Daily Educational Program

Opening Keynote Plenary: The Joy of The Career

Friday, November 13 | 8:30 – 10:00 am

Presented by:

Jody Urquhart (she, her/elle)

Join us for a comedy-filled, real-world look at how to find meaning and joy in your day-to-day clinical practice. Here’s the truth: you bring the energy! Stress doesn’t get the final word—you do. Your job isn’t cleaning teeth; it’s shaping lives, starting with your own.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Consider how tough patients can become your best teachers
• Describe how to make stress your sidekick, not your boss
• Create the energy you want to feel in the operatory and find the joy in your profession

Product Showcase: 10 for 10!

Friday, November 13 | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Listen to presentations from 10 companies on their new and updated products for the dental hygiene profession. Special product samples will be available to all participants. Spaces are limited, so register early!

Presented by:

Lindsay Van Dam, MHS, RDH (she, her/elle) & Sheri Price, PhD, RN, FCAN, FAAN (she, her/elle)

Interprofessional collaboration in practice is essential to comprehensive patient care and of significant importance to the dental hygiene profession. Drawing on recent research and real-world experiences, the presenters will explain how interprofessional collaboration occurs, why it is needed, and the key role dental hygienists play as members of interprofessional care teams. In this interactive session, participants will engage in critical appraisal and self-reflection on how dental hygienists communicate their professional role to the public and advocate for inclusion in primary care. This presentation aims to empower dental hygienists as interprofessional practitioners and leaders.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand the relevance of interprofessional education and collaboration to their practice
• Recognize how professional stereotypes about oral health care practitioners are reinforced and identify strategies to break down stereotypes in practice
• Develop knowledge and skills that support interprofessional education and practice

Presented by:

Michael Glogauer, DDS, PhD, Dip Perio, FCAHS

This presentation will examine the dynamic relationship between the host immune system and the oral microbiome, emphasizing how these interactions drive both oral health and disease. Participants will explore how dysregulated immune responses and microbial shifts contribute to periodontal and peri-implant diseases, and how these local processes influence systemic health. The presentation will also translate emerging science into practical strategies—showing dental hygienists how to communicate these concepts effectively to patients and how to apply this knowledge to support evidence-based therapeutic decisions and personalized care planning.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Explain the mechanisms by which the host immune system and the oral microbiome interact in health and disease, and describe ways to communicate these concepts clearly and confidently to patients
• Identify how immune dysregulation and microbiome changes contribute to periodontal and peri-implant diseases, and apply this understanding to inform tailored preventive and therapeutic approaches
• Discuss the evidence linking oral inflammation and microbiome dysbiosis to systemic health outcomes, and integrate this knowledge into patient education and collaborative treatment decision making

Resilience—Thriving Amid Mistreatment, Stress, and Change

Friday, November 13 | 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Presented by:

Angela Arsenio, MSW (she, her/elle)

Resilience is usually defined as the ability to bounce back after being knocked down. Yet resilience is so much more than that. It involves adapting to and shifting with the fast pace of everyday life, embracing the inevitable suffering, and prioritizing rest and recovery. True resilience is built through emotional regulation by noticing our feelings and reactions and harnessing them to resolve conflicts effectively and achieve joyful connection. Participants will leave with ways to stay grounded in purpose, rise through adversity, and lead with authenticity and courage—even in the face of exhaustion, doubt or burnout.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the early signs of stress and burnout
• Explore strategies for boundary setting, energy management, and recovery
• Utilize resilience skills to maintain professionalism and composure under pressure

This session will be recorded and made available for purchase after the conference. Conference registrants enjoy FREE access to all recordings.

