The Bulletin - Issue 37 December/January 2016

Issue 37 Dec 2015-Jan 2016

The official newsletter of the Dental Hygienists’ Association of Australia Ltd

The BIG one

THE FUN

THE FACTS

THE FASHION

The full run-down from our biggest Symposium ever!

Page 06

STATE OF THE NATION A full compliment of state reports for 2015

POWER BRUSH TRIAL PROGRAM

LET YOUR PATIENTS EXPERIENCE

THE BENEFITS OF POWER! E IN-OFFIC

*

YY OU

NCE A I PL M

PRO MO TE

IMPROVE C

O

N

ER P RS

AT IEN TR

ID

E

B

RE

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR A

FREE* TEST DRIVE KIT TODAY! Visit www.myoralb.com.au to register. For further information, email oralb@oralbclub.com or contact the Oral-B Professional Call Centre on 1800 282 265. 速

*Limit of one Oral-B Test Drive handle and charger per Dental Professional, subject to eligibility. Refills are limited to availability, while stocks last. A damaged or non-functioning unit/toothbrush should no longer be used. Do not modify or repair the product. If you have any questions or comments please contact your Oral-B Territory Manager or the Oral-B Call Centre, 1800 282 265. 速

速

速

IPS NSH IO AT EL

TI E PA

D IN

XPERIENCE POWER B TS E

ORAL C TER A ET

FIRST-O F IT SK

E FRE

BUILD S TRON G

03 3

2015 was great. 2016 will be even better!

On behalf of the DHAA I would like to wish all of our members a Merry Christmas and thank you for being a part of our association.

It’s at this time of year that we reflect on what we have achieved in the past year, and I am proud that our association has continued to grow and provide unparalleled support for oral health professionals.

This was perfectly illustrated at the recent National Symposium. A combination of fascinating speakers, high quality education and research, was supported by an exhibition displaying the latest innovations and technologies. But perhaps, most importantly, was the very real sense of collegiality and community among the delegates.

In 2016, the DHAA looks forward to engaging with our members even more. We hope to start the year with a brand new website and member’s area – complete with discussion forums, online CPD registration and individual logs, and even a ‘find a hygienist’ function... Keep your eyes out for it!

Before I sign off, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those members who volunteer for the DHAA, including the Directors, state chairs, task force and committee members – so much of what we achieve as an association is a direct result of your hard work and dedication to the profession. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the two outgoing Directors, Kate Farmer (ACT) and Karen Toms (Qld). They have both worked tirelessly on the Board over the past year, and the National Council before that.

I hope that you and your loved ones all enjoy a safe, restful and happy holiday season.

Mel Hayes DHAA National President

Contents 03 P resident’s Message Looking back at what we’ve achieved and forward to what’s to come.

04 News Fighting a very real challenge to our award-free status as hygienists; more awards, but this time they’re positive, meet two Service Award winners; plus, an update on our new DHAA Membership Platform .

06 C OVER STORY The BIG One fashion were all on view for everyone to see at the biggest DHAA National Symposium ever!

12 A Day in the Life We share the days of two hygienists from separate practices to see if there’s any difference.

16 State of the Nation A full compliment of yearend reports from all corners of this lucky country we choose to call ‘home’.

23 Event Planner Be super-prepared and fill up your diary for next year.

National Executive PRESIDENT Mel Hayes

CONTACT

VICE PRESIDENT Jo Purssey CONTACT

TREASURER Cheryl Day

IT REP Josh Galpin

CONTACT

CONTACT

The 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

4 I N D U S T R I A L R E L AT I O N S U P D AT E

New legislation that challenges our income We look at how the DHAA is fighting the potential erosion of the award-free status of dental hygienists

T

he DHAA is now an active and fully involved party to the Fair Work Commission’s 2014 Review of Modern Awards, in relation to the Health Professionals and Support Services Award.

DHAA sought permission from Fair Work Commission to intervene in the matter as a party in August this year. Careful monitoring of the Award which DHAA has maintained since 2009, determined that several union submissions to the Review posed a significant risk to maintenance of the award-free status of dental hygienists and oral health therapists. The Board determined that intervention was necessary.

The background to the current situation is that in 2009, the Dental Hygienists Association of Australia successfully sought and obtained from the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, a variation to the Health Professionals and Support Services Award to achieve award-free status for dental hygienists.

This occurred via the decision of the Full Bench of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission [2009] AIRCFB 948. This Full Bench Decision granted

the DHAA’s award variation application of 19 October 2009 by deleting “Dental Hygienist” from Schedule B – List of Common Professionals of the Health Professionals and Support Services Award. Oral Health Therapists have never appeared in the Schedule and therefore have always been award-free.

rates of pay and a classification structure unsuited to remunerating and promoting dental hygienists and oral health therapists on the basis of clinical expertise, rather than managerial responsibilities. Award coverage would mean a probable drift to low minimum award rates of pay.

“ Any change to the current status means that dental hygienists and oral health therapists would be covered by an award with very low minimum rates of pay” The Health Services Union of Australia and other parties have now proposed variations to the Award which erode the award-free status of dental hygienists and directly threatens the award-free status of oral health therapists. DHAA has opposed these.

Any change to the current status means that dental hygienists and oral health therapists would be covered by an award with very low minimum

To date, DHAA has been involved with two written submissions to the full bench and two conferences of the parties.

