When you walk in the Oral Cancer Foundation Walks, you join the effort with hundreds of thousands of people to raise awareness and funds that allow the Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF) to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support oral cancer survivors.

Thanks to Walkers and Donors like you, OCF has funded multiple published research that aid in the fight against oral cancer. Click here to learn more and register.

On Friday, May 3rd, 2024 Parkland College and the Dental Hygiene Clinic celebrated 50 years of excellence in training today’s dental caregivers! Festivities included honoring past accomplishments, graduate successes, and service to our district communities. 

Congratulations!

License Renewal for Illinois Dental Hygienists is scheduled for September 30, 2024.  Make sure that you are getting your 36 hours of Continuing Education completed before the end of September.  Mandatory CEs include:

• Mandated Reporter (every 3 years) 
  
• Implicit Bias
  
• CPR
  
• Sexual Harassment 
  

 Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 7:00 PM, there will be an information session regarding the Licensure Compact for dentists and dental hygienists. Legislators are also invited to attend this informative session led by Matt Shafer from the Council of State Governments. He will be reviewing the Compact, giving updates, and answering questions.  Seven states needed to make the compact a reality. Passed in Washington State, Iowa, and Tennessee.

Update on the Licensure Compact January 16, 2024!

Both the Assembly and Senate passed the DDH Compact legislation in Wisconsin today. This legislation now goes to the Governor for his signature.

A hearing was held in Indiana regarding their DDH Compact legislation, and the bill was immediately passed out of committee. No opposition was recorded.

Both Nebraska and Kansas will have hearings on their DDH Compact legislation next week.

Are you unsure about if dental hygienists in IL are allowed by law to see a new patient prior to the dentist exam, and what type of exam is considered the exam? Please read this guidance provided by the IDHA that helps to elaborate this.

On January 29, 2021, The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation invoked their emergency powers to modify the professional license and certification statutes, along with regulations for Illinois licensed dentists to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Unfortunately, this PROCLAMATION did not include dental hygienists. 

In response, IDHA sent out a PRESS RELEASE to share our disappointment that dental hygienists were not included in this proclamation.  It was sent to various news outlets in Illinois.

IDHA sends second letter to Governor Pritzker requesting Executive Order for expanded functions to administer vaccinations during the mass vaccination effort. See letter here.

Dear Illinois Dental Hygienists,