeling, or what it even means. Writing things down can help you work through this. Check-in with how you are feeling - what emotions do you notice? Did you know humans have 87 emotions? (I didn’t!! If you want to learn more, I suggest reading Brene Brown’s Atlas of the Heart, or Google “Emotions Wheel”). Did you know that you can feel more than one emotion at once? (e.g. frustrated and confused) And, that emotions aren’t really positive or negative, but rather a response to tell us what we need? I find thinking these questions through and journaling my observations can help me better explain them to my loved ones and psychologist. Journaling gratitude can also help - the evidence tells us that daily gratitude practice improves our mental health (Macfarlane, 2020; Bohlmeijer et al., 2021). Some days I find it super easy. Other days are really hard - but there’s always something, it doesn’t matter how small you think it is. I’m often grateful for the convenience of takeaway when I don’t feel like cooking! Seeking help This one is important - and challenging. And not every avenue is going to suit everyone (Me, talk to a stranger on the phone? Never!) and some are
Meditation Oh, this one took me a long time to find my groove. I’d had friends, therapists, and online forums recommend this practice, but it never felt right. Until I discovered a couple of apps that made it easy, with different meditations for different purposes (Smiling Mind and Calmhighly recommend. This is not a paid endorsement!). I now start every day with a short meditation- sometimes 2 mins, sometimes 5 mins, sometimes more. It creates a calmness in my mind that helps me get ready for the day. It’s a tool that I use at other times of the day if I need to.
When you are on the “hamster wheel” of workplace burnout, something has got to get you out of that vicious cycle.
• DHAA Peer Support Service: dhaa.info • Lifeline: 131 114 • BeyondBlue:
Disclaimer:
Need help with self-care? Here’s how some of our colleagues do it
I can think of many people that would have discouraged me from writing this piece, worried about what it might do to my reputation. There is a great saying: “If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself” (attributed to DL Moody).
Danielle Gibbens, DH
Patrick Westhoff, OHT
Useful Services • For help in a
William Carlson-Jones, OHT “My self-care is shameless pampering. I love taking time out for massages and spa days. It’s where I switch off, connect with how I am feeling and recharge.”
on
How do
“Working in dental can be incredibly exhausting and stressful, much to the detriment of your physical and mental health. It’s so important to keep your spine healthy and your mind clear and for that I am so thankful I found yoga. Moving my body mindfully and breathing with intention is the selfcare that works best for me.”
About the
“In order to manage my ‘Sunday Scaries’ in anticipation for a busy week ahead, I like to book in a regular Sunday afternoon hike with my friends to clear my mind amongst fresh air and great company! Practising mindfulnessgoodcan help remind us to stop and take a moment to focus on the present, listening to our inner thoughts to reduce anxiety and improve clarity.”
• Free resources if you need
• Dental Practitioner Support: Confidential
What do I hope to achieve by writing this?
Jacqui Biggar, OHT “TBH I am terrible at self-care break.”periodsadvance,-otherhavesocial-avoid-myI’veGivendoextendcontinuouslyandover-myselfsocouldwithyourarticle!it’ssomethingbeenworkingonadviceis:learntosaynotoovercommittingremovedentalfrommediasoyoutimetofocusonthingsinyourlifeplanholidaysinnoprolongedwithouta
I feel it is important for me to live my most authentic life (ie. not hide who I am), and to help others along the way. If this piece helps just one reader, the tiniest bit, then I would be thrilled. I welcome you to reach out and get in touch with me if that’s the case. And - if no one reads it at all, then at the very least I have been my authentic self, and this has been very cathartic to write! crisis 000. support: 24/7 support line 1800 377 dpsupport.org.au700. 1300 224 636 author: Melanie Aley (nee Hayes) is a mum, a wife, a friend, a mentor. She values being authentic and ethical and enjoys giving back to the profession that has given her so much. She is a dental hygienist and a Life Member of the DHAA. I am not a psychologist or therapist. I am a registered dental practitioner with a lived experience of mental health issues, sharing my perspective. others manage?
call
For more diverse experiences and ideas that might help, I also asked some colleagues to share how they prioritise their self-care (see panel).
s dental professionals, one of the most common demographics of patients we manage and treat are those with dental anxiety. Dental anxiety refers to an emotional or physical state of elevated fear of dental procedures, occurring before an encounter with an object or procedure. In many cases, dental anxiety can stem from a variety of sources including previous traumatic dental experiences either as a child or adult, needle phobia or a significant aversion/sensitivity to pain. Within this group of patients, a subset suffers from poor oral health, only visiting the dentist when there is a severe toothache; reinforcing every dental appointment being a painful visit.
