Summer McMenamin | RDH, MS, FADHA

Summer is a dedicated and accomplished dental hygienist with over a decade of clinical experience. She serves as a community health navigator, helping connect underserved populations with essential healthcare resources. Summer is also the Vice President of the Delaware Dental Hygienist’s Association and a distinguished 2023 Colgate Oral Health Advisory Board member.

Passionate about addressing oral health inequities, Summer advocates for greater access to preventive oral healthcare and fully utilizing dental hygienists' skills. Through her platform, The Hygiene Hive, she raises awareness, engages policymakers, and fosters open dialogue to promote a more inclusive healthcare system. Her commitment to advancing the dental hygiene profession and improving patient care makes her an invaluable asset to the dental community.

Delaware's Oral Health Revolution: Hygienists as the Key to Increased Access to Care.

Explore the pressing oral health challenges facing Delaware and uncover how outdated policies limit dental hygienists from working at the top of their licensure. This course highlights the transformative role of direct access to dental hygienists in bridging gaps in care and improving oral health equity across the state. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the systemic barriers to care and practical solutions to drive meaningful change in Delaware’s oral health landscape.

Educational Objectives:

  1. Analyze the current barriers preventing Delaware dental hygienists from practicing to their full potential and identify policy solutions to address these issues.

  2. Interpret at least three key statistics to illustrate gaps in access to care and their impact on public health in Delaware.

  3. Evaluate the public health benefits of increasing direct access to dental hygienists and propose strategies to implement these changes in underserved communities.