President's Message: Tomika Johnson-Flowers, MPH, BSDH, RDH

January 2025
Guided by Tradition, Driven by Innovation 

Thank you, Illinois Dental Hygienists Association, for allowing me to serve as president for the 2024-2025 year. I do not take this position lightly. Your trust and support are invaluable. I would like to give thanks to those who have helped guide me throughout my career, which ultimately led me here. From educators who encouraged me to employers who nudged and facilitated opportunities for growth, to my family who stood by me and friends who inspired me, thank you all. 

To our immediate past president, Lori McNamara, thank you for your guidance and direction over the past year. Your unwavering commitment has not gone unnoticed. 

It goes without saying, it is through the dedication and hard work of current and past leadership that we remain a beacon for all Illinois dental hygienists. Thank you for leading with purpose and for empowering all of us to achieve great things together. 

To the wonderful dental hygienists who no longer practice, your experience is invaluable. I would like to take a moment to encourage you to continue your dental hygiene journey through mentorship and advocacy. We can use the past to create a better future for the profession of dental hygiene. 

To the new dental hygiene graduates, congratulations on your accomplishment, and remember: together, we can achieve even more. 

To current dental hygiene students, you are fearless and strong. You are traveling a road used by many. Seek answers, provide solutions, build legacies, and most of all, keep going. 

It is my passion as a dental hygienist to advocate for access to care for all communities, not just those who can afford it. In order to move in this direction, we will need to increase our scope of practice, lobby for support, be ready and able to provide clinical services, and educate stakeholders. It is my hope that through access to care, we can reach all Illinois dental hygienists through professional development and association. Whether you are in private practice, public health, education, technology, or regulation, we can all agree oral health is required for overall health. The Illinois Dental Hygienists Association has a place for you. 

Together, guided by tradition and driven by innovation, we will continue to elevate our profession, expand our reach, and make a lasting impact.

Thank you.

Tomika Johnson-Flowers

October, 2024

Hello Illinois Hygienists! 

It’s Dental Hygiene Month! Without dental hygienists, periodontal disease and halitosis would be rampant, toothless grins would be the norm, and there would be limited brushing and flossing! Thank goodness for our profession! Do not ever forget that we are an integral part of the dental team, whether you are in an office that you are appreciated in or not. 

Thank you to the dental hygienists that attended the “On the Cusp” webinar on September 11, 2024. I was happy to see so many hygienists that were interested in our topics, and for the insightful discussions. We are planning to have (perhaps) monthly events on different topics related to dental hygiene. See the event that is scheduled on Monday, October 28, 2024 regarding Illinois Laws. If there is a particular topic that you would like to see addressed, please email to mail@idha.net with your ideas. We would love to hear them! We are also planning a BOTOX Information session in November, so we can learn about neuromodulation. 

Next year is an important year for Illinois Dental Hygienists, as it is Sunset. This is where the Dental Practice Act is reviewed by IDFPR, IDHA, and ISDS. Although, rules for administration of practice acts can be amended at any point in time, Sunset is the key time when legislators can evaluate how a profession is regulated. 

We will be working hard to maintain our scope of practice for all Illinois Hygienists. It is very important for all hygienists to visit their legislators, and support IDHA and yourselves during this time. Many people ask what ADHA and IDHA does for them. We do not see the tangible, instant gratification of membership, although we pay our dues. I am reaching out requesting all hygienists to take an active part in our association. When we sit down and discuss the Dental Practice Act with ISDS and IDFPR, we will be fighting for the scope of practice that we currently have. Throughout the country we are seeing Expanded Function Dental Assistants taking on more responsibilities. In Minn and Oregon, dental assistants can administer local anesthesia. (With indirect supervision by the dentist in Oregon). If we do not support each other, and our association, we could lose scope of practice. Whether you are a paying member of IDHA or not, the Illinois Dental Hygienists’ Association is working hard to protect our PROFESSION in Illinois. This is a crucial time to show support for our licenses! Check our webpage for information or email any questions to mail@idha.net. 

IDHA Annual Session is scheduled for November 8-9,2024 at College of DuPage, in Glen Ellyn. This event is open to members, non-members and dental hygiene students. We would love to meet you at this informative, educational event. Attend to meet your state leadership! 

Illinois Department of Public Health Oral Health Division has scheduled townhall meetings throughout the state. Use this opportunity to voice your concerns regarding patient access to care in your area. See the attached flyer for information.

June, 2024

Happy Summer! 

We are quickly going through the summer which means that I am half-way

through my presidential term. Time is flying for all of us! I am realizing that there are so many things that need attention to keep this association running. In talking to hygienists, I often ask them why or why not they are ADHA, IDHA members. So many interesting answers! But the most common one is that IDHA does nothing for me. We all have the need for instant gratification, or to visually “see” what we are getting for our money regarding membership. I wish that things were as simple as letting hygienists administer BOTOX (wave magic wand and it happens). There is a lot of background work that goes into everything that we are allowed to do as a clinician. As hygienists, we don’t “See” the preliminary work, we just hear the results and don’t think about the events that lead up to the result. Kind of like a baseball game. You hear the final score, but don’t see the outs in every inning, the pitches or catches, stolen bases that happen. Yet that is the important work that leads to the final outcome.

