Certified PressDental Assisting National Board, Inc. Vol. 37, Issue 1 • Spring 2018

NELDA® • CDA® • COA® • CPFDA® • CRFDA® • CDPMA® • COMSA®

CelebrateDental

AssistingExcellence

Dental Assistants Recognition WeekMarch 4-10, 2018

Katharine J. Noble, CDA, CRFDA, SSgt Maine Air National Guard DANB Board Chair

Name/State Certification YearMary Barrera, COMSA-Emeritus, Olmito, TX 1984Kay Bedard, CDA-Emeritus, Midlothian, TX 1993Jean Boyle, CDA-Emeritus, Somerville, MA 1985Patsy Cayton, CDA-Emeritus, Clyde, NC 1992Hiedi Chmiel, CDA-Emeritus, Painesville, OH 2002Sheila Clayton, CDA-Emeritus, Roxboro, NC 1976Jillian Cook, CDA-Emeritus, Knightstown, IN 1981Jane Culbreth, CDA-Emeritus, Landrum, SC 1972Rosanna Currier, CDA-Emeritus, Lancaster, NH 1987Talela Davis, CDA-Emeritus, Columbus, GA 2006Karen Einsle, CDA-Emeritus, Littleton, CO 1976Christine Elio, COA-Emeritus, Matawan, NJ 2000Terri Ellefritz, CDA-Emeritus, Carthage, IL 1975Marla Fischer, CDA-Emeritus, Fond du Lac, WI 1979Pamela Ford, CDA-Emeritus, COA-Emeritus, Hagerstown, MD 2007Deborah Star Fraites, CDA-Emeritus, Bethel, CT 1979Loretta Garemore, CDA-Emeritus, Long Beach, CA 1980Connice Garrett, CDA-Emeritus, Sarasota, FL 1982Kathy Gibson, CDA-Emeritus, Carbondale, IL 1981Frances Gonzales, CDA-Emeritus, San Antonio, TX 1988Diane Grondin, CDA-Emeritus, Weymouth, MA 1972Janelle Grover, CDA-Emeritus, Bella Vista, AR 1976Deborah Hickman, CDA-Emeritus, Charlottesville, VA 1998Jean Holscher, CDA-Emeritus, Ankeny, IA 1974Peggy Huddleston, CDA-Emeritus, Saint Marys, OH 1986Patsy Klein, CDA-Emeritus, COMSA-Emeritus, 1979

CDPMA-Emeritus, St Joseph, MOCindy Lindner, CDA-Emeritus, Columbus, GA 2010

Name/State Certification YearLinda Michalski, CDA-Emeritus, Lakeland, FL 1983Lynn Mokrovich, CDPMA-Emeritus, Erlanger, KY 1987Alice Morrison, CDA-Emeritus, Flemington, NJ 2005Margaret Murrell, CDA-Emeritus, Stuart, FL 1989Deanna Nagel, CDA-Emeritus, Minot, ND 1977Rebecca Norwalk, CDA-Emeritus, Crete, IL 1994Deborah Ohara, CDA-Emeritus, Clarksville, TN 2007Patricia Palladino, CDA-Emeritus, Lindenhurst, NY 2009Cynthia Palmer, CDA-Emeritus, COMSA-Emeritus, Gordon, AL 1988Annie Peeples, CDA-Emeritus, Dora, AL 2002Celeste Perkins, COA-Emeritus, Pittsfield, MA 1986Annette Peters, CDA-Emeritus, White Rock, NM 1982Lesa Reeves, CDA-Emeritus, Sparta, GA 1996Lynne Rosenbloom, CDA-Emeritus, Stoughton, MA 1975Deborah Russo, CDA-Emeritus, Morganville, NJ 1991Priscilla Ryals, CDA-Emeritus, Albany, GA 1981Susan Schwartz, CDA-Emeritus, Cheshire, CT 1982Margaret Sieber, CDA-Emeritus, Lincoln, NE 1967Lucinda Spicer, CDA-Emeritus, Salem, OR 1976Pamela Stoltz, CDA-Emeritus, Kent, OH 1979Kirsten Taylor, CDA-Emeritus, Mapleton, MN 1972Leslie Taylor, CDA-Emeritus, West Columbia, SC 1979Rebecca Washburn, CDA-Emeritus, Shoreline, WA 1979Dottie Wheelus, CDA-Emeritus, Birmingham, AL 1963Michelle Wilson, CDA-Emeritus, Goose Creek, SC 1981Patricia Younce, CDA-Emeritus, Island Lake, IL 1986

For more information on Emeritus status, see DANB’s Recertification Requirements on page 4.

WORD FROM THE CHAIR

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Table of ContentsCover..................................................................................1Dental Assistants Recognition Week poster

Word from the Chair...................................................................2

Spotlight on Excellence..............................................................3DANB certification takes Laura Ruscio’s career to a ‘whole new level’Natalie Kaweckyj: ‘DANB certification sets me apart’Carol Oeder: ‘DANB certification builds self-confidence’

Certification Matters...............................................................4-5 DANB’s Recertification Requirements

DANB News and Updates......................................................6-7Winners selected for the 2017 ADAA/DANB ScholarshipJohnna Gueorguieva, Ph.D., earns CAE certificationDental assisting organizations gather for first summitDANB staff and board elected to Institute for Credentialing Excellence BoardDANB reports exam performance results

The DALE Foundation News.....................................................8OSAP and the DALE Foundation unveil new details about joint education

and credentialing initiativeCelebrating 70 years of CDA certificationThe DALE Foundation launches new EFDA Practice TestSaluting the DALE Foundation Leadership CircleAADOM accepting applications for Practice Administrator of the Year

DANB Details.............................................................Back Page

NELDA® • CDA® • COA® • CPFDA® • CRFDA® • CDPMA® • COMSA®

Congratulations to Emeritus CertificantsOct. 1, 2017 – Jan. 31, 2018

Happy New Year! I hope you all had an enjoyable holiday season and first few months of 2018.

