Speakers: Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, RDH, PhD, FSCDH & JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AAFAAOM, FADHA

Program Track: Clinical

Course Description: Dental hygienists are the cornerstone of periodontal disease prevention — and increasingly, the clinical expert that patients and practices rely on to translate evidence into action. Yet with nearly 1 billion people affected by periodontal disease worldwide, the gap between what the science tells us and what happens chairside remains significant. This webinar is designed to close that gap. Dr. Ann Eshenaur Spolarich and Dr. JoAnn Gurenlian present the new ADHA 2026 whitepaper on periodontal disease prevention, equipping you with the clinical knowledge and decision-making frameworks to strengthen your impact at chairside — and beyond. You'll leave with practical tools to sharpen your clinical decision-making, deepen the conversations you're having with patients about home care, and elevate your role as an essential partner in the practice.

Learning Objectives:

• Examine the evidence behind the burden of periodontal disease and gingivitis — including the critical role of at-home care in complementing professional treatment visits, what current guidelines tell us, and how this elevates the hygienist's role as an essential clinical partner in the practice.
• Explore how to apply the P4 medicine framework to personalize preventive hygiene care, including recommending a comprehensive brush, floss, rinse regimen for patients most at risk of early periodontal disease.
• Discover practical tools and strategies to translate the evidence into meaningful chairside conversations that support patient behavior change and long-term adherence to home care.

CE Credit Hours: 1.5

Original Date of Session: April 29, 2026

The American Dental Hygienists' Association is designated as an approved provider by the American Academy of Dental Hygiene, Inc. #AADHADH (Jan. 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2026). Approval does not imply acceptance by a state or provincial Board of Dentistry. Licensee should maintain this document in the event of an audit.

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association is an approved provider of dental continuing education as recognized by the Dental Board of California, Provider #5238.