By Dr. Kaejenn Tchia Fighting Fears
As early career dental professionals it can be quite challenging to manage their anxiety and allow you to safely and effectively provide the necessary dental treatment and care they require. Since graduating from dental school, I’ve treated and managed a number of dentally anxious patients and over time have learnt the following tools and strategies to ensure you not only effectively manage their anxiety but ensure you aren’t feeling stressed out over these cases.
Strategies and techniques for managing an anxious patient
1The first appointment - the primary aim of this appointment is to establish rapport and trust in these patients. A lack of trust presented as fear is likely the main reason for their dental anxiety. Unless they are in significant pain, I try to spend the first appointment just doing a consult to hear about what their previous dental experiences have been like and what their goals through dental treatment are. Once this is established, I reinforce to them that my aim is to try and promote comfortable experiences as much as possible, to begin replacing their previous bad experiences with positive ones; hopefully empowering them to come back for more regular dental care and treatment. One thing these patients fear the most is a lack of control or helplessness which can make them feel overwhelmed. I always preface to my patients that they are always in control of the appointment
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One of the most fulfilling and satisfying ways we can add value to a patient’s life is to help them feel comfortable in our dental chair either for the very first time, or the first time in a long time. Being able to manage these patients in a predictable and strategic way ensures that we as dentists also don’t feel overwhelmed by the patient’s emotions. By intentionally creating a calm, supportive environment, our patients can enter a state of relaxation that then allows us to carry out dental procedures stress-free, allowing us to provide the best outcomes for their dental health.
About author:the Dr
Like with paediatric patients, it’s important to let these anxious patients know when you are doing the next thing from lying the chair back to checking their teeth. When it comes to delivering LA, It’s important they know when you are going to provide it and reasonably manage their expectations of what they may feel during and after. Many patients do not like to see the needle so it’s important to communicate to these patients your intention is to not surprise them with anything but for their own safety and comfort, you will not be allowing them to see the needle.
In many cases dentists already practice some form of hypnosis by using the right language, intonation and words to provide positive reinforcement and a relaxed state in our patients; something we commonly refer to as “chairside manner”. One exercise I do with patients is to get them focussed on their breathing, taking deep slow breaths in and out to bring down their heart rate and induce a state of relaxation and calm. Using a calm, slow, almost hypnotic rhythm and tone, I get the patient to visualise a place they normally feel relaxed in, giving prompts to what they can see, hear and feel. As they breathe deeper in and out, guide them to slowly relax their shoulders and back deeper into the chair. 4
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References:: Role of Hypnosis in Dental Treatment: A Narrative Review ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24320894/andarticles/PMC8118047/;https:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/2021)Managementoffearanxietyinthedentalclinic:areview(2013)
3Guided meditation or dental hypnosis is a great nonpharmacological behaviour management tool. Dental hypnosis aims to get the patient to an altered state of consciousness. In this state, the patient is more relaxed and more receptive to suggestions. Importantly, the responses during this state are elicited by the patient’s own will, not the practitioner’s.
Despite all these things, there are some patients who still require pharmacological agents to help them reduce their anxiety and induce a state of anxiolysis. These include RA (nitrous oxide), or oral anxiolytics. In more severely anxious patients, IV sedation or a GA may be required. 6 Book extra time for these appointments so you don’t need to rush and have time to coach your patients through the appointment. This makes sure you can be stress-free and focus on serving the patient to your highest level.
