October is National Dental Hygiene Month! This year, “The Power of Us,” celebrates how we create lasting change for our profession and the communities we serve through collaboration and creating opportunities. All month long we’re sharing resources, activities, and social media content! Follow us @youradha!
Celebrating Dental Hygienists with Colgate
ADHA proudly partners with Colgate to celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month and the dental hygienists who make a lasting impact on oral health every day. Together, we’re advancing the profession through education, innovation, and community outreach.
Explore Colgate’s evidence-based resources, CE opportunities, and inspiring programs that support professional growth and practice excellence — including the RDH Investigates series and other Colgate-supported initiatives designed to empower hygienists everywhere.
Explore NDHM Colgate Events >>
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Open Access All Month – JDH October Issue
Check out the latest research, short reports, plus author videos connecting science to clinical practice. Access the October issue >>
CELEBRATE THROUGHOUT THE MONTH
It’s Week THREE!
Every dental hygienist brings unique skills, compassion, and expertise to patient care—and the power to drive meaningful change. Discover how you can make an impact through advocacy, education, and service. Plus, self-care and professional wellness resources to help you thrive!
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Did you miss the Colgate-sponsored CE session at ADHA25? You can still earn credit and expand your clinical expertise through the on-demand course, “The Power of Fluoride: From Chemistry to Chairside Care.” This session explores the science and practical applications of fluoride in caries prevention, offering evidence-based insights and communication strategies to help you provide personalized care for every patient.
ACCESS THE ON-DEMAND SESSION HERE
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#PostYourPurple on October 10
💜 Thank you for posting your purple! 💜 We loved seeing how you celebrated dental hygiene’s signature color representing compassion, purpose, and inspiration! From purple scrubs to accessories and everything in between, your participation showed the true “Power of Us.” Check out the highlights below!
See Instagram Highlights
See Facebook Highlights
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Discover Your Power to Drive Change in Dental Hygiene
In this Bonus ADHA25 Podversation, each story proves that individual action creates collective change. Derik Sven reveals model legislation for dental hygiene autonomy—a blueprint hygienists can use to advocate in their states. Federal lobbyist Quardricos Driskell shares how to amplify your voice through federal advocacy. Abby Rennau and Dr. Masih show how Foundation scholarships and grants transform careers and change lives by removing financial barriers. Listen Now >>
Guests: Derik J. Sven, MPH, MBA, RDH, CDT, FADHA, President, VDHA; Quardricos Driskell, Federal Lobbyist, Lobbyit; Abby G. Rennau, RDH, BSDH, MEd, Clinical Instructor, Central Community College; Dr. Sonika Masih, BDS, MS, RDH, EdD, Associate Professor, Minnesota State University, Mankato | Host: Matt Crespin, MPH, RDH, FADHA
Contribute to ADHA Advocacy Efforts
Give to Foundation Scholarships & Grants
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Free Webinar: How to Apply for a Community Service Grant
November 18, 2025 | 6 – 7 pm CT
Speaker: Heather Beavers, MM, RDH
Community Service Grants empower dental hygienists to bring meaningful oral health initiatives to life. Join Community Service Grant Review Committee member Heather Beavers, MM, RDH, to learn how to craft a standout application, understand what reviewers seek, and increase your chances of securing funding.
What you do saves lives and makes improves quality of life. This week, explore clinical resources, free CE opportunities, and practice-level innovation that support your prevention expertise and clinical excellence.
Access Clinical Practice Resources
Dive Into Practice-Level Innovation
Explore the Colgate-sponsored 2024 RDH Investigates Case Study webinar — on demand and FREE through October 31 — to see how real-life patient cases translate into stronger clinical decisions. From caries management to homecare strategies, practice workflows, and optimizing whitening recommendations, you’ll gain tangible tools to elevate your preventive care.
ACCESS 2024 RDH INVESTIGATES
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Free CE: Elevate Your Practice
This week, access two FREE CE courses on CE Smart! Explore “How YOU Doin? The Importance of Workplace Culture” to build a high-performing practice environment, and “Changing the Focus of the Recall Visit” to elevate patient care beyond cleaning teeth. Each course offers 1.0 CE credit hour and practical strategies you can implement immediately.