With the holidays in our rearview mirror, it’s now time to celebrate Dental Assistants Recognition Week! Scheduled for March 4-10, the 2018 theme for DARW is “Advancing the Profession Through Collaboration and Leadership,” according to the

American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA). We look forward to hearing how you celebrated this week that’s dedicated just to you and your impact on our profession. Send your story to communications@danb.org for a chance to appear in a future issue of Certified Press or on our blog, Dental Assistant Life!

This year, DANB also is celebrating the 70th anniversary of DANB Certified Dental Assistant certification, which was initiated by ADAA in 1948. In rec-ognition of this milestone, DANB and the DALE Foundation hosted a special reception Jan. 26 during the Yankee Dental Congress in Boston. The free event, which was open to all dental professionals, was co-sponsored by ADAA and IgniteDA. Read more about the reception on page 7.

Also in honor of the 70th anniversary of CDA certification, we’re sharing certificants’ stories inside these pages of Certified Press — and not just in this issue, but all year!

Starting this issue, we spotlight Natalie Kaweckyj, CDA, COA, CPFDA, CRFDA, CDPMA, COMSA, LDARF, MADAA, President of the ADAA, as well as 2017-2018 DALE Foundation Trustee Carol K. Oeder, CDA, COA, CPFDA, CRFDA, CDPMA, FADAA, LPN. As you can see, both these DANB certificants have earned multiple certifications! Read more on page 3.

Additionally, this issue features the winners of the 2017 ADAA/DANB Schol-arship on page 6.

We are proud of all these professionals, as well as all of you. I hope you spend your DARW celebrating our rewarding profession and everyone who makes it great. Happy DARW!

Sincerely,

3

SPOTLIGHT ON EXCELLENCE

Vol. 37, Issue 1 l Spring 2018

Laura Ruscio, CDA, CPFDA, CRFDA, of Reading, Massachusetts, credits DANB with inspiring her to take her career to the next level.

After spending the first 24 years of her dental assisting career in endodontics and then transitioning to a general dentistry practice in 2012, Ruscio found herself seeking Continuing Dental Education (CDE) opportunities.

“I found general dentistry to be a completely different experience,” she explains. “As my new employer, Kallen K. Hull, D.M.D., was introducing me to all things general dentistry, I was completely fascinated. I wanted to learn everything about assisting in general dentistry, but not just the technical part. I also wanted to know why a certain instrument or material was needed.”

Realizing that she would benefit from distinguishing herself not only through CDE, but also certification, Ruscio turned to DANB and the DALE Foundation.

“I had heard about DANB’s certification, and I knew what I had to do,” she says. “Dr. Hull was so excited that I wanted to take that step. He said it showed him how dedicated I was.”

While studying for DANB exams, Ruscio found the list of exam reference materials that DANB provides to be very useful. She also benefitted from the DALE Foundation’s practice tests for DANB exams.

Ruscio passed DANB’s Certified Dental Assis-tant certification exam in 2013, and then went on to earn two additional DANB certifications. “Earning three DANB certifications was the best thing I’ve ever done in my career,” Ruscio says. “In addition to providing me with knowl-edge, DANB helped strengthen my skill sets and took the passion I already had for dentistry to a whole new level.

“When I earned that last certification, I was so inspired to learn more that I decided to also go for my emergency medical technician license,” Ruscio continues. “I believe that I would never have had the courage to do that without DANB.”

You may recognize Natalie Kaweckyj, CDA, COA, CPFDA, CRFDA, CDPMA, COMSA, LDARF, MADAA, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the President of the American Dental Assis-tants Association. But you may not know that Kaweckyj has earned not one but six certifica-tions through DANB.

“DANB certification sets me apart from other dental assistants,” says Kaweckyj, who has enjoyed an approximately 25-year career en-hanced by opportunities to be an educator and a lifelong learner.

For more than 10 years, Kaweckyj has worked in a variety of capacities including clinically and ad-ministratively as part of the management team at Children’s Dental Services — a nonprofit commu-

Certification takes Laura Ruscio’s career to a ‘whole new level’

Natalie Kaweckyj: ‘DANB certification sets me apart’nity dental clinic in Minneapolis that treats underserved children of the state.

At the clinic, Kaweckyj not only manages patient flow, but also educates dental assisting, dental hygiene and dental therapy students in the clinical setting during their clinic rotations. “I love it,” she says of educating.

Maintaining DANB certification also has always kept Kaweckyj learning, through earning CDE.

“I enjoy completing CDE,” she says, “and earning DANB’s certifications gives me a reason to do this. I do a lot of educational activities: I speak. I volunteer. I write. For me, it’s simple to get the credits that are needed to maintain DANB certification.”

It’s through CDE that dental assistants become a more vital part of the den-tal team, Kaweckyj says. “It’s not only the dental assistant who benefits from education, but also the patients who the dental assistant serves. The more knowledgeable the dental assistant is, the more information they can pass along to the patient.”

Spotlighting standout certificants2018 marks the 70th year of CDA certification. In honor of this 70-year milestone, DANB is spotlighting outstanding certificants who have earned multiple DANB certifications and can speak to the value of DANB certification. Read these certificants’ stories on this page and at www.dentalassistantlife.org.

Have you earned DANB certification? How has DANB certification impacted your career? Send your story to communications@danb.org.

Carol Oeder: ‘DANB certification builds self-confidence’For DALE Foundation Trustee Carol K. Oeder, CDA, COA, CPFDA, CRFDA, CDPMA, FADAA, LPN, of Hiawassee, Georgia, earning DANB certification has been the key to growing her career and confidence.