It is expected that this matter will proceed to arbitration before the full bench of Fair Work Commission within the next two months. DHAA will continue to keep our members updated of all developments with this important industrial relations matter. n

5 Loyal servants of the DHAA SERVICE AWARDS ARE not won, they are earned. Those who have received them need to have demonstrated a longterm voluntary devotion to the cause that is both exemplary and selfless.

At this years Symposium we were lucky enough to be able to honour, not one – but two, DHAA board members with DHAA Service Awards.

Both these lovely ladies have demonstrated unerring commitment over many years. We thank them both and look forward to their continued involvement for many years to come.

Cheryl Dey Cheryl completed her studies at TAFESA in 2006, has worked in Sydney and is now based in Adelaide.

She has been actively involved with DHAA committees since 2007, and most recently her roles include National Treasurer and Chair of the Restructure Task Force. Cheryl is highly respected by her colleagues and devotes her time tirelessly and consistently. Well done Cheryl.

Kathryn Novak Kathryn has recently taken a position on the DHAA Board of Directors as ACT Director; however she is no newcomer to the Association. She was the main driving force behind the very successful and well attended DHAA Symposium in Canberra in 2014. Kathryn has served the DHAA for many years in different roles for the ACT Branch, and continues to share her vast experience with her colleagues in her latest position. Congratulations Kathryn!

IT REPORT

Let’s get digital Improving your online membership experience

OVER HERE IN the IT corner we have had a very busy year developing the new DHAA website and hope to introduce it to you in early 2016.

We are making a whole raft of changes designed to benefit you as members. These improvements include; » A new membership platform and member login in area have been integrated into the one website » The facility to keep your own CPD log. Called ‘My CPD’ you will be able to track your hours. We’ve ensured this meets DBA guidelines for auditing purposes. » A simplified renewal/sign up process that includes the use of PayPal and improved functionality so it’s easier to get back into the website. » A new ‘Find a Hygienist’ function that, if you consent, will add your details to a searchable database. This will give members of the public the ability to locate you and bring more patients to your practices. » We’ve added a lot of free CPD links. While some are dental there are also other areas of allied health that may be of interest to you. » A Members Forum area where you can talk with other active members of the DHAA community. » Improved access to documents such as our IR contracts.

We also wanted to improve your experience for attending events.

You’ll start to see us using the Eventbrite platform and at future events, you’ll be able to register using our online app. Plus, when you’ve attended an event it will be registered in your ‘My CPD’ area.

The new website will be launched in phases and we will be adding more functionality over the ensuing months. We’re intending to add webinars and potential CPD modules for you to complete on line.

We really hope you like the new look when we release it early in 2016.

Josh Galpin IT Representative

SYMPOSIUM 6 SYDNEY2015

The event of the year A record attendance and a fantastic venue ensured that 2015 DHAA National Symposium truly was a weekend to remember.

Words Margaret Galvin Photos: Marianthi Karadoukas

T

hirteen is usually considered an unlucky number, but this was not the case for the DHAA 13th National Symposium held at The Star,

Sydney. With a whopping 19 CPD points up for grabs across the two-and-a-half days, the 400+ delegates in attendance were in for an evidence-based educational treat. Delegates not only had

the opportunity to learn from a myriad of quality guest speakers, it was also a chance to network with friends and colleagues, and view the latest products from the ever-generous sponsors.

7

The theme of this year’s symposium was “Under One Umbrella.� It was a three-fold theme that recognised a team-based approach to holistic care including working with other health

care providers; strengthening our individual representation as oral health care providers under the umbrella of health care advocates; and celebrating the merging of all the state and territory

associations into one association.

The first session of the conference covered topics ranging from how to interpret science and statistics for you and your patient and why

SYMPOSIUM SYDNEY2015 8

evidence-based practice is important, through to managing the worn dentition and the evolving role of the Hygienist in the future. There were also optional workshops in the morning for delegates who wanted to learn the latest techniques in the use of the EMS ultrasonic, how to keep their hands “work fit”, and strategies for keeping up with the latest research. The final topic of the day introduced the delegates to the paradise that is the working life of the Dutch hygienist…or did it have too many limitations for dental hygiene to be practiced to its full capacity? These were some of the topics of discussion over canapés and drinks at the Welcome Reception and Industry Exhibition opening that evening.

Another option for the Thursday evening was a Sydney Harbour Bridge climb. A few delegates took advantage of the offer and conquered the bridge with aplomb, despite the wet weather. Thank goodness for the symposium themed item in the goodies bag given to each delegate.

The second day began with the double act of Professor Richard Widmer and Dr Peter Foltyn discussing oral health from

adolescence to the elderly. Each of the aforementioned speakers also gave an individual talk about their respective specialties, giving rise to thoughts about how the treatment of the different age groups can be so vastly unalike in some aspects, yet so similar in other aspects.

Other topics discussed on day two included the diagnosis and management of the oral environment; the cleaning of dental implants by the owner and the practitioner; bad breath testing and treatment; new advances in orthodontics; an interactive presentation from a certified hand specialist about how to take care of our hands and bodies; and evidence and clinical efficacy of currently available local antimicrobials. The last topic also included the controversial practice of “oil pulling.”