in Darwin, Northern Territory. He is the current Treasurer of the Australian Dental Association NT Branch Inc. In 2020, he was an inaugural member of the Bupa Dental Corporation Clinical Advisory Panel, helping guide strategic direction and providing input towards clinician development within the network of practices. He is passionate about helping and collaborating with fellow dental colleagues, recently embarking on a new journey to help recent graduates eliminate burnout through a 6-step B.E.L.I.E.F System through his motivational coaching platform, The Limitless Dentist. Kaejenn is a member of the Colgate Advocates for Oral Health Editorial Community and hopes to use this platform to raise awareness of the importance of mental health in dentistry and provide mindset tools, which can help his colleagues unlock their next level of growth and forColgatepermissionRepublishedsuccess.withfromAdvocate’sOralHealth
25 and if at any point they need me to stop, they simply communicate by putting their right hand up and I will stop in a safe manner. Also reassure the patients that if at any point of the procedure they feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed to let you know and communicate so you can try to make the appointment as comfortable as possible.
Stress balls can be an effective tool for patients to hold and squeeze as a coping mechanism. Training your nurse to ask if the patient would find holding a hand during the administration of LA or during an extraction can also be a great support. 5
powerThe trainingof
Professional coaches A/Prof Rachel Martin and Elizabeth Milford explain how to unstick your ‘stuck’ by coaching Ahn was feeling blue, stuck in a rut. Sick of having every day on repeat, she wasn’t getting the same enjoyment she used to. She thought about moving jobs but worried that her problems would move with her. But what were the issues? She just couldn’t put her finger on them. So Ahn engaged a coach to work on what she thought would be a career change for her. She soon discovered that there were solutions that she hadn’t considered. And she was stunned at the power of the partnership she was able to build with her coach. With trust and compassion, Ahn was supported in exploring and developing a vision for change in her life. She began to see that she could be in control of her destiny. By identifying her values
The brain is the biological structure that houses our mind. The mind is responsible for cognitive reasoning: thinking, perception, emotion and behaviour. With a hundred billion neurons in our brain, all perceptions, thoughts, emotions and behaviours are the results of neurons firing, connecting and sharing information. With a new cognitive experience, particular neurons will fire, and a neural pathway is formed. A coachee is encouraged to explore new options and consciously experience new ways of thinking and acting. This supports the creation of new neural pathways in the brain, otherwise known as “re-wiring”.
There’s no denying it, it’s hard to change those sticky habits. Coaching is a technique that fast-tracks the development of new decision-making styles. Read on to find out more! Coaches partner with clients in conversation, helping them explore, discover and work towards the changes they want to make in their lives.
Coaching is a creative and thoughtprovoking process that inspires people to realise their potential. Professional coaching is about setting goals, creating outcomes and managing personalCoachingchange.isaclient-driven course of self-discovery, growth, development and achievement. Unlike other services where the professional is the expert, coaching holds the client as the expert, holding the wisdom and the keys to success. The coach is the partner in the conversation who listens, asks powerful questions, probes, challenges, and provides objective assessment and nonjudgemental observations.
The small print behind coaching: Findings over recent decades in neuroscience both support and explain the success of coaching and its role in promoting positive sustainable behavioural change.
The outcomes are impactful because you set the agenda. You own the process. This is your change to make. When you fully and honestly own your goals and are energised by what you have envisioned, you are motivated to work towards them. You have a dedicated partner in your coach who will hold you accountable. The best coaching is “transformational” as opposed to “transactional”. By “transformational” we mean that it will reveal insights, sometimes many, that are the nuggets of gold that make the process you are undertaking so valuable. You come to a greater understanding of yourself, your strengths, and your blocks to achieving what you want. Whether it be limiting self-beliefs, attitudes, or behaviours that you observe along the coaching journey, many things will be identified to help clear your way to foster new thinking and reveal fresh perspectives.
she worked with the coach on how she could bring her work and personal life into alignment and set inspiring goals to springboard from. Like Ahn, sometimes we have a sense of things being NQR without actually being able to identify the cause. We have our established decisionmaking processes that generally serve us well. However, these regular modes can make it hard for us to take on new challenges when needed, or when we know that we need to embrace change.
