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The realization that Contemporary Oral Hygiene (COH) is 3 years old this issue is a bit overwhelming. It’s not just that time goes by so quickly—it’s more that both the timing and a new message for dental hygiene and the industry were so readily supported. As we prepared for our launch of a publication developed to forge new paths and advance responsibilities in the careers of dental hygienists, I whispered to myself, “This could take forever.” Timing can be everything.
We also wanted to meet the challenge of finding the voices of evolution—to encourage, implement, and connect with those ready to hear our message of achieving long-held aspirations of what we are educated for and capable of, combined with the crucial goals of personal and professional growth. In retrospect, it seems that COH and our writers found each other synergistically when COH rolled out the red carpet for dental care personnel with a desire to live and inspire professional dreams.
For me, the beginning of living that dream started in Spring 2001 over a 3-day period spent with a newfound friend and imagining the possibilities, the present scope of dental hygiene, where key opinion leaders could hopefully transport our profession, while uncovering new thought leaders along the way. I was scribbling notes on napkins, sharing laughter, tears—and Southwest cuisine—with our associate publisher, Margaret Pagel. Her commitment to the empowerment of dental hygiene, backed by Dental Learning Systems, paved the way for COH to be a reality. “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind.”—William James
Change is a constant in all of our lives—it is the one thing that we can count on. How we handle change is an integral part of who we are. Some have the vision of what change can bring, and act on it. Others get the whiff of change and begin adopting the changes right away, while influencing others to follow. Along the current of change are those who don’t want to be first on their block, who don’t want to be left behind, or who are content to be the last in line and shaking their heads at all of the commotion. If you have read this far, you probably see most change as progress, a challenge to consider, and make the most of it in your life.
Our core columnists are a formidable team of change agents. Each of them has explored uncharted territories in their dental hygiene careers, exhibited unique leadership
and courage, and have taken the time to give back to our professional community. Each has had a profound impact on changing how we, as preventive care experts, are perceived in our workplace and within the industry. Our editorial board mirrors the strengths of our writers.
As a group, and individually, we take our mentoring responsibility very seriously. Sharing and empowering others with knowledge is what being a health care professional is all about.
We are thrilled with the constant positive feedback we receive about our columnists and the talented authors we have featured over the past 3 years. The editorial team at COH humbly thanks each of them. Additionally, I want to recognize the commitment of our editorial board members. Their considerable dedication to reviewing the content of our magazine is invaluable. Our internal editorial staff is wonderfully supportive and remarkably calm. In addition, the volume of fan mail we receive from dentists urging us forward has been an unexpected pleasure. Thanks to our readers for passing COH along!
Because I love interactive learning, please let me know what you would like the next 3 years to bring. What information are you seeking? What are your personal goals for your own career, and what do you have on your wish list for the future of dental hygiene? Thanks for your continued input and support. “If people are coming to work excited…if they’re making mistakes freely and fearlessly…if they’re having fun…if they’re concentrating on doing things, rather than preparing reports and going to meetings—then somewhere you have leaders.”
—Robert Townsend COH
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Articles 
Celebrating Turning Dreams into Realities