Anecdotally, it was generally agreed there has been an increase in patients attending their dental appointments waxing lyrical about the benefits of oil pulling. The list of claims made as to the benefits of this practice is long and

almost miraculous. The general point made over the course of the symposium regarding long lists of benefits of ANY practice was once multiple claims are being made, it may indicate the claims are possibly anecdotal or not true. This really brought home the importance of science, evidence-based practice, and how to

“ This really brought home the importance of science, evidence-based practice, and how to introduce this to your patients.” introduce this to your patients.

After a big day of thought provoking lectures, it was time to unwind at the Circus themed gala dinner. This was held in the same room as where the lectures had been held that day… but what a difference a few hours can make! The tables were adorned with circus themed centrepieces, a multitude of glistening glassware, and enough cutlery and crockery to help us devour our sumptuous meal to come. It was not only the tables covered in circus themed embellishments, delegates were also invited to dress up

Temporary Anchorage Devices with Dr Nour Tarraf DR TARRAF presented an informative and well-received topic entitled “Temporary anchorage devices in orthodontics: a paradigm shift”.

For those of us who don’t work in the field of orthodontics and even for those that do, this lecture gave us an overview of some of the more recent advances in orthodontic treatment using skeletal anchorage or Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs).

TADs are titanium miniscrews or plates, which are placed in the bones of the jaws in order the enhance anchorage. This allows for tooth movement without side effects but also allows movements that are not possible with normal braces such as molar intrusion. The

Dr Tarraf had us temporarily anchored to our seats

TADs are then removed after treatment is complete.

The additional anchorage offers more options for patients with tooth agenesis, molar hypoplasia and multiple extraction spaces. Spaces of missing teeth can be closed orthodontically – reducing the need for dental implants and

other prosthetic options.

TADs can also be used in the pre-prosthetic preparation for adult patients with few or no posterior teeth. Dr Tarraf also showed how many malocclusions, which have been previously only treatable through orthognathic surgery – such as skeletal open-bites – could now be managed nonsurgically with less biological and financial cost to the patient.

The lecture also explored the recent orthopaedic applications of TADs in growing patients especially those with Class III malocclusions. TADs not only reduce the need for obtrusive appliances, such as headgear and face masks, but can also produce better and superior results with more

patient acceptance and less need for compliance.

Dr Tarraf provided us with relevant scientific data to back up all of his information and opened our eyes to the existence of TADs and how they have revolutionised orthodontic treatment in recent years. The quality of material presented and his delivery was outstanding.

Everyone I spoke to after this presentation very much enjoyed hearing this young orthodontist speak. It’s easy to see why he’s the winner of the 2013 Australian Dental Association & Pierre Fauchard Academy National Emerging Young Lecturer Award. I look forward to attending many more presentations by him.

A little about Dr Tarraf: He finished his BDS at Cairo University with Honors in 2001 and then followed with an orthodontic residency at Cairo University. Moving to Sydney ten years ago, Dr Nour Tarraf completed his Masters degree at the University of Sydney in 2008 with Honors. He works in private practice in Chatswood and is involved in research and teaching at the University of Sydney.

SYMPOSIUM SYDNEY2015 10

in circus attire. We had a bearded lady, a sad clown, a few lion tamers, and a fortune-teller who correctly predicted the happy clown would win the dressup competition! The real winners on the night were the audience who were witness to amazing feats of deathdefying stunts and comedy provided by two of the male delegates, assisted by the ever-sohandsome Pascale and the beautiful Kiki! The three Ds were in full force that night‌ dinner, drinks and dancing. The three Ds also made it very hard to attend the 8am lecture on Saturday morning!

The final day started with a talk by Associate Professor Michelle Hurlbutt, Dean of Dental Hygiene at the West Coast University, Anaheim, USA. Associate Professor Hurlbutt gave a very interesting presentation about various natural products to treat illness and to maintain wellness. She also discussed emerging natural products available for oral health. Given the renewed interest in natural products by patients, this evidence-based lecture gave an abundance of information to

the delegates regarding popular herbs that may be used by patients and basic guidelines to consider when discussing herbal supplements with patients.

These included when to use herbal supplements, contraindications of use, the combining of herbal supplements and why it should be avoided, making

periodontal therapy, clinician-patient communication, special needs dentistry, and the oral and dental considerations of palliative care. The last two topics mentioned were at the same time heart-breaking and inspiring.

Being presented with the dental and oral issues faced by the special needs group and people in palliative care was overwhelming. It highlighted issues of which some delegates may have been unaware. The speakers, Dr Peter King and Clinical Associate Professor Mark Schifter, were passionate advocates for these underserved populations and showed there is an unexplored opportunity for dental hygienists and oral health therapists to address these unmet needs.

As a dental clinician, it is all too easy to fall in the rut of seeing patients and doing the same old, same old.

The DHAA 13th National Symposium offered the opportunity to practice and update old skills, learn new skills, experience the latest dental and oral health products, and learn from some

“ It reinvigorated the urge to learn, to experience new ideas, to question our own philosophies and to make sure we are carrying out evidence-based practice.� sure herbal supplements do not interfere with recommended medical care, and making sure the patient is seeking advice about herbal remedies from credible sources of unbiased information...again, relating back to evidence-based practice and the importance of explaining the science to your patients.