Presented by:

Michelle Aubé-Simmonds, RDH (she, her/elle)

In Canada, infection prevention and control (IPAC) in dental hygiene is grounded in nationally recognized standards developed by CSA Group, formerly the Canadian Standards Association. Despite this shared foundation and universal use of identical dental equipment, devices, and manufacturer’s instructions for use (MIFUs), IPAC expectations and enforcement vary significantly across provinces. This presentation offers a comparative, mapping-based exploration of IPAC standards across Canada, examining how CSA Group standards are interpreted and operationalized by provincial regulatory bodies. Participants will explore shared IPAC principles, areas of divergence, and the regulatory and risk-based factors contributing to these differences. The presentation raises an essential question for the profession: if Canada already has a national IPAC standard, why does practice look so different across the country?

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify CSA Group as the foundational national authority for IPAC standards in Canadian dentistry
• Describe how provincial regulatory bodies derive and interpret IPAC expectations from CSA Group standards
• Compare IPAC principles that are consistent across all Canadian provinces with those that vary regionally
• Explain the role and regulatory weight of MIFUs in IPAC practice
• Analyze whether provincial variability in IPAC reflects evidence-based differences or interpretive regulation, and discuss the implications of national IPAC standardization for dental hygienists, patient safety, and professional mobility

This session will be recorded and made available for purchase after the conference. Conference registrants enjoy FREE access to all recordings.

Applying CALs and RBLs to the AAP Classification

Friday, November 13 | 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Presented by:

Kelly Turner, PME, BA(Kin), RDH (she, her/elle)

In 2017, the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) introduced a comprehensive classification system for periodontal and peri-implant diseases and conditions. This presentation will equip dental hygienists with the clinical knowledge and practical skills needed to accurately stage and grade periodontitis using both clinical and radiographic data. Participants will examine the relationship between clinical attachment loss (CAL) and radiographic bone loss (RBL), and apply this understanding to assess disease severity and progression using chairside tools. A review of dental histology will support CAL calculations and enhance understanding of the biological basis of assessment data. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on the capabilities and limitations of their dental software or AI-assisted features when evaluating bone loss. The presentation will incorporate decision trees, sample cases, clinical photographs, and radiographs to reinforce learning and provide hands-on practice in staging and grading. Common rules and criteria for staging and grading will be clearly outlined to support consistency among clinicians. To conclude, the session will explore how to effectively communicate staging and grading findings to patients and how this information can guide treatment planning and referrals.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Incorporate the steps from the periodontal disease classification system established by the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions into clinical practice
• Identify common errors and calibration issues related to the determination of clinical attachment loss and radiographic bone loss
• Describe a histological and anatomical approach when comparing clinical attachment loss to radiographic bone loss
• Utilize the decision-making tools from the 2017 World Workshop for greater clinician calibration

This session will be recorded and made available for purchase after the conference. Conference registrants enjoy FREE access to all recordings.

Do you own a dental hygiene business, or are you considering starting one? Enjoy a hot breakfast and network with other entrepreneurial dental hygienists to start your day off on the right foot! This session is reserved for CDHA Independent Practice Network members.

Presented by:

Peter C Fritz, BSc, DDS, PhD, FRCD(C), MBA, LLM (he, him/il)

This comprehensive presentation introduces dental hygienists to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical practice, with a focus on data governance and privacy considerations. Participants will explore how AI technologies such as machine learning and computer vision enhance diagnostic capabilities and practice management and will learn essential frameworks for responsible AI implementation. Through practical examples and case studies, the presenter will address critical aspects of data protection, patient consent, and regulatory compliance, ensuring dental hygienists can confidently integrate AI into their practices while maintaining professional standards and patient trust.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand AI fundamentals and applications in dentistry
• Navigate ethical and regulatory considerations, including data management protocols, patient consent processes, and strategies for protecting patient data
• Understand data governance and privacy principles related to AI

Presented by:

Deborah Saunders, DMD (she, her/elle)

