Hello to all my Colleagues and Welcome to the ODHA Website!

I am very excited and nervous about what this new year has in store for you and me.  I have been preparing myself over the last several years to lead this organization on a very active and productive year that will change what the profession of dental hygiene will look like for all dental hygienists in Oklahoma.  I want to thank Angie Dakin for her leadership this past year and laying the path for my journey.

As I prepared this year for a theme, I came across a picture of a beautiful butterfly. It got me thinking about where we have been, where we are and what we can become. The butterfly begins life as a caterpillar. As the caterpillar grows, it builds a cocoon and eventually encapsulates itself within it. Overtime the caterpillar changes and emerges from the cocoon as a butterfly.  As hygienists, we have been going through the years as preventive co-therapist in harmony with dentists. We have discovered how dental hygienists have been a significant contributor to the overall health of our patients by helping them achieve and maintain oral health. Now it is time for us to emerge from our cocoon of the private dental office and open doors so everyone can access preventive dental care.