The other topics covered on the last day included obstructive sleep apnoea, periodontal manifestations and complications of systemic disease, temporary anchorage devices in orthodontics, laser for non-surgical

of the most knowledgeable-in-their-field presenters from Australia, America, and The Netherlands. It reinvigorated the urge to learn, to experience new ideas, to question our own philosophies, and to make sure we are carrying out evidence-based practice. It would not be a stretch to say most delegates left the symposium educated, inspired, and perhaps a little tired.

The Symposium Working Party 2015 must be heartily congratulated on the success of the 2015 symposium. The quality of the speakers, trade exhibitors, venue, catering, and social program was beyond reproach.

Next year’s symposium will be held in the boutique coastal city of Hobart, in the shadow of the majestic Mount Wellington. Delegates will be in for a sensory treat when they visit MONA and the Salamanca Markets, and will be delighted by the local produce. We look forward to seeing you all in the island state for a symposium looking to “Making a Difference.” n

Dental Implant Maintenance with Dr Dagmar Else Slot THE DHAA WERE honoured to welcome Dr Dagmar Else Slot as a guest speaker from the Netherlands.

Her lecture presented the different approaches to clean titanium dental implants (DI) surfaces during maintenance or as part of a peri-implantitis treatment.

Dr Slot acknowledged that as dental hygienists we have a critical role in the maintenance of dental implants that have been placed and restored. This is an increasing responsibility to the nation’s ageing population.

She claimed that there were only seven papers, currently available, on how implants should be cleaned.

Dr Dagmar presenting her expert view on implants

Using a plastic probe with pressure control, to be used around a dental implant, and scoring and treatment based on the CIST (Cumulative Interceptive Supportive Therapy) protocol: Healthy – < 3mm no BOP

Mucositis – Calculus, plaque no BOP Peri-implantitis – Plaque, calculus, BOP, suppuration, radiographic bone loss There are three approaches for cleaning dental implants: Chemical: includes nonalcoholic mouthwashes, the benefit of long-term use of essential oil mouth rinses has clearly been demonstrated.

Laser: Co2 and Er:yag lasers.

Mechanical: need to avoid surface damage. Smooth surface dental implants should be cleaned with a rubber cup and non metal instrument; rough surface dental implants should be debrided with non metal instrument and

air abrasion (air abrasive – Glycerine air polish).

Dagmar impressed that there is indeed limited scientific literature regarding the selfcare of dental implants.

References: Louropoulou A, Slot DE, Van der Weijden F. Influence of mechanical instruments on the biocompatibility of titanium dental implants surfaces: a systematic review.

Clinical Oral Implants Res 2014; doi: 10.1111/clr.12365 Ntrouka VI, Slot DE, Louropoulou A, Van der Weijden F. The effect of chemotherapeutic agents on contaminated titanium surfaces: a systematic review. Clinical Oral Implants Res 2011; 22: 681–690.

Shumaker, N. D., Metcalf, B. T., Toscano, N. T., & Holtzclaw, D. J. (2009). Periodontal and periimplant maintenance: a critical factor in long-term treatment success.

12

A DAY IN THE

LIFE

Ever wondered what other hygienists get up to?

We spend a day with two different hygienists – one periodontic and one orthodontic – to check out the differences...

Meloshini Naicker | Hygienist in periodontics A TYPICAL DAY STARTS half-an-hour before the first patient is scheduled. A look at the day ahead and review of patients files, including medical history; medications list; radiographs; previous diagnosis’ and treatments etc. Being a paperless practice make the task quite easy.

This information is then communicated to the specialist and support staff at the morning huddle – ensuring a smooth-running day and, more important ly, a high standard of patient care.

Today begins with a bit of teamwork, which includes assisting our periodontist in gathering information and taking diagnostic records for a new patient referred to us.

I meet and greet the patient – ensuring that I am make eye contact and indulge in some small-talk to make them feel at ease. I then check that the periodontist has all the data he needs before he commences with his examination.

Once completed, a treatment plan is formulated and I spend time with the patient explaining the causes and progression of periodontal disease, using online videos and charts.

I believe that a patient who understands more about their disease and periodontal health status is more likely to become involved in their own care.

In addition, detailed information is obtained regarding our new patient’s current home oral care practices and their expectations.

This first interaction with the new patient is certainly beneficial, more especially if I am going to be involved in some part of the treatment, whether it be initial phase therapy or ongoing periodontal maintenance.

The rest of my day is taken up with patients requiring periodontal maintenance; initial phase therapy; implant maintenance patients as well as post-operative checks and patients requiring radiographs (intraoral and extraoral).

The length of an appointment varies from a short 10-minute check to a one-hour initial phase therapy.

Tobacco cessation programmes and oral cancer screening are both integral parts of our daily activities. Identifying the areas of concern is part of the treatment process for all maintenance patients, including updating medical and dental history and performing soft and hard tissue examinations.

In my morning huddle I have highlighted that a patient has not returned for periodontal maintenance for 18-months and there is a possibility that he may be unstable and require more treatment.

This proves to be the case so I start by taking all clinical records and comparing these to his last visit. I then show him the decline in his oral and periodontal health. The disclosing solution on his teeth is eye-catching and I make sure that he looks into the mirror and sees how he has neglected his gums. I also show him the increase in his bleeding index and hope is that all of this information will motivate him to keep up with his maintenance schedule. I stabilise a few areas using local anaesthetic and plan more appointments.

