BIO

Jennifer was born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She has been a practicing dental hygienist for over 20 years. In 2018 she received her bachelor’s in dental hygiene, and has since achieved her certification as a tobacco treatment specialist and holds a certificate in Oral Systemic Education through National Network of Healthcare Hygienists. In January of 2019, she and her family moved to Arkansas as she was recruited to develop a dental hygiene role at CARTI Cancer Center and has since taken on the role of manager of the dental department.

Jennifer has dedicated her career and education to helping address the oral health needs of cancer patients. She spent eight years in two hospital setting cancer centers in Colorado, and is now in her fourth year navigating dental care for head and neck cancer patients at CARTI Cancer Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. CARTI’s values and vision have allowed the development of a state-of-the-art dental clinic and full-service dental team. Jennifer focuses her time on patients' dental needs prior to the start of radiation and/or chemotherapy therapy, including clinical hygiene, educating patients on the importance of oral care during treatment, and collaborating with their dental home ensuring they receive recommended post treatment care. Cancer patients face an incredible journey and Jennifer is honored and proud to play a key role in their support and success. 

Aligning with CARTI’s value of innovative approach, the dental clinic is addressing the recognized need for oral health support for all cancer patients and has developed a streamlined protocol for patients at risk for Medication Related Osteonecrosis Necrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ). Most recently, her team has started the development of a multidisciplinary support service clinic, and Jennifer will utilize her TTS certification in the new lung screening program. 

Jennifer strives to continue developing and integrating oral health education and services within the cancer clinic to address access to care. In addition, her hope is to increase interprofessional collaboration between medical and dental teams to improve the patient’s quality of life and overall well-being.

COURSE DESCRIPTION The Initial Dental Assessment on an Oncology Patient with Dr. Megan Reutter

The initial dental appointment involves a multitude of tasks: from learning the patient’s cancer and treatment regimen to educating the patient and caregiver on dental implications, and so much more. From this course, students will be well equipped to conduct the initial assessment appointment with an oncology patient and establish a relationship with them as they begin their cancer journey. This course provides a unique blend of education and personal stories from a dental hygienist specializing in oncology in a hospital setting.  

Objectives 

1. Identify key initial assessment components on an oncology patient.
2. Discover oral health care regimens and appointment sequencing for each type of cancer treatment. (RT, CT, HSCT)
3. Recognize potential workflows for the dental hygienist on an interdisciplinary team.

BIO

Jill has worked in dentistry for 30 years with over 25 years as a clinical Dental Hygienist. She is the founder of Side Effect Support, an online resource for cancer patients, family caregivers, and healthcare providers to reduce harmful oral side effects of treatments, improving quality of life and treatment outcomes. Jill is a 2014 recipient of the Sunstar Americas/RDH Award of Distinction, holds a certificate in Oncology Management, and provides consulting services with Custom Dental Solutions. She is a member of the Registered Dental Hygienist Advisory Board for the Oral Cancer Foundation, the Inside Dental Hygiene Advisory Board, Teethcloud Thought Leaders, and was named as one of the “6 Dental Hygienists You Want to Know” by Dimensions of Dental Hygiene magazine.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

1. Providing Oral Care During Cancer Treatments with Dr. Megan Reutter

Oral mucositis is a common and debilitating complication of cancer therapy. In addition to extreme discomfort, oral mucositis can also lead to increased hospitalizations and mortality rate, compromised nutritional status, and have significant financial burden. This course will provide an evidence-based summary of the clinical presentation, epidemiology, assessment, risk prediction, and current intervention strategies of oral mucositis. Understanding these concepts will allow dental hygienists to provide effective, personalized mucositis interventions and improve the quality of life for patients undergoing cancer therapy. 

Course Objectives:

1. Identify the cause, symptoms, and clinical manifestations of oral mucositis. 
2. Evaluation prevention modalities of oral mucositis.
3. Identify critical education pieces to share with your patient undergoing cancer treatment and their caregiver.

2. Oral Hygiene Modifications & Product Consideration

Oral side effects and untreated dental diseases can cause added pain, financial hardships, and psychological distress for those being treated for cancer. They can also lead to complications or delays in treatments, which can compromise treatment outcomes. Oral changes may have a continued negative impact throughout survivorship.

