Canada’s rich history in the international dental hygiene community: Ireland is calling your name!

You may not know this, but Canada was one of the founding members of the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH). ¹ It all began in 1973 with a group of dental hygienists from 6 countries—Canada, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and the United States—who formed a committee to discuss common interests. ¹ This group, through numerous years of discussion and planning, developed the infrastructure for IFDH with the vision of “forming an international organization that would unite dental hygienists globally” ¹ including holding an international symposium every 3 years. ¹

Salme E Lavigne

The inaugural International Symposium on Dental Hygiene (ISDH) and official establishment of IFDH took place in Oslo, Norway, in 1986 where Wilma Motley from the United States was appointed as the founding president. ¹ Three years later, a well-known Canadian dental hygienist, Pat Johnson, became the second IFDH president after conducting the first survey of the “International Profile on Dental Hygiene” in 1987. This survey was repeated in 1992, 1998, and 2006 ¹ and provides important longitudinal data on our profession, tracking global trends in dental hygiene education, scope of practice, practice settings, and more. ,IFDH has grown significantly since its formation 36 years ago; it now includes 35 member countries representing over 92,000 dental hygienists globally. It has also developed an International Code of Ethics, publishes a peer-reviewed scientific journal, the

International Journal of Dental Hygiene, provides a forum for the exchange of knowledge, and represents dental hygiene on the world stage of oral health. ¹ The federation collaborates with organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Fédération Dentaire Internationale (FDI), and the International Association of Dental Research (IADR).

Thus far, there have been 13 international symposia held in several IFDH member locations, 2 of which were proudly hosted by Canada (Ottawa 1989 and Toronto 2007). This year, the ISDH will be held in Dublin, Ireland, from August 10 to 13. ² This symposium will be particularly special for Canadian dental hygienists, as Wanda Fedora, a dental hygienist from Nova Scotia, will be installed as only the second Canadian president in the history of IFDH. Dublin also marks the end of the 3-year gap between symposia, as there will now be a symposium planned every 2 years, with the next ones scheduled to be held in Seoul, Korea, in 2024 and Milan, Italy, in 2026.

I attended my first IFDH symposium in 2001 in Sydney, Australia, and was immediately hooked! I have been to 4 others since that time and am looking forward to adding Dublin to the list. These symposia have been some of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my lengthy professional career. The opportunity to network with dental hygienists from other countries who have different experiences and perspectives than my own has both enriched and expanded my outlook on the significant role we play as oral health professionals. Yet, despite our differences, I have also discovered how similar we are in our passion for the dental hygiene profession of which we are all privileged to be a part. It makes one realize how global our profession truly is and what a wonderful opportunity it is to share stories with our international colleagues. Such experiences give one a sense of pride and belonging to a truly amazing profession.

I strongly encourage you to consider attending this wonderful continuing education event, which will be packed full of excellent learning opportunities. ³ Some of the highlights of this year’s ISDH include a Global Oral Health Summit where you will hear speakers such as Dr. Benoit Varenne from the World Health Organization explain the WHO Global Strategies on Oral Health; a Social Responsibility Workshop: Empowering Women; keynote speakers from 19 different countries, including some from Canada; poster sessions that will showcase the latest research on oral health impacting dental hygienists; and of course a superb exhibit hall where you will find numerous interesting oral hygiene products that may not even be available in Canada or the US! At the end of each day of learning, there will be the opportunity to participate in social events such as a welcome reception and a conference party at the infamous Guinness Storehouse (home of Guinness beer). ,Dublin is a beautiful city to explore—full of life and excitement. Think of how much you will benefit both professionally and personally if you choose to go. One thing I know for sure is that you won’t regret it! If Dublin doesn’t fit into your plans this year, then please do consider making space in your future calendars for the ISDH in either Seoul or Milan.

You cannot help but learn more as you take the world into your hands. Take it up reverently, for it is an old piece of clay, with millions of thumbprints on it.

—John Updike