Oeder started working as an on-the-job-trained dental assistant in the early 1960s in Big Rapids, Michigan. During this time, she looked to her first em-ployer and mentor, Dr. Y. O. Morris, for knowledge and guidance. Dr. Morris encouraged earning CDE, and Oeder learned not only about the profession, but also about the importance of CDE.

When Oeder learned about DANB certification, she knew she had to take advantage of the opportunity to take her career to the next level. She earned DANB’s Certified Dental Assistant certification in 1980 and then went on to earn four additional DANB certifications.

“DANB certification builds self-confidence and demonstrates that confi-dence to the doctor and to our patients,” she says. “It enables us to give the patients the best possible, educated care.

“I liken dental assistants to athletes,” Oeder continues. “If you’re playing a sport, you better know the game. The same is true for dental assisting — when you’re sitting across from an educated, experienced doctor, you better

be educated and prepared as well. You’ve got to step it up, because the doctor is depending on you.”

When it comes to taking a DANB exam, Oeder says dental assistants have nothing to lose and everything to gain. “You may not pass it the first time, but you can learn from that experience and try again,” she says.

Oeder also would like dental assistants to know that opportunities to enhance and advance their careers are abundant, but assistants must be open to them.

“I’ve had a lot of opportunities, and so many var-ied experiences,” says Oeder, who has volun-teered in Haiti and worked as a traveling dental assistant, visiting military bases throughout the United States.

“There are opportunities such as these for dental assistants — but you have to reach out for them,” Oeder says. “They’re not just going to come to you, and that’s why networking and getting involved in the profession is critical.”

Carol K. Oeder, CDA, COA, CPFDA, CRFDA, CDPMA, FADAA, LPN

Laura Ruscio, CDA, CPFDA, CRFDA

Natalie Kaweckyj, CDA, COA, CPFDA, CRFDA,

CDPMA, COMSA, LDARF, MADAA

CERTIFICATION MATTERS

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Recertification PolicyCDE credits must directly relate to the practice of dentistry or dental assisting to maintain or improve dental assisting knowledge or skill. CDE does not need to be pre-approved. Call DANB if you have questions.

Length of ProgramPrograms must be at least 45 minutes in length in order to qualify for one CDE credit. Credit for a course is calculated in 15-minute increments (e.g., 1.5 hours = 1.5 CDE credits, 2.75 hours = 2.75 CDE credits).

CDE Obtained Prior to Earning CertificationEducation dated prior to a certificant’s initial certi-fication date cannot be used to meet DANB CDE requirements. Certificants must earn the required CDE credits during the first year of certification to maintain certification.

CDE LifespanCDE credits have a two-year lifespan. Certificants should retain proof of 24 credits of CDE over a two-year period, in case they are selected for au-dit.

Use of DANB Certification MarksDANB’s marks are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and only those individuals who have earned and maintained certification are legally authorized to use them. To protect against misuse of DANB credentials, DANB sends reports of lapsed DANB certifications to state regulatory agencies on a regular basis.

DANB certificants may use a DANB certification mark after their names on a resume, business card, website, in a book or publication, and in other print and electronic media. A certificant may also display the mark on a nametag or uniform worn during the rendering or promoting of dental assisting services, and on a wall plaque present at the place where he/she renders or promotes the services. Individuals

Certification Renewal TimelineNine weeks prior to certification expirationA renewal notification is emailed.

Seven weeks prior to certification expirationA renewal notice is mailed.

Certification expiration dateRenewal Statement and fee due by this date.

Three-month grace periodDANB certificants have a three-month grace period from the certification expiration date to to complete the renewal process including earning CDE credits. A late fee is assessed during this period. Certification is valid during this period.

Two weeks after certification expiration dateA past due renewal notice is mailed.

Six weeks after certification expirationA final renewal notice is mailed.

Eight weeks after certification expirationA reminder notification is emailed.

Three months after certification expiration If the statement and renewal fee are not received, the individual is no longer DANB certified. Call 1-800-367-3262 or email recertification@ danb.org for reinstatement options.

Renewing DANB CertificationDANB certification must be renewed annually. To renew, certificants must complete at least 12 Continuing Dental Education (CDE) credits (in-cluding 3 credits in infection control); maintain DANB-accepted, hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS; answer Background Information Questions; and submit the nonrefunable renewal fee to DANB. If you hold DANB’s NELDA certification, please visit www.danb.org to download the NELDA Recertifica-tion Requirements packet. Certificants may renew online at www.danb.org or return the renewal state-ment to DANB.

DANB’s Recertification Requirements

may not incorporate a DANB mark into their email addresses. If a certificant earned DANB certification in the past but has not maintained certification, he/she may not use the DANB mark. Misuse of any DANB certification mark is grounds for discipline under DANB’s Disciplinary Policy & Procedures (www.danb.org).

CPR, BLS or ACLS RequirementCertificants must maintain DANB-accepted, hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS for annual renewal of DANB certification (but does not count toward the required number of CDE credits). DANB ac-cepts CPR, BLS and ACLS from the providers be-low. Course must provide training for CPR, and a hands-on exam must be taken. CPR, BLS or ACLS from other providers or courses will not be accepted.

DANB-Accepted, Hands-on CPR, BLS and ACLS Providers

American Environmental Health and SafetyAmerican Heart AssociationAmerican Red Cross (card or certificate

accepted)American Safety and Health InstituteCanadian Red CrossEmergency Care and Safety InstituteEmergency First ResponseEmergency Medical Training AssociatesEmergency University*EMS Safety ServicesMedic First AidMilitary Training NetworkNational Safety Council (Green Cross)ProCPR*Saudi Heart Association

*Not all courses include the hands-on exam, so check with the provider before taking the course to be sure it will be accepted by DANB.