* Patient names have been changed for confidentiality About the authors A/Prof Rachel Martin Rachel is a professional coach and mentor bringing a deep understanding of workplace dynamics. She coaches individuals and teams through crisis and change. She is a registered dentist and specialist in public health dentistry with over 20 years’ experience. Dr Elizabeth Milford Elizabeth is an educator and mentor with over 15 years’ experience in regulation. She assists students, new graduates and experienced clinicians to manage and respond to professional and clinical demands. She is a registered dentist with a Master of Business Administration. About Resilience Arena Resilience Arena brings together two leaders in the dental industry, and a team of experts, with a strategic view of the oral health environment nationally and internationally. resiliencearena.au
27 “ You come to a greater whatblocksstrengths,ofunderstandingyourself,yourandyourtoachievingyouwant”
With repetition, experience and action, the coachee will strengthen this new neural pathway. Eventually, physical changes will occur in the brain structure, resulting in the coachee being able to effortlessly operate in this new “habit” or behaviour. This is the point where we would say a habit has been embedded.Changing our beliefs and ways of thinking that don’t serve us can create positive sustainable change and new realities when we reinforce and practice them over a period of time. So, if you feel stuck and want to make a change, take up an opportunity or challenge, or you just want to do more for yourself personally or professionally, coaching may be the solution for you.
Why have you chosen to become a DHAA Corporate Member? Colgate and the DHAA have a strong working history and we value this partnership. Being a Corporate Member of the DHAA provides us with the unique opportunity to connect with DHAA members throughout the year. What are the company goals regarding oral health? A key goal for Colgate is a championing a zero cavity future. By 2025, we are aiming to reach two billion children through our flagship corporate social responsibility program, Bright Smiles, Bright Futures. We believe every child and their family have a right to a lifetime of healthyColgatesmiles.hasalso committed over $100 million over the next five years to improving oral health in our communities. As part of the commitment, we have launched the public health campaign Know your OQTM. This initiative is aimed at helping people worldwide increase their oral health knowledge, so they can understand and are empowered, to reduce their risk of oral disease.
MEET MEMBERSCORPORATEOUR
Tell us a little more about the company? Colgate is a global leader in oral care technology, products and dental education. Our products include, toothpastes, power & manual toothbrushes, mouth rinses, interdental brushes, dental floss , water flossers and whitening.Wealso have our Colgate Professional Oral Care range, which includes products such as our Fluoride Varnish and High Fluoride Toothpaste, and we have also launched the new Optic White Light Up (take-home and inoffice this year) which is very exciting for dental professionals and their patients.
PROMOTION
Amelia Seselja Academic Affairs Manager, South Pacific How long have you been with Colgate for?
I have been with Colgate nearly three years in my current role. However before this, Colgate actually sponsored my position as the Oral Health Promoter for the Australian Dental Association, so I have had the chance to work alongside Colgate for a number of years.
Why is your company special? Colgate places an emphasis on education, prevention and sustainability, which is so important in seeing tangible change in our community. I love being part of a company that has a true commitment to driving social impact and preserving our environment through a range of initiatives and innovations.
Where can we see you next? Most likely at a conference or presenting a webinar for DHAA members. It has been so nice to get back to face to face events and connect with profession again.. I am really looking forward to the DHAA Symposium next year, and I think the theme of’ Synergy and Sustainability’ is very exciting.
