conference education
conference education
stories. This will include where they are practicing, their clinical interests, special skills and expertise, how they fit into their dental teams, the patient populations they serve, and any special projects, leadership activities, and unique teams they are involved with. Following this program attendees will be able to describe a non-profit organization that championed the establishment of dental therapy and employs dental therapists in Minne- sota. Discuss the role and activities of dental therapists in several practice settings, serv- ing various patient populations, and undertaking leadership activities within a non-profit organization. And, explain how integral the role of each dental therapist is to the oral healthcare team, specialty program, and overall non-profit organization. Intended audience: Dental therapists, administrators, researchers, anyone interested in dental therapy research. Alyssa Klugman began her dental career in 2013 as a dental assistant. She now holds a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene and Master of Sci- ence in Advanced Dental Therapy, graduating as a member of the 2020 class at Metropolitan State University. Alyssa has worked with Apple Tree Dental in Fergus Falls since 2020, commuting an hour to work from hometown of Wheaton, MN, demonstrat- ing both her commitment to increasing access to care for this non-profit’s largely public program patient population and dental therapy’s positive impact for rural areas of the state. As a dual licensed dental hygienist and advanced dental therapist, Alyssa provides pa- tient care in clinic and mobile settings. Apple Tree’s mobile dental offices, portable equip - ment set up inside partnering community organizations, where she provides screenings, exams, preventive and restorative treatment to students in preschool, elementary and high schools in this rural region. Often, her dual licensed scope of practice includes all needed services. When advanced treatment is required, she is able to refer patients to her colleague dentists at Apple Tree. Her practice also includes teledentistry and she is a key member of Apple Tree’s pediatric team in Fergus Falls. This intra-professional outreach approach meets patients’ needs while minimizing transportation, time off, and other barriers to care.
Dr. Flynn (she/her) is Associate Professor in the Division of Dental Hy- giene. Professional experiences include dental hygiene, dental public health, and community health education. She has experience in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate dental hygiene and dental therapy students. Her primary research interests are health equity and oral health literacy. She previously served on the Minnesota Board of Dentistry and is currently an examiner for CDCA-WREB-CITA.She has served on The American Dental Association Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations Community Dental Health Curriculum Test Construction Committee since 2015. She is on the Journal of Dental Hygiene Editorial Board. Her background in public health includes co-founded the Network for Women’s Life and Health, a non-profit com - munity organization serving low-resource women and their families in Southeastern Min- nesota and Southwestern Wisconsin. Prior to joining the School of Dentistry faculty, she was the coordinator of the Office of Women’s Health at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN for 10 years and designed the public health curriculum for Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. Breakout Session: Stories from the Field: Highlighting Dental Therapists Practicing at Apple Tree Dental Friday, October 6, 2023 | 2:50 pm - 3:30 pm (.50 CDE) Presenter: Alyssa Klugman, ADT, LDH Apple Tree Dental is a nonprofit dental organization, in its 38th year, with 9 Centers for Dental Health across Minnesota along with a robust mobile and community outreach program. Apple Tree Dental was a key proponent of Dental Therapy legislation in Min- nesota. After Minnesota became the first state to authorize dental therapy practice in 2009, Apple Tree was one of the first employers of dental therapists upon licensing in 2012. Over the last 11 years Apple Tree has employed 21 different dental therapists and currently has 13 dental therapists on their teams across the state. All of our dental therapists have unique roles in our organization based on their settings, location, clinical interests, expertise, and skills. Our dental therapists practice in urban and rural settings. Some of are practicing at centers located in hospitals or at community sites utilizing mo- bile equipment. We have dental therapists who work closely with our specialist teams, utilizing teledentistry and other innovations such as minimally invasive dentistry.
This presentation will highlight 2-3 dental therapists in our organization and share their
Alyssa is on the Advisory Board Committee for the North Dakota State College of Sci-
Annual Conference Guide 2023
Page 46
Annual Conference Guide 2023
Page 47
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