Requirements/Audit ProceduresDANB’s 12 CDE credit annual minimum is con-sistent with states that have mandatory CDE requirements for dental assistants. This require-ment emphasizes the importance of lifelong pro-fessional learning and promotes the continued competence of DANB certificants.

DANB certificants are randomly selected for au-dit of their CDE credits and CPR. If selected for audit, the certificant will receive notice request-ing proof of CDE credits earned and of maintain-ing DANB-accepted, hands-on CPR/BLS/ACLS. Proof must be submitted to DANB within 30 days of audit notification.

Upon successful completion of the audit, certifi-cation will be instated for the full year.

DO NOT SEND DOCUMENTATION UNLESS REQUESTED. DANB WILL NOT RETURN OR RETAIN MATERIALS.

Emeritus StatusDANB certificants (CDA, COA, CPFDA, CRFDA, COMSA and CDPMA) may apply for and earn “Emeritus” status if they have maintained continuous certification for four of the five years immediately preceding ap-plication for at least one certification and are:• Totally and permanently disabled or• Retired from the field of dentistry/dental as-

sisting at the age of 60 years or older or• Retired from the field of dentistry/dental as-

sisting with 35 years of continuous (without any breaks) DANB certification.

RetirementThe certificant must submit:• A completed Emeritus application • A dated letter from the certificant’s em-

ployer on letterhead and signed by the em-ployer (or proof of receiving Social Security benefits).

DisabilityThe certificant must submit:• A completed Emeritus application • A dated letter from the certificant’s physi-

cian on his/her office letterhead stating that the certificant is physically and permanent-ly unable to perform any duties required (or proof of receiving Social Security disability benefits).

NELDA® • CDA® • COA® • CPFDA® • CRFDA® • CDPMA® • COMSA®

Certifications CDE Credits Annual Fee*

1 12 (plus CPR) $652 18 (plus CPR) $903 24 (plus CPR) $1104 30 (plus CPR) $1305 36 (plus CPR) $1506 42 (plus CPR) $170

*There is a $20 late fee for certifications renewed during the three-month grace period after the certification expi-ration date.

Reinstatement optionIf your certification has lapsed within the past 12 months and you’re still thinking about renewing, there’s still time! DANB provides several options for reinstatement that do not include retaking the exams. If you or someone you know wants to learn more, contact DANB at danbmail@danb .org or 1-800-367-3262.

Categories for CDE Credits

CERTIFICATION MATTERS CONTINUING DENTAL EDUCATION (CDE)

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Maximum Annual CDE Credits by Category and CertificationCDE Category CDA COA CPFDA CRFDA COMSA CDPMA

Clinical Practice 12 12 12 12 12 5

Dental Office Management 3 3 3 3 3 6

DANB and Other Dental-Related Exams 12 12 12 12 12 6

Volunteer Service or Scholarly Activity 3 3 3 3 3 3

Vol. 37, Issue 1 l Spring 2018

1. Earn CDE credits*

2. Maintain a current DANB-accepted, hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS certificate

3. Submit the renewal statement and fee

Steps to renew DANB certificationInfection Control Requirement ClarificationCurrently, DANB certificants must annually earn at least two CDE credits in infection prevention, control or safety. Courses may include any topics listed in the DANB Infection Control (ICE) exam outline. Beginning Jan. 1, 2018, DANB certificants must also earn at least one CDE credit in OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard. The federally mandated OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard training may be used to meet this DANB renewal requirement.

CDE CATEGORY 1: CLINICAL PRACTICEStarting Jan. 1, 2018, all certificants, whether they hold one or more DANB certifications, must annually earn a minimum of three (3) Con-tinuing Dental Education (CDE) credits that meet the following re-quirements:

• One CDE credit on OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard (for exam-ple, certificants may use proof of meeting the federally mandated OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard training), and

• Two CDE credits on infection prevention, control or safety (for example, courses may include any topics listed in DANB’s Infection Control exam blueprint, which includes but are not limited to information in the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard.

All other credits must directly relate to the clinical practice of dentistry, in-cluding dental materials, four-handed dentistry, infection control, radiology, expanded functions, behavior management, communication, and canine and feline dentistry.

Earn credits: Attend lectures, seminars and table clinics; successfully complete study and college courses; serve on an in-person DANB exam or DALE Foundation course development committee meeting; author/edit articles/textbooks

Calculate Credits:

• Each hour of a lecture, seminar, table clinic, or study course = One credit Proof: Certificate/letter of attendance/completion on sponsor letterhead

with organization contact info, your name, course title and date, and hours• Each college credit/unit = Four credits Proof: Transcript/official letter on letterhead with your name, course title

and date, and credits/units.• Each DANB or DALE Foundation meeting = Three credits Proof: Letter on organization letterhead verifying participation• Each authored or edited article or text book = Two credits Proof: Completed publisher’s evaluation with title, your name, publisher

and publication date.

CDE CATEGORY 2: DENTAL OFFICE MANAGEMENT Must directly relate to dental office management and practice communica-tion, including dental practice acts, practice, time, risk and stress manage-ment, HIPAA, patient and staff motivation, computer courses, insurance, claims/billing, foreign language studies, American Sign Language, human resources, marketing and communication.

Earn credits: Attend lectures, seminars and table clinics; successfully complete study and college courses; serve on an in-person DANB exam or DALE Foundation course development committee meeting; author/edit articles/textbooks

Calculate Credits:

• Each hour of a lecture, seminar, table clinic, or study course = One credit Proof: Certificate of completion, letter of attendance/completion on spon-

sor letterhead with organization contact info, your name, course title and date, and hours.

• Each college credit/unit = Four credits Proof: Transcript/official letter on letterhead with your name, course title

and date, and credits/units.