PROMOTION “ By 2025, we are aiming to reach two billion children through our Futures.Smiles,program,responsibilitycorporateflagshipsocialBrightBright ”
Part one of a four-part series on core leadership skills fundamental for building your leadership muscle
“You take worthgo,whereveryouyouandyouareit”
By Lyn Carman L eadership begins with selfawareness or self-knowledge. We generally see our own identity through our friends and family, our position in society, our work and the needs and desires we gather externally. When asked we may say things like “I am an oral health professional”, “I am a mum/dad”, and “I live in Darwin and have two sisters and a brother and a dog.” This tells us little about who we are as an individual. We rarely stop to ask, “Who am I?” And let’s face it we take ourselves with us wherever we go. When we leave a job, we come too. When we leave a relationship, we come too. When we leave a state, we come too. Is it any wonder sometimes it’s like Groundhog Day – the same stuff over and over? Understanding ourselves is paramount.Whenwe try to describe ourselves to another person without talking about the external things that are in our life, our friends, work and family, many of us struggle. To try to describe who you are, be conscious of only yourself, how you feel and behave, consider your strengths andGivechallenges.itgoand challenge yourself to describe who you are without describing things outside of you, the first step towards andyourselfisself-aware.becomingSelf-awarenesstheabilitytoseeclearlyobjectively through reflection and introspection. The Merriam-Webster definition of selfawareness is an awareness of one’s own personality or individuality. In other words, conscious knowledge of your own character, feelings, motives and desires. Self-awareness is one of the key elements of emotional intelligence (EI); a term coined by psychologist Michael Beldoch and widely popularised by Daniel Goleman, that refers to a person’s ability to identify and manage their emotions and identify and influence others’Beingemotions.self-aware can be the foundation for enhancing the other three leadership skills; communication, influence and learning agility, and is said to be the most challenging to master. It is all about knowing your emotions, your personal strengths and weaknesses, and having a strong sense of your own worth - having the ability to be honest with yourself and about yourself. Having a clear understanding of our strengths and weaknesses, our thoughts and behaviours helps us to understand others and therefore facilitates better personal and professional relationships. Before you can begin increasing your self-awareness, it’s helpful to understand the differences in how you see yourself versus how others see you. The Johari window is a framework
LEADERSHIP
Becomingself-aware
The Johari Window was created in 1955 by psychologists Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham and is designed to help us understand our relationship with self. The model is named from the combination of both their names.
• Bottom left is the private space we know but hide from others.
• Bottom right is the unconscious part of us that neither ourselves nor others see. for understanding conscious and unconscious bias that can help increase self-awareness and our understanding ofSelf-awarenessothers. is sometimes described as the difference between how we see ourselves and how others see us. To cultivate self-awareness, it is important to understand the categories of internal and external self-awareness.
Harvard Business Review
Aware They know who they are, what they want to accomplish, and seek out and value others’ opinions. This is where the leaders begin to fully realise the true benefits of self -awareness. Pleasers They can be so focused on appearing a certain way to others that they could be overlooking what matters to them. Over time, they tend to make choices that aren’t in the service of their own success and fulfillment.
Self-AwarenessInternal
Harvard Business Review suggests five ways to cultivate self-awareness for leadership n Meditate – bring awareness into the moment, and connect with yourself daily. Being present in your body, present with the environment and people around you, and carve out some time for solitude. n Write down your plans and prioritieswrite your intentions, your directions, your hopes and dreams and track the progress. Process your thoughts by journaling. n Complete some psychometric tests –all tests are aimed to help you consider a set of traits or characteristics that most accurately describe you relative to others. They can be fun and insightful without needing to box us in. (DISC, Myers Briggs, Leadership Quotient).
The four self-awareness archetypes
31 Introspectors They’re clear on who they are but don’t challenge their own views or search for blind spots by getting feedback from others. This can harm their relationship and limit their success. Seekers They don’t yet know who they are, what they stand for, or how their teams see them. As a result, they might feel stuck or frustrated with their performance and relationships.
This table maps internal self-awareness (how well you know yourself) against external self-awareness (how well you understand how others see you).
n Ask trusted friends – gain a different perspective from peers, friends, and mentors as an honest mirror. Inform them you are seeking candid, critical, objective perspectives and make it a safe environment for them to do so. You can also actively seek support in helping you to stop a behaviour you want to change.
n Get regular feedback at work – a good system of formal feedback, done well, allows us to better see our own strengths and weaknesses. If this is difficult in your workspace, engage a coach. Thankfully becoming self-aware is a lifelong effort, a journey to better knowing and understanding who we are. Having consistency in what we say, think and feel brings us closer to a state of being in ‘flow’ and a feeling of congruence. Using the Johari Window and these five practices, will support us to bring together how we see and understand ourselves and how others see and understand us. It’s a job that is never “done” – be curious and courageous.Youtakeyou wherever you go, and you are worth it. n
Nottoknownothers HiddenFaçadeSelf UnknownSelf
• The top left is the part of ourselves that we and others see.
Internal awareness is how clearly we know and understand, what makes us tick, our values, passions, goals, and our reactions (thoughts, feelings, behaviours and strengths and weaknesses) and the impact this has on others. External awareness is how others view us in terms of the above factors. Research has shown people who have a greater understanding of how they are seen by others, are better at seeing other perspectives and showing empathy. Being highly self-aware requires us to have balance in both categories, seeing ourselves clearly and getting feedback to understand how others see us.