A larger proportion of patients with head and neck cancers (HNC) are now surviving, constituting up to 3% of all cancer survivors. This is likely due in part to increases in HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers, which affect younger individuals and have a better prognosis, and to improved outcomes for other HNCs over the last two decades. Despite collaborative efforts by multidisciplinary teams to manage cancer and treatment-related side effects and to improve survivors' overall quality of life (QOL), a recent study found that 60% to 65% of patients have at least one unmet need. Dental hygienists can play a key role in improving survivors' QOL. This presentation will focus on the prevention and management of chronic oral complications of HNC treatment, including but not limited to salivary hypofunction and xerostomia, tissue fibrosis and lymphedema, modifiable risk factors for recurrence and patient education, osteoradionecrosis of the jaw, taste disturbance, and maxillomandibular rehabilitation programs available to patients who suffer from surgical defects secondary to their cancer treatments.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify fundamentals of major therapies for head and neck cancer
• Evaluate HNC patients with a complete oral diagnostic and radiographic workup, resulting in early diagnosis and more appropriate treatment
• Understand the “multidisciplinary approach” in the treatment of HNC patients to improve oral health management
• Identify and implement management strategies for primary oral sequela and secondary mucosal disorders arising from cancer therapy, which will result in improved treatment, compliance, patient comfort and quality of life

Presented by:

Jim Grisdale, DDS, Dip Perio, Dip Prosth (he, him/il)

This presentation will explore and explain in detail the interrelationships between systemic disorders and oral health. Emphasis will be placed on the oral microbiome, symbiosis and dysbiosis, and the effect on healing from nonsurgical to surgical treatments. The bidirectional link will be made between periodontal disease and systemic conditions, from understanding the pathways of inflammation, the host response, and the impact on clinical practice outcomes. Risk assessment will be addressed in the context of the oral‒systemic connection.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to

• Understand the pathogenesis and mechanisms of periodontal disease
• Describe the impact of periodontal disease on systemic conditions
• Explain the influence of systemic disorders on periodontal health
• Understand the oral‒systemic link and how it can affect treatment outcomes
• Recognize future trends for causal effect relationships between oral and systemic diseases

Breaking Down Barriers: Empowering Dental Hygienists to Advance Equitable Oral Health Care Beyond the Canadian Dental Care Plan

Saturday, November 14 | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Presented by:

Heather Doucette, DipDH, BSc, MEd (she, her/elle)

This presentation examines barriers to oral health care that persist despite the implementation of the Canadian Dental Care Plan, including social, structural, commercial, and trauma-related factors. Aimed at dental hygienists, it emphasizes how health literacy and lived experiences influence care use. Participants will learn practical, patient-centred strategies to identify and overcome these barriers in clinical settings. They will also learn how to pinpoint key factors affecting access, adopt trauma-informed and equity-focused approaches, and execute actionable techniques to enhance engagement and oral health outcomes across diverse populations.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify key social, structural, and commercial determinants that continue to impact access to oral health care despite the implementation of the Canadian Dental Care Plan
• Explain how health literacy and past trauma influence patient engagement, trust, and oral health outcomes
• Recognize common barriers experienced by diverse and underserved populations in accessing oral health care
• Apply trauma-informed and culturally safe approaches in dental hygiene practice to improve patient experiences
• Implement practical chairside strategies to reduce barriers and promote equitable access to oral health care

This session will be recorded and made available for purchase after the conference. Conference registrants enjoy FREE access to all recordings.

Presented by:

Haider Al-Waeli, BDS, MSc in Periodontics, PhD, FRCDC, FICD (he, him/ il) & Mohammad Abu-Samak, BDS, PhD

This interactive, hands-on session will strengthen participants’ confidence and accuracy in diagnosing periodontal and peri-implant diseases in daily clinical practice. Using real-world clinical scenarios, participants will apply contemporary classification systems to distinguish between health, gingivitis, periodontitis, peri-implant mucositis, and peri-implantitis. Emphasis will be placed on interpreting clinical and radiographic findings. Through guided exercises and case-based discussions, participants will translate theory into practical decision making, enhancing their ability to communicate findings effectively within the oral health care team and to support evidence-based patient care in line with current professional standards.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Apply current periodontal and peri-implant disease classifications accurately in clinical scenarios
• Perform systematic periodontal and peri-implant assessments using appropriate probing and examination findings
• Differentiate between health, disease, and disease progression based on clinical and radiographic findings
• Formulate clear diagnostic conclusions to support treatment planning and interprofessional communication
• Document periodontal and peri-implant diagnoses in a manner consistent with evidence-based and regulatory expectations

This session will be recorded and made available for purchase after the conference. Conference registrants enjoy FREE access to all recordings.