This is most-likely a common occurrence, in other practices, and as hygienists we need to motivate.

Reinforcing oral hygiene instruction and finding ways of encouraging patients to keep up with their homecare is a big part of our duty of care.

Thankfully, today’s patients are all straight-forward and all I needed to do was to do an assessment (extraoral and intraoral), reinforce oral hygiene instructions, debride all areas, update radiographs and get them reviewed.

Lunchbreak is followed by postoperative checks after surgery, which involves checking for healing of surgery sites, suture removal and oral hygiene instruction.

My initial phase therapy patient proves to be a bit difficult to manage. She was very anxious and required me to spend more time with her before administering any local anaesthetic. This is quite a common occurrence as many patients with periodontal disease have fears or anxieties that may have discouraged them to seek dental treatment in the past. Very often we are seeing them at their worst and have to finds way to put them at ease.

Working in a specialist periodontal practice for the past seven years has been both exciting and rewarding. The variety keeps my days interesting, while constant interaction with the periodontists reassures me that I am in sync with the needs of my patients.

It’s always good to see the improvements in a patient’s condition especially when the anxious patients start settling down and becoming regular visitors.

Every day has its own challenges, but it’s important to take each day as it comes – remembering to focus on providing the best possible care. ›

“ Reinforcing oral hygiene instruction and finding ways of encouraging patients to keep up with their homecare is a big part of our duty of care.”

Turn the page to see the Orthodontic Day

››

DHAA 2016 25th Anniversary SYMPOSIUM

Hobart TASMANIA 10th to 12th November 2016 Preliminary program and further details at

www.hobartsymposium.com

15

A DAY IN THE

LIFE Fiona Bartley | Orthodontic hygienist WORKING IN AN orthodontic practice is both exciting and rewarding. When patients come into the practice for the first time they are often unhappy with their teeth due to malocclusion and other problems, which adds to lack of care for their teeth and poor oral hygiene.

Most patients that I see have crowding and displacements which also make it challenging for good oral hygiene. It is rewarding to see these same patients finishing orthodontic treatment and loving their teeth with a smile they can’t hide. Once they are proud of their teeth they want to take good care of them.

My role involves the assessment of patients’ oral health prior to starting their orthodontic treatment – ensuring that their teeth and gums are healthy.

This gives me an opportunity to provide dental health education and stress the importance of excellent oral hygiene during treatment. Staying in constant contact with patient during the treatment phase enables me to supervise their oral health and provide instruction and motivation, as well as scheduling scale and polish appointments when needed.

This constant contact keeps the patient’s treatment timely. Highly motivated patients with healthy teeth and gums are less likely to miss appointments and have fewer breakages. Given that my patients are mostly adolescents, I have an excellent opportunity to solve common problems associated with this agegroup and hopefully set them on a good oral health path for life.

A typical day for me starts with an overview of the patient appointments so I can prepare for the day ahead. Staff members will briefly touch base regarding the days patients and other matters like instruments and lab work etc.

Our busiest times are before and after school as most of our patients are students. During these times it is my job to “shadow” the orthodontist following instruction. Common practices include; taking off and replacing orthodontic modules/O rings;

sizing and replacing archwires, placing power chain and elastics; instructing patients how to wear elastics or head gear; preparing the tooth for rebonding if a breakage has occurred (removing the glue from the tooth surface then etching and priming ready for the orthodontist); anesthetising areas for placement of TAD screws (temporary anchorage device); removal of coe-pack and sutures following surgical exposure of an impacted tooth; placing separators and sizing bands for RME (rapid maxillary expansion); taking impressions for study models; and checking Invisalign aligners Throughout the middle of the day I have longer appointments and work autonomously. These will include; scale and polishes; debanding braces; bonding fixed retainers; indirect bonding of braces; iTero 3D digital scanning for Invisalign treatments; and bonding attachments for Invisalign aligners.

Completing Dental Board approved CPD courses has provided me with the additional training and competencies to increase my scope of practice in the area of orthodontics.

A benefit of working in an orthodontic practice is being able to remove arch wires during cleaning – allowing for a more thorough clean. It also saves the patient time, not having to have their arch wire removed before visiting their dental practice for the clean, and then returning to have the wires replaced.

When a patient completes active orthodontic treatment they will still come in for retention checks, so making sure fixed retainers are healthy and retention aligners are fitting is important.

Mandibular fixed retainers do tend to develop a calculus build-up as they are more difficult for the patient to clean around, even when they have had comprehensive oral hygiene instruction.

Regular six monthly scaling for patients with fixed retainers is generally necessary.

I find that working in the orthodontic environment is very positive and uplifting. Patients are generally very positive as they watch the function and aesthetics of their teeth improve and the camaraderie provided by the orthodontic team makes every day rewarding and unique. n

“ It is rewarding to see these same patients finishing orthodontic treatment and loving their teeth with a smile thy can’t hide.”

A full state-by-state run-down of Association happenings around the country

NATION STATE ACT

WEBSITE

actdhaa.com.au

>

CONTACT

Email ACT

>

WELL IT’S HARD to believe 2015 is drawing to an end!

Our little territory branch has had an evolving year to say the least. We were the first state to officially merge with the newly formed national body DHAA Ltd. The process was not without its challenges, but the enormous amount of background work done by the board and our Executive Officer Chris Wain has made it relatively painless!

