On November 16, 1996, Allegany College was host to ANew Technology and Oral Health Care for the 21st Century,@ an Interactive Satellite Symposium, cosponsored by the American Dental Hygienists Association and Proctor and Gamble Oral Health Care Division. This was the first program of its kind for dental hygienists. More than forty participants viewed the big screen activities at Allegany. Transmitted from Columbus, Ohio, to over fifty sites throughout the continental United States, Allegany was one of two sites in Maryland--the other being Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Our host coordinator was Jane Paulson, Allegany Colleges distance learning specialist, with symposium facilitators, Susan Anderson and Cathy Blank, sharing in the day's preparations and work.
Participants received six hours of continuing education via this video conference. The conference addressed new techniques and technologies in the treatment of periodontal diseases, unique requirements of special population groups and the evaluation and validation of new treatment options. The topics of discussion in the field of periodontics included the use and reliability of diagnostic techniques, current techniques in periodontal surgery, and the use of ultrasonics and pharmacological agents. Issues in the treatment of geriatric and immunocompromised patients, such as nutritional, psychosocial aspects, concomitant medications, risk assessment and outreach care were discussed.
The moderator of the program was Ann Stilwell, RDH, BS, President of ADHA. Speakers were Connie Tussing, RDH, MBA, faculty at the University of Nebraska and manager of her own business devoted to dental care providers; Connie Drisko, DDS, FACD, Chair and Professor of Perio, Endo, and Dental Hygiene at the University of Louisville; Robert Pick, DDS, FACD, FICD, Clinical Associate Professor at Northwestern University; Shirley Beaver, RDH, Ph.D., Director of Dental Hygiene at Southern Illinois University; and Thomas McGivern, RDH, BS, Clinical Dental Hygienist for the Spellman Center for HIV related disease at St. Clairis Hospital and Health Center in New York.
Some of the new technology introduced in the symposium included: Automated Pressure Sensitive Probes, Temperature Sensitive Devices, Enzymatic Pathogen Detection, Subtraction Radiography, Sustained Release Antimicrobials, Power Driven Scalers, Systematic Antibiotics, Culture and Sensitivity Testing, Topical Sustained Release Agents, and Root Coverage Procedures.
Other oral health care issues addressed older Americans, their chronic conditions, delivery of care, psychosocial aspects, drugs, nutrition and oral manifestations; and HIV patients including their oral manifestations and treatments.
Continuing Education opportunities are local and available. This Saturday Symposium illustrates that. Allegany College is hopeful that these kinds of technological opportunities will continue to be shared in this community and the surrounding tri-state area
The spring Continuing Education program sponsored by the Upper Potomac Dental Hygienists Society will be April 18, 1997, when Dr. Esther Wilkins will provide the program. We look forward to seeing you there.