WV Oral Health Coalition

10/20/2026

🦷 West Virginia Collaboration. Nationwide Impact. 5,600+ Learners and Counting! 💙💛

Hello, Oral Health Champions!

We have exciting news to share—and a little extra Mountain State pride!

A FREE, 2-hour continuing education course, Considerations for Acquired and Inherited Blood Disorders, launched June 30, 2026, through Crest + Oral-B’s DentalCare.com. And already, more than 5,600 people have taken the course! 🎉

That’s more than 5,600 opportunities to strengthen clinical knowledge, build provider confidence, and improve access to dental care for individuals living with bleeding disorders.

Why is this course so special? Because West Virginia helped bring it to life! 🏔️

The West Virginia Oral Health Coalition collaborated with several outstanding West Virginia partners, including the WV Chapter of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation, CAMC (now Vandalia Health), and West Virginia University, to help shape this important educational resource.

Featuring Rebecca Schaffer, DDS, and Gina Sharps, MPH, RDH, CTTS, FADHA, this course provides practical guidance, clinical considerations, and valuable resources to help dental professionals care for patients with acquired and inherited bleeding disorders.

Why does it matter?

The CDC estimates that von Willebrand disease, the most common inherited bleeding disorder, affects up to 1% of the population. Applied to West Virginia, that could represent approximately 18,000 residents—a population-based estimate, not a confirmed state count.

For individuals living with bleeding disorders, finding dental professionals who feel knowledgeable and prepared to provide care can be challenging. Education is one important step toward changing that!

📚 THE COURSE DETAILS
🦷 Course: Considerations for Acquired and Inherited Blood Disorders
⏰ Continuing Education: 2 hours
💲 Cost: FREE!
👥 Audience: Dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, students, educators, and other dental team members

🔗 TAKE THE FREE COURSE HERE:
https://www.dentalcare.com/en-us/ce-courses/ce685

Our ask? TAKE IT. SHARE IT. SPREAD THE WORD!

A heartfelt thank-you to our West Virginia partners for sharing their expertise and helping create a resource that is reaching dental professionals nationwide—and to Crest + Oral-B for making this education freely available.

Who knew a little Mountain State teamwork could make such a big difference? 💙

Here’s to more confident providers, better-coordinated care, and healthier smiles for ALL!

For individuals with bleeding disorders, locating dental providers both willing to and comfortable with providing care can be a challenge. This is due to a variety of factors, such as a limited knowledge of the types and intricacies

10/12/2026

💚 Celebrating a Champion for Children! 💚

The West Virginia Oral Health Coalition is proud to recognize Dr. Matt Christiansen of Valley Health Systems, recipient of the 2026 Healthcare Champion Award at the EveryChild NOW Champions Luncheon!

This year’s award carries a powerful message: “Be who you needed when you were younger.” It’s a reminder of the lasting impact that caring, compassionate professionals can have on the lives of children and families.

Dr. Christiansen’s recognition celebrates the important role healthcare leaders play in building healthier futures for West Virginia’s children. Access to quality healthcare, including oral health care, is essential to helping every child thrive.

Congratulations, Dr. Christiansen, on this well-deserved honor! Thank you for being a champion for children and for the difference you make in the lives of West Virginians. 💚

Photo credit Sibold

10/03/2026

🦷💙 What a great day for oral health in West Virginia!

Today, the WVOHC had the opportunity to share with an incredible group of dental hygienists at the 2026 West Virginia Dental Hygienists' Association Fall Session!

From outstanding speakers to thought-provoking conversations, this was a day filled with learning, connection, collaboration, and inspiration. We’re especially grateful to be surrounded by professionals who are passionate about strengthening dental hygiene and improving oral health for all West Virginians.

We’re proud to be part of a community that continues to show up, speak up, and move oral health forward. 💙

09/11/2026

AND THAT'S A WRAP!
WV Oral Health Coalition looks forward to seeing you at the 2027 WVOHC Summit!

09/11/2026

How we say it matters.

Caroline Le, BSPH, Public Policy Analyst with CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, leads our closing plenary, Exploring Effective Communication Strategies Around Community Water Fluoridation.

Thank you, Caroline, for helping us think about not only what we communicate—but how we communicate it. 🦷💬

And what a great way to wrap up a day of learning, connection, and collaboration!

09/11/2026

A little reading. A little pledging. A whole lot of healthy-smile energy!🦷📚

Check out the Oral Health Book Nook!

Summit attendees pledged to promote early dental visits - and then picked out a book to take home or use in their practices to help make healthy smiles part of a child's everyday routine.

And look at that pledge board! 👀🩵

A very special thank you to the WV Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the West Virginia Dental Hygienists' Association for sponsoring this fun, meaningful, and oh-so-appropriate Summit display!

09/11/2026

Breakout time!🦷

Turning Challenges into Care Plans: Managing Medical Complexity in Dentistry
Presented by Chelsea Hilty; Marian Hart, BSN, RN; and Elizabeth Southern Puette, RDH, MSDH, CTTS

09/11/2026

Today's breakout session with Dr. Meghan Bastin is giving oral health professionals practical tools they can put to work right away.

Learning, sharing, and Skilling Up for Smiles!🩵

Skill-Stacking with SDF and Fluoride Varnish 🦷
Presented by Meghan Bastin, DMD, MPH, TTS

09/11/2026

Great conversations, practical learning, and lots of "Skill Up for Smiles" energy!

Let's Talk Myo: The Therapy You Didn't Know Your Patients Needed
Presented by Samantha Dieringer, BSDH, RDH, CMT

09/11/2026

While the rest of us are enjoying the Summit, these rock stars are putting in the work! 🦷💪

Rebecca “Becky” Erwin and Kim Lowe are spending the next six hours training a cohort of dental assistants in Expanded Restorative Functions—building skills, confidence, and a stronger dental team along the way.

To Becky, Kim, and all of the dental assistants joining us today: thank you for everything you do to keep our dental practices moving, our patients cared for, and the rest of us looking like we have it all together! 😉