I had a conversation the other day with a dental hygienist who has been practicing for 27 years. She’s the only dental hygienist in a small private practice, and yet, despite working alone, she prioritizes staying connected. She shared with me how important it is for her to participate in Professional Development activities and how grateful she is to have rdhu as a place to connect, learn, and share with others in our profession.

What we both found concerning is how many dental hygienists are out there working on their own, without staying current. Many are not attending in-person events or engaging in hands-on training to keep up with evidence-based research and new technologies. This isn’t just about maintaining registrations or fulfilling requirements—it’s about the quality of care we provide to our clients and patients.

How would you feel being treated by someone who is not up to date? Worse yet, how would you feel knowing your family was being treated by someone who isn’t keeping current?

This conversation really made me think: How do we connect with those who are out there practicing in isolation? How do we reach the dental hygienists who aren’t expanding their skills or staying aware of what it means to be a true professional in this fast-changing field? These are the ones who may not even realize what they’re missing by not staying engaged with their peers and current with industry advancements.

I would love to hear your thoughts. How do you think we can reach these groups of dental hygienists who might be slipping through the cracks? Hit reply or email me directly at kathleen@rdhu.ca—I’d love to hear your ideas!

Together, we can keep the profession strong and ensure that we’re all providing the best care possible.

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Have a great week!

Warm regards,

Kathleen

Kathleen Bokrossy, RDH, BSc ~ President