While highlighting the human element of cancer care and quality of life issues, this presentation will provide tools for a well-rounded approach to optimal patient care through a focus on prevention, patient education, and product selection.

Course Objectives

1. Determine the value of preventive oral care with treatments and survivorship.
2. Identify homecare modifications to reduce complications.
3. Examine product pros and cons.
4. Provide additional resources for continued support.

DESCRIPTION

Orthodontics and craniofacial treatment have the potential to extend far beyond the traditional aims of straightening teeth and correcting the bite. There is now a clear obligation to recognize the relationship between craniofacial structures and sleep-disordered breathing and, equally, to seek out treatments that positively influence the structures governing airway health. Just as important is the recognition that some conventional approaches to achieving traditional orthodontic and craniofacial goals may inadvertently increase a patient's risk of sleep breathing problems.

This presentation offers an accessible, commonsense overview of the orthodontic and craniofacial strategies, some of them unconventional, that aim to improve sleep-disordered breathing while minimizing the risk of adverse health outcomes. Applied thoughtfully, these approaches carry the potential for life-changing benefits to airway function, sleep quality, and overall health.

OBJECTIVES

1. Describe the three general treatment goals of airway and health-centered craniofacial treatment.
2. Identify specific treatment strategies which support these goals, with an emphasis on those that modify the anterior-posterior craniofacial structure.
3. Recognize and describe specific orthodontic mechanics that can be detrimental to the adult airway and overall health.

BIO

Dr. Hockel is a graduate of the UCSF School of Dentistry and, following in his father’s footsteps, has been practicing orthodontics for 26 years. He focuses on treatments which protect or enhance the airway. Having taught an Airway Orthodontics Mini-Residency, he’s also been an instructor for,
and a board member of, and the editor of the Journal of the Academy of Airway and Gnathologic Orthopedics (the AAGO). He’s a founding member of the North American Association for Facial Orthotropics (the NAAFO), and he teaches hands-on orthodontics for the Early Childhood Health-
Centered Orthodontics (or “ECHO”) mentorship with Dr. William Hang, DDS. He has lectured nationally and internationally on non-retractive, health-centered, airway orthodontics. Hobbies include playing bass in two bands, including the Pulmonauts, and poking fun at the view that expansion is our most important airway orthodontic strategy. Dr. Hockel practices and lives in Walnut Creek, California, with his wife Beth and (only) three of their eleven children.

BIO

Roxanne Dsouza-Norwood, MS, RDH, is an assistant professor in the Dental Hygiene Programs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) Adams School of Dentistry, Division of Comprehensive Oral Health. In her current role, she works with dental, undergraduate dental hygiene, and graduate dental hygiene students in research projects, didactic education, and clinical education. She is the second-year dental hygiene clinic director and directs undergraduate dental hygiene honor’s thesis and periodontology courses. She has a background in both education and research and has presented her research nationally. She has also participated in and led several interprofessional initiatives across healthcare disciplines at UNC. She has a passion for interprofessional education and is dedicated to educating compassionate healthcare clinicians dedicated to whole-person centered care. Roxanne is an active member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, North Carolina Dental Hygienists’ Association, American Dental Education Association, president of Sigma Phi Alpha–Xi Chapter, and East Regional Chair of Sigma Phi Alpha–Supreme Chapter.

Course Description

Dental hygienists provide care for patients across all stages of cancer therapy. Following cancer therapy care, should be addressed utilizing an individualized approach of assessing patient goals of care and appropriate recall intervals. Additionally, short-term and long-term considerations following specific cancer therapies must be evaluated in collaboration with the oncology team. This course provides recommendations for dental hygiene providers in the oral care for patients following the completion of cancer therapy. Emphasis will be placed on person-centered and collaborative care. 

Objectives

1. Collaborate with the oncology team and healthcare providers on the current status of cancer treatment.
2. Describe potential short-term and long-term oral health considerations following specific cancer therapies.
3. Provide individualized care for patients who have undergone cancer therapy.
4. Establish an appropriate recall interval.