The Johari Window For developing self-awarenessKnowntoselfNottoknownself toKnownothers KnownArenaSelf BlindSpot
External Self-Awareness
• Top right contains aspects that others see but we are unaware of.
Why Your Practice Needs Dr
-- Are you disappointed every time you see a dirty denture, nightguard, mouthguard or If so, then you need HyGenie in your practice.
Can you remember the last time a patient presented with a clean, healthy, ortho appliance, If not, then you need HyGenie in your practice.
-- Would a smart and ffordable product range, backed by mountains of science, that improves If so, then you need HyGenie in your practice. Dr Mark’s HyGenie ®- all Australian, world first product range for home and institutional HyGenie is quick to explain, easy to demonstrate and even easier for your patients and improving your patients oral health. Not to mention the 40 50% profit margin
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Does the idea of effective dental appliance hygiene in 60 seconds appeal to you? If so, then you need HyGenie in your practice.
www.drmarkshygenie.com/professionalswww.drmarkshygenie.com your practice and patients. Both will love you for it!
Needs Dr Mark’s HyGenie® mouthguard or ortho appliance,appliance?dentureor nightguard? that improves dental appliance home and aftercare add value to your practice? and institutional aftercare of nearly all types of removable dental appliances. patients to use in between visits to the practice, ultimately saving you time profit margin the practice enjoys when reselling.
We also invite you to our end of year celebration on Saturday 26 November. This half-day get together at the East Hotel will be a great catch up before we get to the busy end of the year. Please save this date and look out for the ‘registration open’ notice coming in your email.
n It’s time to get together to catch up on both CPD and social networking. The full day education program on Saturday 17 September will be held at the popular QT Canberra. Program includes expert speakers on dental aesthetics, muscular dysfunction and growth, vaping and cancer, orthodontics, and an important but often forgotten aspect of our professional careerfinancial management and planning. 10 September is the last day you can book your seat here (The DHAA apologise for the error on the hard copy calendar which has the incorrect date and details published as 18 September).
n The Wollongong Allied Health half-day education was held at the Sage Hotel on Saturday 23 July. The event was welcome by local members after a long spell due to Covid and extreme weather over the past year.
NSW NSW Directorcontacts:Warrick directornsw@dhaa.infoEdwards Chair Jody chairnsw@dhaa.infoInouye Deputy Chair Jinous contactnsw@dhaa.infoEighani-Roushani
STATE NATION
ACT ACT Directorcontacts: Amy directoract@dhaa.infoMcDermott Chair Kate chairact@dhaa.infoSpain.
Speech Pathologist Brianna McMillan provided an outline of how her work integrates with other health professionals and dental practitioners in a multidisciplinary team; while Special Needs Dentist Dr Zanab Malik shared her expertise in poly pharmacy and their impacts on common oral implications.
A full day CPD event in Sydney will give start to their festive to catch up on CPD
Speech Pathologist Brianna McMillan
CEO Bill Suen provided a number of Joint DHAAADOHTA presentations to oral health students at the New Castle, Sydney and Charles Sturt Universities. Besides the usual topics such as importance of peak associations, he also provided an update on the implementation of provider numbers as some educational institutions are yet to update their curriculum to include this new topic.
Pharmacist Barry Hashemi then presented on the role of oral health practitioners in an particularcollaborationinter-professionalandinthechallenges in the aged care cohort. The next event is a full day introductory iTOP Oral Hygiene Instruction workshop presented by Dr Tihana Divnic-Resnik on Saturday 10 September at the Rydges World Square. The end of year NSW gathering will be held on Saturday 5 November as a full day CPD event in Sydney to give everyone an early start to their festive celebrations, and to catch up on CPD hours before the end of the current CPD cycle. Please save the date in your dairy and watch for further information regarding the program over the coming weeks.
A full state-by-state run-down of Association happenings around the country
Deputy Chair Jinous EighaniRoushani (left) with attendees
25 November for a dinner event in Brisbane. OHT and past Queensland Chair Aneta Zielinski will be in attendance to present a session on her role in a Periodontal Specialist Practice. This is a great opportunity to catch up, network and celebrate a challenging year of 2022, as well as get first handed insight into a career in a specialist practice. An event that is not to be missed. Please save this date in your diary and look out for registrations opening in the coming weeks.