• Each DANB or DALE Foundation meeting = Three credits

Proof: Letter on organization letterhead verifying participation

• Each authored or edited article or text book = Two credits

Proof: Copy of completed publisher’s evaluation form, including title, au-thor’s name, publisher and publication date.

CDE CATEGORY 3: DENTAL-RELATED EXAMS Earn credits: Pass a DANB-administered exam, excluding initial certifi-cation exams, DANB Professional Development Exam Program (PDEP) module or non-DANB administered, dental-related, professionally proctored exam with at least 100 questions

Calculate Credits:

• DANB-administered exam with < 100 questions = 6 credits; 100 or more questions = 12 credits; PDEP module = 12 credits

Proof: Official results • Timed non-DANB administered exam = Hour-for-hour credit; un-timed =

One credit/100 questions Proof: Official exam results with date taken and exam description from

exam organizer

CDE CATEGORY 4: VOLUNTEER SERVICEMust directly relate to dental-related volunteer service. Up to three CDE credits may be used each year.

Earn credits: Mission and voluntary clinic work and dental presentations. Does not include activities such as serving as an officer, chair or member of a dental organization or advisory committee.

Calculate Credits:

• Each clock hour of service = One credit Proof: Certificate or letter of attendance/participation on sponsor letter-

head with organization contact info, your name, and hours and date of service

NELDA® • CDA® • COA® • CPFDA® • CRFDA® • CDPMA® • COMSA®6

DANB NEWS AND UPDATES

Johnna Gueorguieva, Ph.D., CAE, DANB Se-nior Director of Creden-tialing and Client Ser-vices, recently earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) creden-tial through the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

A member of the summer 2017 class of CAEs, Dr. Gueorguieva was among the 98 association executives to successfully complete the CAE exam administered nationwide in May 2017. These association executives join more than 4,200 industry leaders worldwide who have earned this credential from the CAE Com-mission of ASAE.

According to ASAE, the CAE program serves to elevate professional standards, enhance individ-ual performance and designate those who have acquired and demonstrated knowledge essential to the practice of association management. The CAE program is accredited by the National Com-mission for Certifying Agencies.

The American Dental Assistants Asso-ciation (ADAA) and DANB have selected the winners of the 2017 ADAA/DANB Scholarship, a program intended to help dental assistants turn their professional development plans into reality.

This year, out of 28 applicants, the ADAA/DANB Scholarship Committee selected eight winners:

Carmen Jongsma, CDA, of Caledonia, Michigan, plans to apply her scholarship toward tuition at Washtenaw Community College’s dental assisting program. She also plans to take DANB exams, earn state credentials and pursue continuing education. “I believe learning is never complete,” she says.

Gretchen Bogner, CDA, of Normal, Il-linois, plans to use her scholarship to complete continuing education courses and attend seminars and dental meet-ings, in pursuit of ADAA Fellowship. “I absolutely love what I do,” she says. “The entire field of dentistry is exciting, continuously changing and improving with technology. There are always new topics to learn about or techniques to try.”

Kaley Johnson, CDA, of West Colum-bia, West Virginia, plans to apply her scholarship toward tuition at the Ohio State University Col-lege of Dentistry’s expanded functions program. “When I set my mind to something, I go for it,” she says. “This scholarship will help me in my pursuit of education to better serve the people of Meigs County, Ohio. I appreciate the opportunity.”

Kira Lynn Wiedewitsch, of Melrose, Minnesota, plans to use her scholarship toward DANB ex-ams and tuition at St. Cloud Technical and Com-munity College’s dental assisting program. She also hopes to pursue additional educational op-portunities and one day become an educator. “As I continue to take steps in my career, I look

Dental assisting organizations gather for first summit

On Nov. 9, 2017, six dental assisting orga-nizations gathered in Chicago for the first Emerging Dental Assisting Trends and Is-sues Summit.

DANB and the DALE Foundation hosted the event, which was also attended by the American Dental Assistants Association, the Professional Dental Assistants Education Foundation, IgniteDA and the Academy of Chairside Assisting.

In total, 15 representatives participated and discussed a variety of issues, including education and credentialing; legislative and regulatory issues; and changes, challenges and opportunities in the profession.

“This summit was a monumental occasion,” said DANB and DALE Foundation Execu-tive Director Cynthia C. Durley, M.Ed., MBA. “Never before have so many organizations come together to discuss the critical issues and emerging opportunities facing dental assistants. We came away with new insights and ideas to work together to advance the dental assisting profession.”

DANB staff and board elected to Institute for Credentialing Excellence BoardThe Institute for Credentialing Excellence, the national membership association for certification organizations, held its annual meeting in Atlanta in October 2017. At the meeting, DANB Senior Director of Credentialing and Client Services Johnna Gueorguieva, Ph.D., CAE, was elected to hold the office of Secretary Treasurer on the Institute’s Board of Directors. Additionally, DANB Board Director Mary Macomber, J.D., CAE, was elected to serve as the public member on the Institute’s Board of Directors.

forward to future opportunities to assist and edu-cate,” she says. “I couldn’t be happier.”

Pamela Cuneo, CDA, of North Hero, Vermont, plans to use her scholarship to pursue continu-ing education, such as completing two hands-on courses for dental auxiliaries. “I value continuing education,” she says. “I choose the courses most relevant to the skills I am using in my job.”

Philomena Tabu, of Downington, Pennsylvania, plans to apply her scholarship toward earning DANB certification. “Being a CDA certificant will bring numerous opportunities for me in my ca-reer,” she says. “I will have more knowledge as

an assistant, and this will make me more competent.”

Romela Keshishian, CDA, of Glen-dale, California, plans to apply her scholarship toward DANB exams and certification. “Earning DANB certifica-tions will demonstrate my knowledge and competency,” she says. “It will allow me to perform additional duties in the dental practice, and I will grow in skill and value.”