Our CPD team managed another great year of local events for members with numerous dinner meetings and our annual full-day conference. While

“ Fresh off the back of an amazing symposium in Sydney, we all have a renewed vigour for our varied roles within dentistry. We look forward to the developments of the national board in 2016. ” the restructure is making great progress, it is still under construction with undoubtedly many more great things to come. We have been advised to carry on as usual as far as local events go so for the

new year we have planned an ‘Honour the Boss’ function and two guest speaker dinner meetings throughout the year, as well as our usual professional development day in the Spring.

We will have a changing of the guard, so to speak, early next year. Kathryn Novak will become the new director for ACT, and we will be seeking a new branch chair and CPD committee.

Hopefully the tireless efforts of our volunteers with CPD events will be eased in the new year by the appointment of an events officer who will work alongside Chris Wain in our newly appointed office.

Fresh off the back of an amazing symposium in Sydney, we all have a renewed vigour for our varied roles within dentistry. We look forward to the developments of the national board in 2016 that work so hard and so well as a collaborative group with one vision for the betterment of our profession.

Oh… and we all simply can’t wait for Tasmania 2016!!!

Amy McDermott ACT State Chair

New South Wales WEBSITE

dhaansw.org.au

>

CONTACT

0411 473 762

“ The In total there were 419 delegates present at the Symposium, the largest-ever association gathering.”

17

Half Day Seminar

Queensland

Team NSW showing their mettle with a soggy-looking Harbour Bridge Climb

24 Oct 2015

WEBSITE

dentalhygienist.com.au

>

CONTACT

Email Queensland

WHAT A 2015 it has been for New South Wales.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of those who have supported the NSW team and the national board over the course of this year. Most significantly with the success of the 13th DHAA National Symposium, which was held at The Star, in Sydney, in November.

We were graced with some exciting speakers, both international and local, who covered a wide range of topics within the theme of “Under One Umbrella”.

There were also opportunities for delegates to participate in the practical clinical workshops which

were very popular and we hope that everyone who participated got something out of it.

Other highlights included the Harbour Bridge Climb and the spectacular “Circus Extravaganza” Gala Dinner. We hope you were entertained and a chance for everyone to dance the night away and have their photos taken in the hilarious photo booth.

In total there were 419 delegates present at the Symposium, the largest-ever association gathering.

A whole host of photographs can be found on the DHAA Facebook page.

Ian Epondulan NSW President

>

“T he session evolved into a question and answer session that was very popular and could have gone on for much more than the hour that was allocated.”

Queensland’s Half Day Seminar started at the breakfast table.

Speakers on the day included Katrina Murphy who started talking about contracts. The session evolved into a question and answer session that was very popular and could have gone on for much more than the hour that was allocated.

We look forward to seeing Katrina again in 2016.

Our second speaker was Tanya Carmen, a Dental Prosthetist. Tanya discussed the role of a Dental Prosthetist and gave us all some insights into the cleaning of removal appliances. We also saw some before-and-after photos of the wonderful work that Prosthetists are achieving.

Next up was Alison Moorcroft, a Speech Pathologist. Her talk, entitled “More Than a Lisp” The scope of speech pathology and what it means for you. We learned the daily complexities that Speech Pathologists face and the large scope that they work with. Alison spoke about the difficulties in communicating when you can’t talk.

We all participated in a practical session that

highlighted the difficulties faced by this group of people and how difficult it is to be understood when you can’t use words.

The final speaker for the day was Geriatrician Dr Anthony French. Dr French’s talk was titled “Challenges in Dental Care for the frail and elderly” – A Gap required filling. This is a challenging demographic to treat and Dr French reminded us that complex treatment may not be what is best served to this population. He also highlighted the need for a preventative approach and how Oral Health Therapists and Dental Hygienists should be utilised more in this area.

Our Day finished with confirmation of the voting for the 2016 Queensland Chapter Committee. The results were as follows; Chair: Robbern White Communications Officer: Carlene Franklin CPD Team: Debbie Holiday, Karen Toms, April Lunnie, Tiana Romeo, Michelle Hankinson, Shiralee Davis, Stephanie Wallace, Lizzy Stenhouse and Carol Tran.

We farewell committee members that aren’t continuing on for 2016 –

South Australia WEBSITE

dhaasa.com

>

CONTACT

0408 899 056

>

The girls from team Queensland making sure that everyone knows who they are.

namely Annika Houston, Fatima Dost and Eliza Telford.

We thank them for their contribution and wish them well for their future.

The Half Day Seminar was a huge success and we wish to thank Colgate for their continued support.

Homeless Connect

message to the Homeless at Eagle Farm. This proved to be very successful as many people sought their oral health advice.

Homeless Connect is a rewarding day and we will be there again in 2016, in both May and November.

Keep an eye out for a call for volunteers in the new year.

November 2015

This is the first year that DHAA Ltd has supported Homeless Connect.

DHAA Committee members April Lunnie Eliza Telford and DHAA member Christie Staines spread the Preventative Oral Health

Finally it just leaves me to say that we look forward to seeing you at Queensland events next year and wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and safe New Year.

Robbern White Queensland State Chair

“ Our annual full day CPD event was a great success – seeing our highest number of attendees in over five years.”

