Understanding the complexities of the brain during oral hygiene instruction, by Heather Wong, RDH, MSDH

Course Description:  By understanding how the brain takes in information and develops new habits, we can accomplish significantly better oral home care routines with our patients. When we deliver home care instructions aimed at memory retention and motivation, using evidence-based behavioral change frameworks, and having knowledge of a broad range of oral homecare tools to recommend, we can truly see the change to healthy gums. This evidence-based approach must involve your clinical judgement, the patient's needs and preferences, and research.

Objectives:

• Identify how the patient's brain processes information during a dental visit in relationship to stress, habit and goal formation, and memory retention.  
• Strategize an individualized patient-centered appointment while implementing different behavior change models.
• Deliver individualized home care recommendations based on the patient's needs.

Get to know the Speaker: Heather Wong, MSDH, RDH has been the Professional Relations Manager for TePe Oral Health Care for over 5 years. She has over 11 years’ experience working clinically as a hygienist in both periodontal and general practices. Heather has been adjunct faculty at both Pacific University and Pasadena Community College, where she currently serves on the advisory board. She has served and supported the American Dental Hygienists’ Association at both the state and local levels as Treasurer, Trustee, and as a delegate, as well as a member of the CDHA. Heather has presented CE lectures with dental hygiene associations (state and national), Western Society of Periodontology, California Society of Periodontology, ADHA, and many webinars with TePe. Her research is focused on homecare and habit formation.  
 
Click the button below to obtain 1 hour CE credit for Heather Wong’s course.

Course Expiration Date: 2/28/2028

AGD Subject Code: 130

Choosing the best tool for cleaning between the teeth, by Heather Wong, RDH, MSDH

Course Description: Helping patients find the products that are right for their motor skills, level of motivation and their level of disease is significant for long-term oral health. Dental professionals should be offering an alternative to floss, as this could impact the prevalence of gingivitis and periodontitis. We will discuss the history of interdental cleaning, the different devices (floss, floss aids, rubber bristle brushes, interdental brushes, and oral irrigators), how to use them, and what type of patient can benefit from each product. By looking at clinical photos, illustrations, videos, frequently asked questions, and research, you will feel confident in giving your homecare recommendations.  

Objectives:

• Appraise literature to understand the efficacy of different interdental devices.
• Explain the differences and indications for use between different interdental devices.
• Deliver proper instructions for the use of different interdental devices.
• Decide individualized home care recommendations based on the patient's needs, your clinical judgement, and research.

Get to know the Speaker: Heather Wong, MSDH, RDH has been the Professional Relations Manager for TePe Oral Health Care for over 5 years. She has over 11 years’ experience working clinically as a hygienist in both periodontal and general practices. Heather has been adjunct faculty at both Pacific University and Pasadena Community College, where she currently serves on the advisory board. She has served and supported the American Dental Hygienists’ Association at both the state and local levels as Treasurer, Trustee, and as a delegate, as well as a member of the CDHA. Heather has presented CE lectures with dental hygiene associations (state and national), Western Society of Periodontology, California Society of Periodontology, ADHA, and many webinars with TePe. Her research is focused on homecare and habit formation.  
 
Click the button below to obtain 1 hour CE credit for Heather Wong’s course.

Course Expiration Date: 10/1/2027

AGD Subject Code: 490

It is time to get off the Scale, Polish, Floss hamster wheel, by Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH

Course Description: The practice of being a dental hygienist has long been focused on calculus removal. But, why? Is calculus the cause of dental disease? What if we stepped off our scale, polish, floss hamster wheel for a moment and really thought about why we are putting a scaler to the tooth? When we are polishing away stains, are we doing more harm than good? What if we rethought our patient care process and placed behavior change and motivation as the most important part of the appointment? If disease prevention is based on at-home biofilm management (amongst other variables), flipping the appointment, and first coaching the patient vs. Leaving it to last could be the change we need. Helping patients prevent their disease is the game we should all be playing, and in this course, we will discuss other therapeutic approaches to patient treatment.  

Objectives:

• Review the traditional dental hygiene appointment vs one that is focused on prevention
• Define motivational interviewing
• Discuss the difference between patient-centered and clinician-centered approaches
• Discuss product options and techniques to meet patients where they are

Get to know the Speaker: Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH, has more than two decades of dental expertise, beginning as a dental assistant and completing a bachelor’s degree in health science from the Medical University of South Carolina and a master’s in dental hygiene education from the University of Bridgeport. She continues to invest in ongoing education, gaining certifications such as her Certificate in Dental Infection Prevention and Control. Her community and global endeavors demonstrate her passion for dentistry, from volunteer work to worldwide missions. She is the owner of Level Up Infection Prevention, MichelleStrangeRDH, a practicing dental hygienist and was the cofounder of A Tale of Two Hygienists podcast.