Saamiya Pirbhai, of Lake Mary, Flor-ida, plans to apply her scholarship to-ward earning DANB certification. She also aspires to one day becoming a dental assisting educator. “I understand that taking every opportunity I can to gain knowledge and better myself in ev-ery way is a top priority for achieving my goals,” she says. “DANB certification is the first of many steps I strive to com-plete.”

Additionally, the committee selected one finalist: Shaunte Batten, of Hampton, Virginia. Ms. Bat-ten will receive one free DALE Foundation prod-uct of her choice.

The ADAA/DANB Scholarship is open to all ADAA members in good standing. It is awarded annually to dental assistants who demonstrate a strong commitment to career growth and lifelong learning in the dental assisting profession.

To learn about other scholarship opportuni-ties for dental assistants, visit www.danb.org or www.adaausa.org.

Additionally, Dr. Gueorguieva says CAE certifi-cation is the marker of a professional who has demonstrated the wide range of knowledge es-sential to manage an organization in today’s en-vironment, including knowledge of management, strategic planning, governance, finance, market-ing, human resources and leadership.

“I pursued the CAE certification as a demonstra-tion of my commitment to lifelong learning, and as part of my ongoing pursuit of knowledge in the profession,” she says.

Winners selected for the 2017 ADAA/DANB Scholarship

Johnna Gueorguieva, Ph.D., DANB Senior Director of Credentialing and Client Services, earns CAE certification

Clockwise, from top left: Carmen Jongsma, CDA; Gretchen Bogner, CDA; Kaley Johnson, CDA; Kira Lynn Wiedewitsch; Pamela Cuneo, CDA; Saamiya Pirbhai; Philomena Tabu; and Romela Keshishian, CDA.

DANB NEWS AND UPDATES

NELDA FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 165 254Pass 83 132Fail 82 122Pass Rate 50% 52%

CDA FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 1958 1812Pass 1442 1320Fail 516 492Pass Rate 74% 73%

GC only FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 2407 2155Pass 1951 1714Fail 456 441Pass Rate 81% 80% ICE only FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 3040 3250Pass 2542 2655Fail 498 595Pass Rate 84% 82%

RHS only FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 9801 9152Pass 6651 6066Fail 3150 3086Pass Rate 68% 66%

COA FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 68 48Pass 40 28Fail 28 20Pass Rate 59% 58%

OA only FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 74 47Pass 54 31Fail 20 16Pass Rate 73% 66%

RHS/ICE* FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 1399 1434Pass 891 867Fail 508 567Pass Rate 64% 60%

CPFDA** FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 22 20Pass 6 5Fail 16 15Pass Rate 27% 25%

CP FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 500 390Pass 344 257Fail 156 133Pass Rate 69% 66%

SE FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 30 39Pass 18 24Fail 12 15Pass Rate 60% 62%

TF FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 15 17Pass 9 10Fail 6 7Pass Rate 60% 59%

TA FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 4 6Pass 2 5Fail 2 1Pass Rate 50% 83%

CRFDA*** FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates See below See below

AMP FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 47 32Pass 43 20Fail 4 12Pass Rate 91% 60%

RF FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 7 5Pass 5 3Fail 2 2Pass Rate 71% 60%

IM FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 0 2Pass 0 2Fail 0 0Pass Rate n/a 100%

TMP FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 2 12Pass 1 9Fail 1 3Pass Rate 50% 75%

IS FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 9 3Pass 8 3Fail 1 0Pass Rate 89% 100%

IM/TMP FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 23 15Pass 17 11Fail 6 4Pass Rate 74% 73%

IS/SE/RF FY 15-16 FY 16-17Total candidates 13 7Pass 8 5Fail 5 2Pass Rate 62% 71%

Total national exams: 18,700 (represents approx-imately 90% of all DANB candidates tested in FY 16-17, testing a total of 20,675 candidates (the balance taking DANB state-specific exams).

*The number passing (867) reflects the number of candidates passing both the RHS and ICE exams in one administration. Of these 1,434 total RHS/ICE candidates in FY 16-17, 1,047 passed RHS, 979 passed ICE, and 867 passed both exams.

**The number passing (5) reflects the number of candidates passing all four CPFDA component exams — CP, SE, TF and TA — in one admin-istration. Of these 20 total CPFDA candidates, 10 passed CP, 2 passed SE, 3 passed TF, and 5 passed TA. This same logic can be applied to the DANB CDA passing data. The number passing the CDA exam in FY 16-17 (1,320) reflects just those individuals who passed all three CDA com-ponent exams in one administration.

***Unlike other DANB certification programs, the CRFDA component exams are not offered in one test administration called “CRFDA” due to seat time requirements.

DANB reports exam performance resultsTo maintain DANB’s high standards, meet ac-creditation standards established by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and meet certifying board recognition criteria es-tablished by the American Dental Association (ADA), DANB regularly reviews its exams. On Oct. 13, 2017, DANB submitted its Annual Re-port with recent certification and exam figures to ADA’s Council on Dental Education and Licen-sure (CDEL).

As of Oct. 3, 2017, DANB has 36,869 Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certificants, 1,399 Certi-fied Orthodontic Assistants (COAs), 258 Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistants (CPF-DAs), 96 Certified Restorative Functions Dental Assistants (CRFDAs), 139 National Entry Level Dental Assistants (NELDAs), 242 Certified Dental

Practice Management Administrators (CDPMAs) and 144 Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Sur-gery Assistants (COMSAs), for a total of 39,147 DANB certifications, held by 38,187 current DANB certificants. (Note: DANB discontinued the COMSA exam in 2000 and the CDPMA exam in 2008.)

