School of Dentistry represents at ADHA Annual Conference

Representatives from the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry Department of Periodontics and Dental Hygiene recently participated in the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) 2025 Annual Conference, held Oct. 4-6 in Long Beach, Calif. The three-day event brought together dental hygiene professionals from across the country to share knowledge, celebrate achievements, and support the growth of the field.

Attendees from the School of Dentistry included Victoria Patrounova, RDH, MHA, associate professor; Lejini Roy, RDH, practicing dental hygienist; and Cindy Nguyen, a second-year dental hygiene student.

Patrounova contributed to the conference’s educational programming with two keynote presentations:

• “The Power of Fluoride: From Chemistry to Chairside Care,” exploring the science behind fluoride and its practical applications in clinical settings.
• “Weight Matters: Navigating Obesity in Dental Practice,” addressing the intersection of oral health and systemic conditions, with a focus on obesity-related challenges in dental care.

Roy was honored as a recipient of the prestigious Dr. Esther Wilkins Scholarship, which recognizes outstanding graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence and are preparing for a career in dental hygiene education.

As an ADHA grant recipient, Cindy Nguyen volunteered at the ADHA Foundation booth, engaging attendees to promote membership, raise awareness, and encourage donations in support of the association’s mission.

Nguyen serves as the 2025 District IX Student Delegate to the ADHA, where she has the opportunity to participate in the student voting body setting the policy and direction for the dental hygiene profession.

Also attending the conference was School of Dentistry Master of Dental Hygiene candidate, Kristen Valenzuela, RDH, BSDH, who held a research presentation titled “Assessing and Enhancing Oral Health Literacy in Community Dental Clinics: A Retrospective Review and Future Directions” as part of the graduate student clinician program. She was also selected as one of the ADHA social media ambassadors for the conference.

The ADHA works to support dental hygienists and advance the dental hygiene profession by developing new career paths, expanding opportunities for care, and providing the latest training and information. The ADHA Annual Conference serves as a vital platform for continuing education, networking, and advocacy within the dental hygiene community.