19

WHAT A WHIRLWIND of a year and I am pleased to say South Australia has had formal correspondence to approve the dissolution of the South Australian Branch of the DHAA. We are proud to officially be a part of the new DHAA Ltd. Our annual full day CPD event, held on Friday 4 September, was a great success – seeing our highest number of attendees in over five years. Of the many the speakers on the day some of the standouts were; Associate Professor Leonie Heilbronn, who gave us an interesting presentation on “Obesity, Tissue Inflammation and Weight Loss”; Cathryn Carboon updated us on the latest achievements of the Carevan SunSmiles Program; Kostas Kapellas gave an informative presentation on the latest in periodontal disease and vascular health; while Cathy Snelling finished the day with an entertaining presentation about radiography.

The year-end brings a new round of graduates and I was pleased to be invited to attend the TAFE SA Advanced Diploma of Oral Health awards ceremony at Regency TAFE and present three of the awards. The

MAIN: Rachel Bray, winner of the Jane Chalmers Memorial Award, with Ali Taylor (Left), and Bev and Chris Carter; BOTTOM L TO R: Academic and Clinical Excellence Award winner, Sarah Atkins, and Jean McNicol Award winner, Anna Barmasheva, both with Tracey Herman of DHAA

Academic and Clinical Excellence Award was presented to Sarah Atkins; the Jane Chalmers Memorial Award to Rachel Bray; and Anna Barmasheva was the recipient of the Jean McNicol Award. We were very pleased to have Chris and Bev Carter attend the awards ceremony on behalf of the late Jean McNicol.

Friday 4 December was the Adelaide University Dental School’s Declaration Ceremony and I addressed the dental students and presented three awards to the Bachelor of Oral Health students.

In February 2016 we will hold our second annual New Graduate Supper to welcome

the graduates of both ADOH and BOH to the industry. This is an opportunity for the new graduates to meet the DHAA SA team, and other industry representatives, to learn more about what the association can offer them. I’m looking forward to a relaxed evening meeting our profession’s newest additions.

At the time of writing this we are a few days out from our annual Christmas Breakfast at The National Wine Centre – the first as part of DHAA Ltd – and therefore not including an AGM. Katrina Murphy, an industrial relations expert and friend of the DHAA, will be presenting “How to

negotiate your employment agreement – practical tips and advice”. The number of registrants exceeds that of our September CPD Day and demonstrates that members, students and non-members are all very keen to hear what Katrina has to say.

I would like to thank the fantastic volunteers who have made the South Australian Executive such a strong and successful committee over the years. It is the end of an era and is sad in one way but very exciting in another, and we look forward to the beginning of a new era and a new structure for the DHAA. Tracey Herman South Australia State Chair

Tasmania

CONTACT

0419 712 512

MEMBERS OF THE Tasmanian chapter voted early in 2015 to merge with the newly-formed National DHAA entity. The actual formalities occurred at the end of financial year and the hope is that this move will give our Tassie members more support and access to wider CPD opportunities.

With next year marking the 25th anniversary of the DHAA and the National Symposium being held here in our very own Hobart, it is fair to say that 2016 is going to be a super-exciting and extremely busy year.

Huge thanks must go to the seemingly tireless Danielle Gibbens who has done a lot of the hard yards on this.

A fantastic program is planned and is available to view. The intent is to showcase some of the great venues around the magnificent city of Hobart. In particular the opening drinks on Friday at the fascinating MONA (Museum of Old and New Art ) is not to be missed.

Away from the excitement of the Symposium we are continuing to work within our established ADA and ADOHTA networks intra

state and link in with education opportunities that are organised intrastate.

With most of the efforts of our small commitee being focused on the symposium, we still have some small lunch CPD and networked speaker events planned for the first half of the year.

So don’t forget to book yourself in early for what will be the vent of the year – the DHAA 2016 National Symposium, 10-12 November – check out the event website.

Linda Thomas Tasmania State Chair

“ With the National Symposium being held here in our very own Hobart, it is fair to say that 2016 is going to be a super-exciting and extremely busy year.”

Victoria

WEBSITE

dhaavb.com.au CONTACT

0418 336 119

>

I WOULD LIKE to introduce myself as the new Chair for Victorian Branch. I have served on the committee for many years, and held several positions – including a previous term as President.

I am looking forward to supporting the DHAA and it’s members and would like to thank Roisin McGrath for all her hard work in keeping this branch running.

We are delighted to announce that the wind-up process is now complete and we have received notification from Consumer Affairs Victoria that DHAAVB’s

Mala Desai (Paedodontist) whose topic was ‘Tackling trauma’ and Ms Meloshini Naicker (Dental Hygienist) whose presentation was titled ‘Periodontal endoscopy: taking minimally invasive periodontal therapy to the next level’.

In July, we co-hosted a full day CPD event with Dental Protection Ltd. (DPL) at the Rydges on Swanston, Carlton. DPL presented their ‘Gobsmacked’ seminars during the morning session, which gave valuable insight into preventing and handling abuse allegations. The

“ We are delighted to announce that the wind-up process is now complete and we have received notification from Consumer Affairs Victoria that DHAAVB’s association status has now been cancelled.” association status has now been cancelled.

On 28 November we held out annual half-day CPD event at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. As always, this was a great morning with opportunities to gain some valuable knowledge and to socialise with other oral health colleagues.