Comparing FY 16-17 exam candidate volume to that in FY 15-16, DANB experienced a 5.5% de-crease* in candidate volume overall; a 4.5% de-crease in national exam candidates; and a 1.4% decrease in state-specific exam candidates.

Note: This decrease is less than DANB typically experiences the year of and following the effec-tive date of DANB exam fee increases; in this case, fees increased effective Jan. 1, 2016.

Pass/Fail Results for DANB National Exams

Pathway pass rates reviewEach year, DANB applies inferential statistics to passing rates of candidates who take the General Chairside Assisting (GC) component of the CDA exam through exam eligibility Pathway I (gradu-ates of CODA-accredited dental assisting pro-grams) and Pathway II (candidates who are on-the-job trained, with at least 3,500 hours of dental assisting work experience acquired over a 24- to 48-month period).

At the Board’s February 2017 meeting, Direc-tors reviewed passing rate comparison results for these two GC exam eligibility pathways. Per-formance data have been compared each year since 1998.

DANB will continue to monitor GC pass rates by eligibility pathway, and will report to CDEL again in September 2018.

7Vol. 37, Issue 1 l Spring 2018

THE DALE FOUNDATION NEWS

In late 2016, to help fund the critical growth and development taking place at the DALE Foundation, a group of organizations and individuals committed to make a difference. They formed the inaugural class of the DALE Foundation’s Leadership Circle, generous donors dedicated to impacting lives through dentistry by making an annual donation.

The Leadership Circle helps the DALE Foun-dation fulfill its mission and make significant impact in the areas of education, research and scholarship. This support helps the DALE Foundation to provide high-quality, interactive online education; conduct impor-tant research that transforms lives and en-hances public safety; and invest in the pro-fessional development of dental assistants and dental auxiliaries.

We gratefully salute our 2017 inaugural class of Leadership Circle members:

OrganizationsBerland CommunicationsColgate-Palmolive CompanyDANB and DALE Foundation StaffOregon Dental Assistants Association

IndividualsMichael Conte, D.M.D., M.P.H.Joanne Dawley, D.D.S.Teresa Duncan, M.S., FADIA, FAADOMCynthia C. Durley, M.Ed., MBAJennifer Hawley Price, M.S.Virginia Jorgensen, CDA, EFDA, EFODA,

A.A.S. William Landrigan, B.S.E., MBAFrank A. Maggio, D.D.S.Carol K. Oeder, CDA, COA, CPFDA, CRFDA,

CDPMA, FADAA, LPNKathy Zwieg, CDA, LDA

For more information about the DALE Foundation’s Leadership Circle, please contact Jennifer Hawley Price at jprice@dalefoundation.org or 877-510-3253, ext. 249.

The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Pre-vention (OSAP) and the DALE Foundation shared more information about their joint educa-tion and credentialing initiative during the 2018 OSAP Dental Infection Control Boot Camp™. The event was held Jan. 8-11 and saw record-breaking attendance, signaling a strong interest in dental safety.

“We have been working with OSAP on this col-laboration in earnest for over a year, and we were excited to be able to share the four steps that dental professionals can take to complete the forthcoming Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate ProgramTM,” said DANB and DALE Foundation Executive Director Cynthia C. Durley, M.Ed., MBA. “Especially since OSAP’s three-day Boot Camp attendees will automati-cally qualify as completing step one, this popular annual OSAP event provided optimal timing to share details about the OSAP-DALE Foundation Certificate program — the ‘education’ part of our collaboration — with this audience.”

Anyone interested in earning recognition for mas-tering specific infection prevention and control knowledge can get started on steps one and two of this four-step dental infection control certificate program right away. The eHandbook (step three of the four-step certificate program) will be avail-able this spring, followed by the OSAP-DALE Foundation eHandbook AssessmentTM to be re-leased in late summer 2018.

Four Steps to Earning the OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate

Step 1Complete one of these dental infection control education programs: • OSAP’s Dental Infection Control Boot Camp (3-

day in person)• CDC Guidelines: From Policy to Practice by

OSAP (online or paper)• OSAP’s OSHA & CDC Guidelines Interact

Training System (online)• The DALE Foundation’s DANB® ICE® Review

course (online)

Step 2Complete the OSAP-DALE Foundation online CDEA® module:Understanding CDC’s Summary of Infection Pre-vention Practices in Dental SettingsTM

Step 3Complete the OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control eHandbookTM

Available Spring 2018

Step 4Complete the OSAP-DALE Foundation eHand-book AssessmentTM

Available Late Summer 2018

For additional information, please visit www.osap .org and www.dalefoundation.org.

DANB and its official affili-ate, the DALE Foundation, hosted a special reception Friday, Jan. 26, during the Yankee Dental Congress in Boston, to kick off the 70th

anniversary year celebrations of Certified Den-tal Assistant (CDA) certification. The event was co-sponsored by the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) and IgniteDA. More than 85 people attended.

“We’re excited to celebrate this milestone, honor CDA certification and honor all who have made this profession what it is,” DANB and DALE Foundation Executive Director Cynthia C. Durley, M.Ed., MBA, said as she addressed attendees.

The DALE Foundation, the official DANB affiliate, recently launched its latest study aid: the EFDA Practice Test.

Saluting the DALE Foundation Leadership Circle

The DALE Foundation launches new EFDA Practice Test

OSAP and the DALE Foundation unveil new details about joint education and credentialing initiative

Celebrating 70 years of CDA certification

AADOM accepting applications for Practice Administrator of the YearThe American Association of Dental Office Man-agement (AADOM) is now accepting applica-tions for the 2018 Practice Administrator of the Year. The nomination deadline is Friday, May 18, 2018.

Nominees must be an AADOM member in good standing, currently working full-time as an office manager or practice administrator in a dental practice, and have at least three years of experi-ence in dentistry.

