AN INVITATION from THE DHAA Inc. PRESIDENT

The Dental Hygienists’ Association of Australia Inc. would like to extend an invitation to colleagues in oral health to participate in our 2007 National Symposium.

The Symposium will be held on Friday March 16th, one day prior to the ADA Congress and the ADIA Exhibition. The title for the day is: 'It's Just Right On The Tip Of My Tongue' – New Developments in Aged Care Dentistry. The speakers include Associate Professor Dr Jane Chalmers**, Dr Peter King, Dr Graeme Ting and Ms Clare McNally and the day will be devoted to discussion on the delivery of oral health care to the aged community.

Older people need special care that takes into account a lifetime of use of the teeth. Dental professionals must recognise and understand the patient through a “whole person” perspective in order to provide essential services for this demographic.

Our ageing population means the situation nationwide is the challenge. In the 1970s, nine per cent of the population was aged over 65. That figure rose to 12 per cent in 1996, and is projected to jump further to 16 per cent by 2016.

Good oral hygiene and dental care is valuable to the health and wellbeing of older adults. Yet, many older people have significant dental problems. Many of these problems could be removed or improved through simple care and through good routine care by a dentist and/or dental hygienist.

One is better able to identify and treat dental problems once they understand the prevalence and risk factors for oral disease in older adults, especially as recent research has linked chronic oral infections to diseases such as diabetes, heart and lung diseases, and stroke.

The venue will be the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Darling Harbour, where delegates will be able to conveniently access the ADIA Exhibition (complementary to registration at this Symposium), and will have the opportunity to also register for the ADA Congress Scientific Sessions that begin on Saturday, 17th March and finish on Monday, 19th March.

The Association is looking forward to hosting this exciting Symposium in Sydney, and on behalf of The DHAA Inc. I invite you to attend and participate in this interesting program.

	Judy Hill President     The DHAA Inc.
** Update - Dr Lacey-Spector will replace our previously planned speaker Dr Chalmers who, due to unexpected personal circumstances, is unable to participate.