Speakers were; Dr Benedicta Wong (Periodontist) who discussed ‘What can be achieved with non-surgical periodontal therapy’; Dr

afternoon session included presentations from A/Prof Rodrigo Marino, Prof Ivan Darby and A/Prof Kerrod Hallett. We received fantastic feedback about this event and hope to co-host a similar day with DPL next year.

A lot of effort has gone into planning Victorian CPD events for 2016 and are included on The Planner at the back of this Bulletin.

Our first event will be a dinner meeting at the Kent Hotel, Carlton on February 17.

Dr Warren Crossley (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon) will be our speaker on this occasion.

We will host half-day events on the 16 April at Quest Flemington and on 10 September at the Rydges on Swanston.

We have also partnered with ADOHTA to plan a full-day at the ADAVB Convention on Saturday 18 June, to be held at the Melbourne Convention Centre. Registration for this event should open soon.

We would also like to remind you all about the DHAA National Symposium celebrating 25 years of the DHAA, which will be held in Hobart from the 10-12 November. Our Tasmanian counterparts are working hard to organise what promises to be an amazing event and definitely one not to be missed.

On behalf of the Victorian committee, I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year.

I’m sure the run up to Christmas will be filled with lots of festivities and social functions. Enjoy this special time of year with your family and friends and we look forward to catching up with you all again in 2016.

Anne DiPaulo Victoria State Chair

Western Australia WEBSITE

dhaawa.com CONTACT

0449 910 455

>

IT IS THE time of year where everyone’s lives become incredibly busy, most people that I talk with on a daily basis are experiencing “event overwhelm”!

We hope you have some time over the summer to have a break from your work, in order to rest and prepare for the New Year.

It may be a time of reflection; on things that worked and perhaps didn’t work; and things you would like to change – but most importantly, to reflect on all the successes you’ve had in 2015 no matter how small you may think they are.

“ We are always looking to the future, to what’s next and to our goals – but it’s also just as important to see what we have achieved and how far we have come.”

At DHAA, we are always looking to the future, to what’s next and to our goals – but it’s also just as important to see what we have achieved and how far we have come.

We have had a fantastic year of CPD events including our most important event – a follow up seminar to “The Future of Dental Hygiene Practice” held in May. The committee of the WA

Branch would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support in 2015, and to wish you and your loved ones a safe holiday period and a very merry Christmas.

We have a few exciting events scheduled so far for 2016 – the annual LA update is on Friday 19 February, and we are holding a Perio Instrumentation update combined with ASP WA on Friday 6 May.

Infection Control is to be confirmed, and we are holding a half-day seminar on TMD, MID and Xerostomia on May 28.

Details for all of these events will be released as things progress, so please keep your eyes on your inboxes, and on our website.

We look forward to seeing you in 2016!

Natasha Hunt Western Australia State Chair

23

Planner The 2016 CPD Events calendar is already filling up. Full details at www.dhaainfo/events JAN 2016

30 January

DHAA NSW EMS Ultrasonic and Modern Prophylaxis Lecture Series

Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley

FEB 2016

2 February

DHAA SA New Graduate Supper

The Maid hotel, Stepney

6 February

DHAA NWS Management of Medical Emergencies in the Dental Practice

BMA House, 135 Macquarie Street, Sydney

19 February

DHAA WA Local Analgesia Update.

Cost $150 members, $250 non members.

4 CPD hours

Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology Lab (M309), Anatomy Building, Hackett Entrance Number 2, Crawley Campus, Seminar Room 1.81.

26 February

DHAA ACT ‘Thank you Boss’ Function

15 March

DHAA SA March Supper Meeting

The Hackney Hotel, Hackney

21 March

DHAA NSW First Dinner General Meeting

North Sydney Harbourview Hotel, Sydney

23 March

DHAA ACT Member Business Meeting

TBA

DHAA/ ADOHTA Joint Event

TBA

6 May

DHAA WA Combined Event ASP Practical Periodontal Instrumentation

TBA

9 May

DHAA NSW Second Dinner General Meeting

TBA

21 May

DHAA QLD Hygiene Horizons

Sunshine Coast

???

DHAA QLD Homeless Connect

???

IFDH

16 June

DHAA ACT Dinner Meeting

17 June

DHAA SA June Dinner Meeting

Adelaide Oval, Ian MsLachlan Room

JUL 2016

9 July

DHAA NSW Full Day Conference

TBA

AUG 2016

22 August

DHAA NSW Third Dinner General Meeting

TBA

12 August

DHAA Professional Development ‘By Request

2 September

DHAA SA September CPD Day

20 September

DHAA TAS Business Meeting

15 October

DHAA QLD Breakfast CPD and CPR

19 October

DHAA TAS Dinner Meeting

10-12 November

National Symposium

???

DHAA QLD Homeless Connect

2 December

DHAA Tasmania Christmas Party

4 December

DHAA SA Christmas Breakfast

MAR 2016

MAY 2016

JUN 2016

SEP 2016 OCT 2016 NOV 2016 DEC 2016

Switzerland

Adelaide Convention Centre University of Queensland, St Lucia Hobart

The National Wine Centre

Key to the state colours n ACT

nN SW

n NT

n Qld

nS A

n Tas

n Vic

nW A

Develop Empower Support www.dhaa.info

STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE