Dental Hygiene Highway

Navigating Airway Health

A conference for the elevation of dental hygienists

You are invited to our upcoming virtual conference, the Dental Hygiene Highway: Navigating Airway Health. As the premier event in the field of dental hygiene, this conference is meticulously curated to provide you with a transformative learning experience, equipping you with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to excel in the dynamic realm of airway health.

The Dental Hygiene Highway conference promises a comprehensive agenda designed to enrich your professional knowledge and expand your horizons:

In-depth Learning: Earn up to 5CE while immersing yourself in cutting-edge presentations and workshops covering a wide range of topics, including the role of myofunctional therapy in pediatric dental care, the impact of oral myofunctional disorders on overall health, and the latest advancements in oral cancer screening techniques.
Interactive Sessions: Engage with our expert speakers and fellow attendees through live Q&A sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Share your insights, ask questions, and collaborate with like-minded professionals from around the globe.
Recording Access: Enjoy the ability to watch and rewatch lectures with exclusive member access to conference recordings for up to 3 months!
Exclusive Membership Offer: As a special incentive for conference attendees, we are pleased to offer complimentary inclusion of annual Silver membership to join the International Association of Airway Hygienists (IAAH). Enjoy access to a wealth of benefits, including up to 12 CE credits annually, mentorship opportunities, social networking events, and promotional discounts.

Speakers & Agenda

We are honored to present an esteemed lineup of speakers who are pioneers and thought leaders in the fields of myofunctional therapy and airway health:

9:00 - 10:00 AM

Oral Cancer Screening: “It’s More Than Grasping the Tongue”

Join oral cancer screening coach Susan Cotten BSDH, RDH, OMT, in this content-rich, engaging presentation that dives into the components of a comprehensive head and neck evaluation. Using a combination of instructional screening videos, photos, and case presentations, attendees will leave with actionable steps to implement a comprehensive screening. Attendees will gain an understanding of how screening for oral cancer, myofunctional disorders, and sleep-disordered breathing can be achieved simultaneously.

10:00 - 11:00 AM

A Revolution in Children’s Dental Evolution: How to Influence Children’s Oral Health Without a Scaler

Joy Lantz

Dentistry has evolved in the past to including oral-systemic links. Currently, the focus is on sleep, airway and myofunctional therapy. There is one group that has been left to the wayside; the infant and toddler population. We are missing a big link to future problems by waiting on seeing these children. The future of dental hygiene and oral health is early disease prevention before needing a scaler. You will never think about your job the same. Instead of dreading seeing young kids on your schedule, you will see these as the most important appointments of the day knowing you are impacting these children’s oral health and future.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Look Before You Leap: Avoiding Common OMT Pitfalls

Angie Lehman

OMT as a career path for RDHs is trending right now! Many hygienists have taken a leap of faith and signed up for an Introductory course only to find themselves confused and overwhelmed by information that conflicts with their expectations. This course will give new and prospective RDH/OMTs a strong foundation and solid footing as we explore five common misconceptions about the field of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy.

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Dr. Sandra Kahn TBD

Susan Cotten

BS, RDH, OMT

Susan Cotten BS, RDH, OMT, is CEO of Oral Cancer Consulting, she is an international speaker and developed the “Cotten Method”, an oral cancer screening method. She speaks on oral cancer and holds hands-on oral cancer screening workshops for dental professionals who want to have more confidence in screening, reduce the risk of liability, and increase early detection. In her career, Susan has performed over 60 thousand oral cancer screenings.

Susan is the Dental Lead for the Alliance for HPV Free Colorado, a 2018 Sunstar RDH Award of Distinction recipient, RDH Advisory Board member at the Oral Cancer Foundation, Instructor at the National Network of Healthcare Hygienists, and a Director with Dental Codeology Consortium. On a personal note, she is a former country dance competitor, loves watching college football, and walking the beaches of Hawaii.

Sandra Kahn

DDS, MSD

Dr. Sandra Kahn, D.D.S., M.S.D., a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, has made significant contributions to the fields of craniofacial development and airway health. She has been actively engaged in craniofacial panels at prestigious institutions such as UCSF and Stanford University.

Dr. Kahn is a prolific author, having penned several influential works including "Let's Face it: A Guide to Optimal Health, Facial and Dental Development," "GOPex: Good Oral Posture Exercises," "Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic," "Breathe 4.0," and "Forwardontics Protocols." Notably, she has translated Prof. John Mew´s seminal work "The Cause and Cure of Malocclusion" for wider dissemination.

Dr. Kahn's research has been published in indexed journals spanning anthropology, otolaryngology, and more recently, BioScience, showcasing her multidisciplinary approach and dedication to advancing scientific knowledge.

Dr. Kahn is the founder and CEO of Forwardontics.

Angie Lehman

RDH, COM

Angie Lehman is an IAOM Certified Orofacial Myologist (COM) who has been exclusively practicing Orofacial Myology since 2012 in York, Pennsylvania. She runs one of America’s most successful and well-known private practices, Oral Myofunctional Therapy of York. Angie is a highly sought-after educator for medical, dental and allied health professionals and she is passionate to encourage all health disciplines to work collaboratively and to better understand oral function and craniofacial development and to incorporate therapy into their specific areas of care.

Joy Lantz

RDH, PHDH, COM, IBCLC

Joy Lantz, RDH, PHDH, COM, IBCLC has over 25 years of experience in the dental field with a background in dental hygiene. She is a myofunctional therapist and lactation consultant in a local dental office. She is a national speaker presenting courses on anticipatory guidance, collaboration for patient care and myofunctional therapy. Her passion is to assist dental and medical professionals to work together in screening and treating for oral myofunctional disorders and overall health. She also thrives on bringing education and awareness to dental professionals, patients and parents regarding myofunctional issues. She can be found at JoyLantz.com.