Oral-B Auxiliary Education Programme
2006 winner rewarded for enthusiasm

The fourth winner of the Oral-B Auxiliary Education Programme, Margaret Skinner, was chosen on the merits of achieving an overall competency of 92%, independent of optional bonus points. Margaret has been an active participant of the education programme from its inception, having now completed 20 Modules and gearing up for another five in the 2007 series.

Margaret is a Dental Assistant working for Dr Seth Eggleston in his dental practice at Nedlands Western Australia. “I’ve been in the dental profession for quite some time, which in a large part is due to how much I enjoy the continual learning”, said Margaret. “I’ve studied and achieved my dental assisting qualifications, which I enjoyed doing, but I find I’m learning so much more through the education programme that Oral-B and Auxiliary magazine are providing.

“One of my favourite aspects in doing the module assessments is resourcing information on the internet, reading literature and discussing the topics with Dr Eggleston, the staff and the dental industry representatives that come to our practice. For me, the thrill of learning outweighs the fact that you’re actually doing a structured study.

“The support and encouragement I’ve received from my colleagues has heightened the enthusiasm I have for my dental career. And, after participating for four years in this education programme, the enthusiasm from my supporters has grown too because we’re all learning from the modules.”

Oral-B will reward Margaret’s outstanding achievement with the First Place cash prize of $1500. “I have to admit I was also compelled by the prize in doing the modules, and having won just adds to all the excitement occurring in my life at the moment”, said Margaret. “Our daughter, Baylee Ann, came 7 weeks earlier than expected and she is progressing nicely to be able to come home before the end of March. Also, with my husband in the process of changing jobs at the moment, getting the news of winning has been really exciting to us.

“I’d just like to express my appreciation to Oral-B and Auxiliary magazine for their quality education programme and the wonderful prize, which has truly come at a much needed time.”

A supplementary prize will also be awarded to Jo Tebbutt, Dental Hygienist (NSW) for her written assignment, a health promotion activity design, in Module 18 - Diabetes and Oral Health.

Oral-B and Auxiliary magazine commend all participants for their enthusiasm and hard work.

2005: Top marks for the winner

Clare Down from Merriwa in Western Australia is the third winner of the Oral-B Auxiliary Education Programme. Clare completed the 2005 five-module series, Modules 11 through 15, and attained a 97.6% competency, independent of optional bonus points. Oral-B will reward her outstanding achievement with the First Place cash prize of $1500.

Clare is a Dental Assistant at Sparkle Dental in Joondalup WA and works with Dr Alex Devellerez and Dr Shereen Lim. “Shereen approached me to do the Modules on the benefit of keeping up to date with current topics in dentistry,” said Clare.

“I enjoyed researching the topics using textbooks and references at the practice. The team was very supportive and the Modules inspired us to think about our approach to patient care.

“I don’t know what I’ll do with the prize money. I wasn’t thinking about winning when I was completing the assessments. I see winning as a bonus because I’ve already benefited with what I learned. In particular, the importance of looking at the patient as a whole person.”

Oral-B will also award prizes to participants for outstanding achievements on the written assignments in Module 11 (Topical Fluoride) and Module 13 (Xerostomia: Salivary Hypofunction). The supplementary winners are Karen Houghton, Practice Manager (NZ); Cheryl Ong, Dental Assistant (VIC); Sheree Sharp, Dental Hygienist (NZ); Margaret Skinner, Dental Assistant (WA) and Jo Tebbutt, Dental Hygienist (NSW). Oral-B and Auxiliary magazine commend all participants for their enthusiasm and hard work.

2004: New Zealand takes honours again

The winner of the second five-module series, Modules 6 through 10, is Karen Houghton from Auckland New Zealand. Karen is a Dental Assistant and Practice Manager at Penrose Dental Practice and takes the prestigious First Place cash prize of $1000 for her achievement in attaining a 98% competency. “The Oral-B modules coincided with the New Zealand Dental Assisting Certificate course that I just completed,” said Karen. “I really enjoyed doing the optional bonus points, like the brochures. My employer, Dr Lim, likes what I’ve done and we plan to use these with our patients.

“The Oral-B modules offered some challenges, but they weren’t overwhelming. Having 15 years experience as a dental assistant and knowing how to resource information made the experience enjoyable and rewarding. I’m definitely going to participate in the 2005 Programme, probably using a combination of the Auxiliary magazine and the new online facility.