Click the button below to obtain 1 hour CE credit for Michelle Strange’s course.

Course Expiration Date: 4/30/2026

AGD Subject Code: 490

The Heart of the Matter, by Soren Jepsen, Periodontist, Chair of the Department of Periodontology, Helen Minnery, RDH, & Anna Norhammar, Cardiologist, Professor of Cardiology & Moderator: Lars Rydén, Senior Professor of Cardiology at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Course Description: This is a tri-part lecture and discussion between a cardiologist, a periodontist, and a dental hygienist who will discuss the shared care of patients with cardiovascular disease. The speakers reflect on the past, present, and possible future of multidisciplinary care from each of their disciplines. Providing updates, reassurance, and inspiration to take back into your daily practice, where you are all seeing an increasing number of patients with complex medical histories.

Objectives:

• Be aware of the current research and guidelines that can improve care for patients with cardiovascular disease in general dental practice
• Gain a greater understanding of the links between periodontal diseases and cardiovascular disease

Get to know the Speakers: Anna Norhammar, Professor of Cardiology at Karolinska Institute and a senior physician at Capio S:t Görans hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. Professor Norhammar will share new data from the follow-up on the PAROKRANK study on the association between periodontal disease and myocardial infarction and the association between periodontal disease and undiagnosed diabetes.

Søren Jepsen, Chair of the Department of Periodontology, Operative and Preventive Dentistry at the University Medical Centre in Bonn, Germany. Professor Jepsen was a part of the working group of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) & World Heart Foundation’s (WHF) consensus meeting and will share parts of it.

Helen Minnery works in a practice in Liverpool, lectures regularly, and is the past President of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy and currently works in South Liverpool in the U.K. Mrs. Minnery has worked closely alongside general dentists, implantologists, and periodontists for the past three decades and will share her pragmatic risk assessment approach to the care of her patients with complex medical histories

Click the button below to obtain 1 hour CE credit for The Heart of the Matter CE course.

Course Expiration Date: 11/30/2025

AGD Code: 130

2 CE Credit (only for this course)

Tuition: Complementary
1 CE Credit
Educational Method: Self-Instruction
Educational Type: Recorded Webinar Online
Prerequisites: None

Sponsor: TePe Oral Health Care, Inc.
Course Contact: info.usa@tepe.com
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Affiliated and/or Associated with TePe Oral Health Care, Inc.

TePe Oral Health Care, Inc.
Nationally Approved PACE Program Provider for FAGD/MAGD credit.
Approval does not imply acceptance by any regulatory authority or AGD endorsement.
4/1/2024 to 3/31/2028. Provider ID# 334410

Get to know the Speaker: Heather Wong, MSDH, RDH has been the Professional Relations Manager for TePe Oral Health Care for over 5 years. She has over 11 years’ experience working clinically as a hygienist in both periodontal and general practices. Heather has been adjunct faculty at both Pacific University and Pasadena Community College, where she currently serves on the advisory board. She has served and supported the American Dental Hygienists’ Association at both the state and local levels as Treasurer, Trustee, and as a delegate, as well as a member of the CDHA. Heather has presented CE lectures with dental hygiene associations (state and national), Western Society of Periodontology, California Society of Periodontology, ADHA, and many webinars with TePe. Her research is focused on homecare and habit formation.

Utilizing Digital Technology During Oral Hygiene Instruction

Speaker: Heather Wong, MSDH, RDH

Course Description: Use of AI for the dental professional may seem obscure or scary—but what if it actually helps us become more calibrated, connected, and thoughtful? The use of AI and digital tools within the dental workflow can increase patient compliance and make the patient-provider relationship more impactful. There has been a digital transformation in dentistry with practice management software, diagnostic tools, treatment planning, and even tools to enhance the patient experience. We will explore digital tools dental professionals can utilize to enhance patient education and improve patient homecare outcomes. We will focus on motivation, skill, knowledge, accountability, habitual routines, and current trends. By incorporating digital technology, we can contribute to lifelong oral health for each patient.

Course Objectives:

• Gain an understanding of the current landscape of patients, ourselves, and current digital trends.
• Strategize how digital technologies can be utilized in dentistry
• Integrate digital technologies chairside to assist with behavioral change and prevention of oral disease.