NT NT DirectorContact:Hellen directornt@dhaa.infoChecker. Staff Bill bill.suen@dhaa.infoSuen
The next SA event is a full education day at the National Wine Centre on Friday 23 September. The program is regarded as ‘one of the best’ and includes a smorgasbord of speakers, including; Orthodontics by Dr Helen Mclean AM, Oral Pathology by Dr Janet Scott, Professor Mark Tenant on COVID in the Mouth, Dr Holly Byron to discuss needle Tobias and Dr Viktor Mak presenting on Periodontics. This is going to be an exciting education day with a platinum list of experts and excellent networking opportunities.
Hellen Checker or DHAA CEO Bill Suen for further details or discussion regarding the role. Meanwhile we continue making plans for joint DHAAADOHTA events for 2023.
n The CommitteeQueenslandisextending an invitation to all members to get together on Friday Registration must close on 16 September so please register here if you do not want to miss out: The SA Committee will also host its end of year celebration on Sunday 4 December. Please save this date in your diary and look out for an announcement in the coming weeks of another exciting program. SA Chair Sue Tosh and her team visited SATafe in August to promote DHAA student membership to first year dental hygiene students. It was a great effort that resulted in all those in attendance signing up and joining the DHAA.
n Tasmanian members are invited to attend the full day seminar at the multi award-winning The Grange Estate in Campbell Town on Saturday 8 October. The array of expert presenters includes Dr Tony Eldridge, Colleen O’Callaghan, Kate Phillips and Susan Rusalen who will provide of disability and key determinants of health, as well as key legal, professional and safety issues in providing care to them.
Acting Chair Stacey Billinghurst contactqld@dhaa.info
“ Attendees had the opportunity to understand the many health”determinantsdisabilitymodelsdifferentofandkeyof
Tas Qld DirectorContacts:Alyson directortas@dhaa.infoMcKinlay Staff Bill bill.suen@dhaa.infoSuen
Qld Qld DirectorContacts: Carol directorqld@dhaa.infoTran.
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n The Northern Territory section of the DHAA is still seeking a local member to be the volunteer eithermightorIfpertainingeyesrepresentative/chair.DHAATheroleistobethelocalandearsforissuestotheNTregion.youareinterested,knowsomeonewhobe,pleasecontactNTDirector
Wendy Sih was presented with her honorary member certificate in recognition of her long time contribution to helping SA members and the Aged Care Chapter.
SA SA DirectorContacts:Cheryl cheryl.dey@dhaa.infoDey Chair Sue chairsa@dhaa.infoTosh Deputy Chair Sally Hinora contactsa@dhaa.info n The August supper meetings sold out with over 50 attendees gathered at the SA Hilton to listen to Dr Helen McInnes’ presentation on working with people with special needs. Attendees were very pleased to have the opportunity to understand the many different models
For all the latest info on DHAA events please visit www.dhaa.info/events
36 for organising this unique session.Vicmembers are invited to join our chair Desiree Bolado and other committee members to our well sought after end-of-year celebration at the Kooyong Tennis Club on Saturday 3 December. It is time for everyone to get together and celebrate another year of great friendship and professional achievements. For further information and registration please look out for your membership emails over the coming weeks, and save this date in your diary now.