I get it. For many years, I was not a member yet, here I am. This is the right time for me to be involved and try and make things better for Illinois RDHs. I would not be in this position if not for my hygiene tribe. So many of us work clinically in private practice where we have our team, and feel a bit isolated. Membership brings you the opportunity to be part of a large social hygiene group. The Facebook groups don’t count. There is a lot of misinformation out there.

Consider traveling to ADHA Annual Conference (in NOLA next month), or RDHUOR (in Denver next month, which is sold out ). By attending these meetings with my hygiene tribe, I have reignited my passion for all things dental, made me excited to learn about new techniques, materials, the licensure compact. Plus traveling with these hygienists has made so many happy memories, opened so many different doors by networking. I now have made hygiene friends throughout the country. I highly recommend that you consider going to one of the big conferences to experience hygiene being recognized and applauded for all we do. And, of course, to have a good time. If an annual conference is not in the cards this year, please think about coming to the IDHA Annual Session on November 8-9, 2024 in Glen Ellyn at the College of DuPage. We would love to see you!

Its time to get involved in your profession by being a member. Illinois is a big state and we want to hear from all RDHs about your dreams for your career, your concerns about DAs coronally scaling, lack of access to care for children and geriatrics. Become a part of the puzzle and let’s create a beautiful picture for Illinois hygienists!!!

May, 2024

Hello Fellow Dental Hygienists!

It is Cicada time!!! 

The little buggers are climbing up the trees and tires, and leaving their little exoskeletons everywhere by me. Soon the noise will drown out all other summer noises. 

CONGRATULATIONS to all our 2024 Dental Hygiene Graduates! We are so proud of all of you. Know that IDHA is here for you to mentor you in this next chapter of your profession. Reach out with questions, and remember to join us on Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 7:00-8:30 for “Tips for Securing your First Hygiene Position” with Carol Jahn. This FREE event, is courtesy of the SADHA Chapters of IDHA. Click on the link to get to registration.

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2023518548616654943

I was recently in California, visiting my daughter. I had the opportunity to go on a whale watching cruise (2 hours). I was lucky enough to see a stampede of dolphins, which is so exciting and beautiful to watch. We also were lucky and saw not one, but THREE blue whales. According to National Geographic:

“The blue whale is the largest animal on the planet, weighing as much as 200 tons (approximately 33 elephants). The blue whale has a heart the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. Its stomach can hold one ton of krill and it needs to eat about four tons of krill each day. They are an endangered species. According to the cruise I was on, only 1% of the population has seen a blue whale.”

At the end of the whale watching cruise, I received a button stating that I am now part of the 1% Club—meaning that only 1% of the population of humans has actually seen a blue whale out in the wild.

Why am I writing about this? It made me realize that as dental hygienists, we are a unique bunch. We have a skill that not just anyone has. We worked hard (so hard) for our education, our license, and continue to take continuing education to keep up on the evidence-based information that is out there regarding dentistry. Being in this unique group, it is important to realize that we can do so much good sharing our knowledge not only to our patients, but also at health fairs, volunteering at access to care events (ie, Free clinics, Teamsmile, Colgate Bright.

Smiles Bright Futures, Crest/Oral B Closing the Smile Gap, Mission of Mercy.) Non dental persons can volunteer at these events, but ONLY the dental hygienist can perform the preventive tasks that can help make someone’s mouth healthier, which can then make their overall health better. Doing what we do naturally can make a difference in a person’s life. We may not see the ah-ha moment or the results of what we did, but just giving one little pearl or making the effort can sometimes really change a person’s perspective.

We have multiple health fairs scheduled this summer and fall. We hope that you will contact us to perhaps share your “pearls” at an event near you!

Happy summer to all!!

April, 2024

The lilacs are starting to bloom, could it finally be spring? 

IDHA has been busy working for the Illinois Dental Hygienists! Legislation is still going on, we are waiting to see the next steps for our bill in the senate. AS of yesterday, there are now 7 states that have passed the compact, making it a reality. We will continue to put Illinois joining this compact as a goal for IDHA. Talking to your legislators will help them to understand better what this bill is about. There is a lot of misinformation out there. If you have any questions, please reach out. Go to https://ddhcompact.org/ for the most updated information.  

With the warm weather, health fairs and dental education opportunities arrive. We have a couple health fairs we plan on attending and are always happy to have volunteers. If you know of a health fair, or would like to volunteer, reach out to publichealthidha@gmail.com. 

Keep an eye on the events calendar at https://idha.net/ to see the schedule and volunteer.  

IDHA is planning a new graduate Continuing education opportunity! Sponsored by the Membership committee. All SADHA members are invited.  

Come listen to Carol Jahn discuss Tips for Securing Your First RDH Position on May 30, 2024 7:00 PM CDT. See flyer below with link to register.

Event is free, no CEUs. Even seasoned RDHs will benefit from this information.  

Coming up soon is one of my personal favorite holidays and in keeping with the Star Wars theme, 

MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU!!!!