“I’m so excited about winning, shocked a bit too, and with plans to purchase a house this year the money will be put toward the deposit or furniture. Thank you Oral-B and Auxiliary magazine!” The assessments are designed to assist participants in gaining a thorough understanding of the presented dental topic, and the assignments that involve the creation of patient education brochure/literature give the participants an opportunity to demonstrate this comprehension. Five additional awards will be presented this year to commemorate the outstanding achievements on the written assignments in Module 7 (Dental Radiography - Part One) and Module 10 (Saliva). The supplementary winners for Module 7 in preparing a patient education brochure on the preventative health benefits and safety of dental x-rays are: Karen Houghton, Dental Assistant/Practice Manager (NZ); Sheree Sharp, Dental Hygienist (NZ); and Margaret Skinner, Dental Assistant (WA).

The supplementary winners for Module 10 in preparing a patient education brochure on the values of saliva and why people should consider saliva an important aspect of their health are: Karen Houghton and Sheree Sharp, both from New Zealand. All the participants of the 2004 Oral-B Auxiliary Education Programme are to be commended for their enthusiasm and efforts in expanding their dental knowledge. The registrants who completed all five assessments, Modules 6 through 10, will receive a Certificate of Achievement to display their commitment of attaining a higher level of patient care and professionalism. Answer sheets for each module completed will also be provided to each participant. The 2005 Oral-B Auxiliary Education Programme begins with Module 11 in this edition of Auxiliary magazine as well as the new online version at www.auxiliary.com.au Registration is required to participate and can be done online or by using the form on page 17. Let Oral-B and Auxiliary magazine help you make a difference in your dental career this year.

2003: New Zealand hygienist inaugural winner

Sheree Sharp, a dental hygienist in Dunedin New Zealand has achieved the honour of being the Winner of the 2003/2004 Oral-B Auxiliary Education Programme. Sheree attained the highest overall mark of 89.8, granting her the prestigious First Place Prize of $1000. “I found the modules very informative with the right amount of challenge,” said Sheree. “Living in Dunedin makes it a bit difficult to get to regular seminars, so the self study modules were a definite advantage to updating my knowledge on the topics I regularly deal with in the general practices where I work.

“This is the best news and my sincere thanks to Oral-B and to Auxiliary magazine!”

The inaugural Oral-B Auxiliary Education Programme had a very strong participation by all of the dental Auxiliary professions in Australia and New Zealand with over 100 registrants. The calibre of knowledge and presentation was very impressive and all participants are to be commended for their enthusiasm and efforts. The registrants who completed all five educational assessments - Module 1 through Module 5 - will be receiving their Certificate of Achievement in the mail.

Oral-B Braun, a division of Gillette Australia Pty Ltd, have a history of industry “firsts” since their beginning in 1950 when Dr Robert Hutson, a California periodontist, designed and patented the first Oral-B toothbrush - Oral-B 60 (noted for having 60 tufts). The team at Oral-B and Auxiliary magazine have achieved yet another “first” with the introduction and completion of the 2003/2004 Oral-B Auxiliary Education Programme.

“The stimulus to provide a quality professional development self-study course was in recognition of the difficulty auxiliaries face in finding the time and finances to attend organised continuing education courses”, said Christian Staberhofer, Sales and Professional Relations Manager of Oral-B Braun. “We achieved our objectives of encouraging and developing higher professional standards through an educational medium, enhancing professional respect and personal esteem, and rewarding the achievement of excellence.”

“Auxiliary magazine represents an ideal vehicle to deliver a study modality that offers comprehension and implementation of new protocols based on scientific material,” said Joseph Allbeury, Editor of Auxiliary magazine. “We’re looking forward to working with Oral-B in the 2004/2005 Oral-B Auxiliary Education Programme with Modules 6 through 10 commencing in the May/June 2004 edition, and continuing this initiative each year thereafter.”

The feedback from the 2003/2004 participants has been very favourable with some of their suggestions to be implemented in the 2004/2005 programme. This will include an ‘Extra Points’ section of the assessment to dispel the limitations of auxiliary members in specialist practices, and the introduction of extra prizes awarded for outstanding written assessments. Professional development in Australia is evolving toward mandatory CE for the registration of dental professionals, and efforts are also being made to attain a recognised accreditation for the self-study modules offered in Auxiliary magazine.