Nominees will be selected by AADOM based on their leadership, community involvement and commitment to pursuing continuing education. Nominees will also be evaluated on their role in increasing practice efficiency and revenue, or implementing technology or marketing strate-gies into the dental practice.

The winner will receive an engraved award, plus $1,000, lifetime AADOM membership and free tuition to the 2019 Dental Management Confer-ence, and will be featured on the cover of The Observer magazine.

The winner will be announced July 19, 2018, at the 14th Annual Dental Management Conference in San Antonio. For more infor-mation about the annual conference, visit www.aadomconference.com.

To learn more about AADOM, visit www .dentalmanagers.com.

Left to right: Kevin Henry, co-founder of IgniteDA; Natalie Kaweckyj, President of the ADAA;

Cynthia C. Durley, Executive Director of DANB and the DALE Foundation;

and David R. Rice, D.D.S., co-founder of IgniteDA and founder of IgniteDDS

The EFDA Practice Test features more than 500 questions that can help you prepare for the nine exams that make up DANB’s Certified Preven-tive Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA) and Certified Restorative Functions Dental Assistant (CRFDA) certification programs.

For more information about the EFDA Prac-tice Test or the DALE Foundation, visit www.dalefoundation.org.

NELDA® • CDA® • COA® • CPFDA® • CRFDA® • CDPMA® • COMSA®8

The DANB MissionDANB’s mission is to promote the public good by providing credentialing services to the dental community. We accomplish and measure the success of this mission through the creation of valid dental assisting exams, recertification requirement integrity, and valuable, visible, and accessible DANB exams, certificates, and certifications. We also provide testing services to the oral healthcare community, and information services and resources related to dental assisting credentialing to support DANB’s mission. In order to accomplish these critical outcomes, DANB is committed to a properly governed, financially secure, and administratively sound organization.

Contact DANBwww.danb.org • 1-800-367-3262

Client Servicesdanbmail@danb.org; 1-800-367-3262

Recertification/Audit/CDEjrieman@danb.org; ext. 465

Marketing/Certified Presscommunications@danb.org; ext. 417

Exam Application Informationroates@danb.org; ext. 462

Test Administrationkkahoa@danb.org; ext. 444

Accounting/Financeakuenster@danb.org; ext. 420

Appeals/Disciplinary Information kcapuano@danb.org; ext. 463

Trademark Informationasullivan@danb.org; ext. 414

State Informationklandsberg@danb.org; ext. 431

DANB Board of DirectorsChairKatharine J. Noble, CDA, CRFDA, SSgt Maine Air National Guard

Vice ChairDenise Romero, CDA, COA, RDA, OA, M.A.

Secretary-TreasurerLois Bell, CDA, CPFDA, CRFDA, FADAA

Karen L. Comisi, CDA, RDA, FADAAMichael Conte, D.M.D., M.P.H.Sandra Garcia, CDA, RDASteven J. Holm, D.D.S.Mary Macomber, J.D.Constance J. Reed, CDA, EFDA, B.S.

Executive DirectorCynthia C. Durley, M.Ed., MBA

Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.444 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 900 Chicago, IL 60611-3985

DANB DETAILS

Calendar of eventsThomas P. Hinman Dental MeetingMarch 22-24, 2018, Atlanta, GAwww.hinman.org

Oregon Dental Association MeetingApril 5-7, 2018, Portland, ORwww.oregondental.org

Western Regional Dental ConventionApril 12-14, Glendale, AZwww.westernregional.org

CADAT ConferenceApril 20-21, Long Beach, CAwww.cadat.org

AADB Mid-Year MeetingApril 22-23, Chicago, ILwww.dentalboards.org

Star of the North MeetingApril 26-28, Saint Paul, MNstar.mndental.org

© 2018 Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. All rights reserved. The DANB logo is a registered trademark of the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. DANB, DENTAL ASSISTING NATIONAL BOARD, NELDA, CDA, COA, CPFDA, CRFDA, CDPMA and COMSA are registered certification marks of DANB. RHS, ICE and MEASURING DENTAL ASSISTING EXCELLENCE are registered service marks of DANB. CERTIFIED DENTAL ASSISTANT is a certification mark of DANB. MARK OF DENTAL ASSISTING EXCELLENCE is a service mark of DANB. Use of these marks is strictly prohibited, except as provided in the Usage Guidelines for DANB Trademarks, without the express written permission of DANB. The DALE Foundation, the DALE Foundation logo and CDEA are registered service marks of the DALE Foundation.

By submitting your photos and story to DANB, you grant DANB and its affiliates a royalty-free license to use your content for advertising, promotional or commercial pur-poses, including without limitation, the right to publicly display, perform, reproduce and distribute your content in any media format or medium and through any media channels.

You could be next!If your certification number matches one of the randomly selected numbers below, you can win a $50 prize.

Notify the DANB Marketing Department at communications@danb.org within 30 days. Be sure to include your name, address and certifica-tion number.

217820 186709

229675 204028

180257 182966

DANB to present at HinmanDANB will be giving a free presentation Thurs-day, March 22, at 10 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. at the Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting in Atlanta. To attend, you must register on the Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting website at www.hinman .org. Search course Th309 and Th310 for more information.

DANB, DALE Foundation to host session in OregonDANB and the DALE Foundation are joining the Oregon Dental Assistants Association (ODAA) to celebrate the work of dental assistants.

On April 5, at the Oregon Dental Conference, dental assistants are invited to network with peers and enjoy a three-course buffet. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. Later that day from 1:30-4:30 p.m., ODAA, DANB and the DALE Founda-tion will host an educational session, “The Value of Dental Assistants: Insights and Opportunities.” To learn more, visit www.oregondental.org.