Deputy Chair Aimee Mills contactvic@dhaa.info n The highly sought after small groups intensive hands on CPD weekend at the La Trobe University was held on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 July in Bendigo. The exclusive group of attendees enjoyed the personal attention of expert trainers covering a range of workshops including radiography, silver fluoride and Hall Technique over the weekend. This has proven to be well received and highly effective to provide participants with intensive training. A big thank you to Dr Ron Knevel
WA WA DirectorContacts : Phoebe Thomas . directorwa@dhaa.info Chair: Carmen chairwa@dhaa.infoJones
Deputy Chair: Rhonda Kremmer contactwa@dhaa.info n Western Australia resumes its CPD events on Saturday 17 September. This will be a full-day seminar at the Abbey Beach Resort, Busselton. The impressive education program will be complemented by great social and networking elements and door prizes. Five top speakers include Dr Jilen Patel covering Atraumatic Restorative Technique, Hall Technique and the management of dental traumas, Dr Emma Morelli will cover Useful Secrets of Perio Treament, Laura Drummond will present on new advances in remineralisation, Dr David Hewitt will present on Mindful Meditation and chiropractor Dr Iain Hennessy will present on back/spine injury prevention and management in the dental profession. The WA committee is keen to catch up with everyone after such a long break and this exciting day is one not to be missed. For more details and to register, please click here. The WA celebrationend-of-yearwillbeheld on Saturday 26 November so please save this date in your diary and look out for further announcements. WA Chair Carmen Jones continued to represent DHAA on the State Oral Health Advisory through a number of local oral health projects. n “ The WA committee is keen to catch up with everyone after such a long break from face-to-face meetings”
Bill Suen and Sophie McKenna Abbey Beach Resort, Busselton
CEO Bill Suen and ADOHTA’s Sophie McKenna (see photo above) jointly presented the ‘Get That Job’ session to final year oral health students at the Melbourne University on 6 July. This is now part of our student engagement plan to reach out to oral health students for both associations.
a variety of clinical topics from TMJ, Orofacial myology, special needs dentistry and the latest in dental hygiene. Click here for further information and registration. A call out to all Tasmanian members; if you would like to be involved in the committee, planning and running events and want to be part of our executive group to give back to the profession we love and enjoy, please contact either Alyson McKinlay or Bill Suen Vic Vic DirectorContacts Ron directorvic@dhaa.infoKnevel. Chair Desiree chairvic@dhaa.infoBolado
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SEPTEMBER 2022 n 3 September Full Day Queensland Sunshine Coast Caloundra, Rumba Beach Resort, Qld Topics: • Implant update and Domestic awarenessviolence
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Event
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• Neuropathic orofacial pain
Get your diaries out and book your time off
• Periodontics • Orthodontics • President’s changesDevelopmentupdate:andfortheoral health profession in Queensland n 8 September Webinar Topic: Professional OHI for removable dental appliances n 10 September Full Day NSW Rydges World Square, Sydney, NSW Topic: An introductory iTOP oral hygiene instruction workshop with Curaprox n 17 September Full Day ACT QT Canberra, ACT Topics: • Dento-facial aesthetics • Orthodontics • Muscular dysfunction and growth (myology) • Oral cancers and lesions Financial management • Vaping and oral cancers n 17 September Full Day WA Abbey Beach Resort Busselton, WA Topics: • Atraumatic restorative techniques managementandof dental trauma in the primary dentition • Periodontics • Teeth whitening • Meditation • Spinal injury prevention at work, exercises to improve posture n 21 September Webinar Topic: Provider Murphyinformationnumber/contractorupdateKatrina n 23 September Full Day SA National Wine Centre Adelaide, Hackney, SA Topics: • Orthodontics • Oral pathology • Recognising covid in the mouth • Needle phobias • Periodontics • Volunteering overseas
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OCTOBER 2022 n 8 October Full Day Tasmania The Grange Estate, Campbell Town, Tas Topics: • Emerging oral health services in orofacial myology microbiologicaland testing, Management of dental fears and phobia and domestic violence Tongue tie, OSA and TMD n 13 October Webinar Topic: DHAA AGM, professional update, insurance update n 26 October Webinar Topic: Mouthguard update NOVEMBER 2022 n 5 November Full Day NSW Quest Orange,Orange,NSW Topics: • Periodontics More topics TBC n 11 November Webinar Topic: Ergonomics n 23 November Webinar Topic: Update on bonding systems, restorative materials n 25 November Queensland Supper n 26 November ACT Half Day n 26 November WA Half Day Brunch Burswood on Swan, Burswood, WA DECEMBER 2022 n 3 December Vic Half Day Brunch Kooyong Tennis Club, Kooyong, Vic n 4 December SA Half ChristmasDayBrunch n 8 December Webinar Topic: Radiation therapy –management of side effects Calendar – these events should not be missed
Develop Empower Support STRIVINGEXCELLENCEFORwww.dhaa.info