Panelists:

Nancy Durand, MDCM, FRCSC (she, her/elle), Vivien Brown, MDCM, CCFP, FCFP, MSCP (she, her/elle) & Deborah Saunders, DMD (she, her/elle)

The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes six cancers, including oropharyngeal and cervical cancers. Unlike cervical cancer, which has effective screening tools, there are no screening tests for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer, making vaccination an important prevention strategy. Dental hygienists play a vital role in HPV vaccine education and uptake. This panel presentation, based on the latest recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) for the single-dose HPV vaccine, will raise awareness of NACI's recommendations, patient and guardian counselling, and the dental hygienist’s role in advocating for the HPV vaccine, and will review other HPV oropharyngeal cancer prevention strategies.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe NACI’s current HPV vaccine recommendations
• Identify key considerations for counselling patients and/or parents and guardians of patients
• Describe the dental hygienist’s role in advocating for the HPV vaccine
• Counsel patients on vaccine awareness and HPV oropharyngeal cancer prevention

Panellists to be announced.

Moderated by:

Mimi Godin, MBA, RDH (she, her/elle)

As the oral health care landscape evolves, ownership models, including privately owned practices, dental service organizations (DSOs), and independent dental hygiene practices, continue to shape how care is delivered and how dental hygienists perform their professional roles. This presentation will equip dental hygienists with a broader understanding of how various models operate, the common challenges they face, and the shared values that unite the dental hygiene profession across all practice environments. Through lived experience and professional reflection, panellists will discuss topics such as professional independence, collaboration with dentists, business management, and the realities of practice across different ownership settings.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify key characteristics of four primary dental practice ownership models in Canada
• Recognize the unique and shared challenges that dental hygienists experience across different ownership models
• Reflect on how ownership structures can influence professional autonomy, patient care, and team dynamics
• Engage in an informed dialogue about the evolving oral health care landscape and the role of dental hygienists within it

Presented by:

Jim Grisdale, DDS, Dip Perio, Dip Prosth (he, him/il)

Novel periodontal therapies are being introduced to oral health professionals at a rapid pace. This presentation will provide a comprehensive, in-depth view of current and future concepts in periodontal treatment. The etiology, diagnosis, and contemporary evidence-based treatment of periodontal diseases will be covered in detail. Participants will learn how to incorporate the latest technologies into everyday practice, including instrumentation, local delivery products, and host-modulation drugs. They will also learn the indications for non-surgical and surgical treatment for their patients.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand the differences between past and contemporary etiology and diagnosis of periodontal disease
• Compare the latest concepts of periodontal treatments and know when and how to apply them
• Incorporate new technologies, including the use of instruments, equipment, local delivery products, and host modulation drugs, into clinical practice
• Understand and describe the fundamentals of the oral‒systemic link
• Differentiate between evidence-based and non-evidence-based periodontal therapies

Presented by:

Bryan Fader, MEd, MACP, RCT

Combining cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), sports psychology mental skills (MST), and 25 years of experience working with high performance athletes and as an instructor/student success strategist in Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Dentistry, the presenter will both entertain and inform the audience on ways to immediately manage stress and approach patient care with a renewed sense of agency over their own mental health.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand the role a dental hygienist plays in their patients' lives
• Develop strategies to cope with the stresses of busy patient care
• Describe how emotional contagion can work to the dental hygienist's advantage