FREE COURSE: HOW YOU DOIN’? WORKPLACE CULTURE
FREE COURSE: CHANGING THE FOCUS OF THE RECALL VISIT
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Clinical Resources at Your Fingertips
Looking for evidence-based clinical content, career guidance, and inspiring stories? Hygienist Hub is your go-to resource for articles, research, and editorial content that supports your practice excellence. Discover tools and insights to enhance patient care and advance your clinical expertise. Explore Hygienist Hub >>
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FREE Mental Health Webinar, October 29, 6:00 – 7:30 pm CT
Don’t miss this powerful FREE webinar. Harry Bruell and Sherri Lukes, RDH, MS, FAADH share personal stories and actionable strategies for integrating mental health screening into dental practice. Learn how to support patients with mental illness, identify barriers to care, and advocate for policy change. 1.5 CE credits. Register Now >>
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Everyday Extraordinary
Explore practical ideas and inspiration from ADHA presidents on career innovation, education, volunteerism, and advocacy for dental hygiene professionals, presented in partnership with Colgate. Use this expert guidance to fuel growth and advancement in your daily practice and professional journey.
NDHM: A time for career innovation
By Erin Haley-Hitz, MS, BSDH, RDH, FADHA, MAADH
NDHM: Education is our calling
By Dawn Ann Dean, MSDH, RDH, CTTS, FADHA
NDHM: An Excellent time to volunteer
By Becky Smith, EdD, CRDH, FADHA
NDHM: Advocacy for your patients, your profession, and yourself
By Lancette VanGuilder, BS, RDH, PHEDH, CEAS, FADHA
WEEK 3: POWER OF PARTNERSHIP
Together, we’re stronger through collaborations that advance our profession – our fellow dental hygienists, our educators, co-workers, industry partners, legislators – these are strategic partnerships that move us forward. What partnerships make your practice stronger?
This week we are grateful for our professional collaborations and advocacy wins!
Colgate Partnership Powers NDHM!
The power of partnership makes meaningful education possible. Through our NDHM collaborations with Colgate® Oral Pharmaceuticals Inc., we bring you a collection of evidence-based clinical resources—from expert case studies on fluoride therapy and xerostomia management to CE opportunities and practical patient care strategies—that strengthen your investigative expertise and clinical practice.
Mobile Dentistry Volunteering During NDHM
Partnership powers community impact. The ADHA Foundation is partnering with Colgate® Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® to offer volunteer opportunities on mobile dental vans throughout National Dental Hygiene Month! These dental offices on wheels create welcoming environments where volunteer professionals provide care and reinforce healthy oral health habits to children in underserved communities. Opportunities available in select states—find your shift and make a difference in your community.
Sign Up to Volunteer During NDHM
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Podversations from ADHA25
Straight from the exhibit floor in Long Beach, listen to the ADHA25 Podversations to hear how ADHA partners with members, industry leaders and peer organizations to elevate the profession, enhance practice, and improve patient oral health in communities nationwide. Listen Now >>
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Professional Partnership Makes the Difference
ADHA’s partnership with Lobbyit – a professional bipartisan lobbying firm that brings both expertise and essential connections – helps open doors to influential committee members who can advance our oral health priorities and creates strategic opportunities for relationship-building with federal policymakers. Read more >>
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Take the Ally Pledge!
Partnership fuels the future. Together with the Foundations of Delta Dental, ADHA created Hygienist Inspired—a chairside recruitment program that empowers dental hygienists, educators and oral health advocates to introduce the RDH career path to patients and community members. Take the pledge to inspire the next generation and help address workforce shortages while improving access to care. Take the Pledge >>
WEEK 4: POWER OF OUR PROFESSION
We’re essential healthcare providers advancing our profession, and expanding our reach. Learn more about the Hygienist Inspired program, how to become an Ally, and how to support the future of our profession.
Become a Hygienist Inspired Ally
Attend the free webinar on 10/29 Mental Health: A Personal Journey and Call to Action
CE Smart offers FREE CE
CE Smart online learning offers over 160 CE Courses. 42 are completely free to ADHA Members and CE Smart Subscribers and worth up to 100 CEs!
The Power of Us
Together, we celebrate, advocate, and advance the dental hygiene profession.
Thank you for being part of this amazing community. We’re at our best, together.