AGD Code: 550

Join Tuesday, July 22nd at 3pm PST

Join Friday, July 25th at 10am PST

Get to know the Speaker: Jessica L. Woods, MPH, RDH, FADHA, Founder, seeks to empower the dental industry to a bright future by inspiring clinicians to reignite their careers. A 20-year veteran in the industry, she is a clinical product expert, thought leader, non-profit practice owner and sought-after mentor. Woods has spoken to thousands of dental professions across the country offering her unique experiences implementing dental prevention programs and has lead product go-to-market strategies from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. She consults as a thought leader for programs across the nation and a nationally recognized speaker, staying on the cutting edge of topics ranging from public health practice, mental wellness, implant dentistry, and caries management.

Affectionately known as the #ExecutiveRDH, she has scaled her way to the boardroom since graduation from West Coast University with Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene and master’s degree in public health from A.T. Still University. She has most recently been selected at the Denobi Awards as the 2025 Thought Leader of the Year. She has been recognized as the 50 Top Teledentistry Leaders, recognized as an Oral Health Champion, and the recipient of the Nevada Dental Hygienist of the Year. She is also past-President of the Nevada Dental Hygienists’ Association accepted as a Fellow of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association.

Implants for Life: Unlocking Longevity Through Maintenance

Speaker: Jessica L. Woods, MPH, RDH, FADHA

Course Description: This comprehensive course designed for dental professionals seeking to elevate their understanding and execution of implant maintenance protocols. With dental implants becoming a standard in restorative care, maintaining their health is crucial for long-term success and patient satisfaction. This course explores the latest evidence-based strategies for monitoring, maintaining, and managing dental implants in clinical practice. Participants will gain practical insights into early detection of complications, effective maintenance techniques, and patient education to support optimal peri-implant health. Whether you're a seasoned clinician or new to implant care, this course will equip you with the tools to preserve implant integrity and improve patient outcomes.

Course Objectives:

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

• Identify the biological and mechanical factors that contribute to long-term implant success and failure.
• Differentiate between peri-implant health, mucositis, and peri-implantitis, including diagnostic criteria and clinical presentation.
• Describe evidence-based maintenance protocols for dental implants, including instrumentation, frequency of care, and adjunctive therapies.
• Demonstrate proper techniques and tools for implant debridement that minimize risk of surface damage.
• Recognize early signs of implant complications and outline appropriate referral or treatment pathways.
• Develop patient-centered education strategies to promote optimal home care and compliance with implant maintenance.

AGD Code: 690

Join Friday, June 20th at 10am PST

Tuition: Complementary
1 CE Credit
Educational Method: Lecture
Educational Type: Live Online Webinar
Prerequisites: None

Sponsor: TePe Oral Health Care, Inc.
Course Contact: info.usa@tepe.com
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Affiliated and/or Associated with TePe Oral Health Care, Inc.

TePe Oral Health Care, Inc.
Nationally Approved PACE Program Provider for FAGD/MAGD credit.
Approval does not imply acceptance by any regulatory authority or AGD endorsement.
4/1/2024 to 3/31/2028. Provider ID# 334410

Women and dry mouth—possible causes and hydrating solutions by Michaela von Geijer, DDS & Lina Kanters, MSc RDH.
Objectives: Understand the function of saliva, signs and symptoms of dry mouth, gain knowledge about how changes in hormone levels can impact oral health, and better understand how less saliva my influence oral health.
This course does not offer CE credit due to the length.

Challenges and opportunities in treating severe periodontitis—a patient-case-based webinar, by Dr. Aleksandar Milosavljevic, Periodontist and Assistant Professor.
Objectives: Treatment of periodontitis requires teamwork, motivation, and clinical skills but most importantly it requires a patient-tailored approach. Explore several treatment modalities, from behavioral change to complex surgical intervention using the EFP (European Federation of Periodontology) Guidelines.

A Product Is Born by Sophia Verheij-Engqvist, MSc  
in Business Administration and Economics & Karl-Johan Grudemo, MSc in Mechanical Engineering.
Objectives: Understand the sustainable product development process. Some products discussed in this video are not available for the U.S. market at this time.
This course does not offer CE credit.

Sustainability: A Journey that Matters by Julia Lonnegren, TePe Sustainability Manager
Objectives: Explore essential frameworks and tools to make informed decisions about sustainability.
This course does not offer CE credit.

Championing proactive measures for people, profit, and the planet by Dr. Brett Duane.
Objectives: Raise awareness about the interconnectedness of people, profit, and the planet. Discover a sustainable approach from a business and healthcare perspective.
This course does not offer CE credit.

TePe Specialty Brushes by Anna Nilveus Olofsson, DDS, Michaela von Geijer, DDS & Lina Kanters, MSc RDH.
Understand TePe’s specialty brushes, with guidance on how to use them and why the brush would be beneficial for specific cases. This course does not offer CE credit.