Hispanic Dental Association marks National Hispanic Heritage Month with events, service, education

Association to host lectures, reception during SmileCon

National Hispanic Heritage Month, taking place Sept. 15-Oct. 15, recognizes the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans in the U.S., and the Hispanic Dental Association is celebrating the month in several ways.

As part of Nuestra Sonrisa Hispana, the Hispanic Dental Association’s National Hispanic Heritage Month promotion, the association is encouraging its members to share its Spanish-language oral health presentations and videos within their communities to help increase oral health literacy. The association will be adding a presentation focused on providing oral health tips and nutrition and hygiene education for seniors to their caregivers.  

Local chapters of the Hispanic Dental Association in San Antonio, Dallas and Houston will participate in a joint service project to help community members in need in San Antonio. The event, Serving our Heroes/Sirviendo Nuestros Heroes, will take place in November in partnership with the San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic.

The association is also launching the eighth edition of the Journal of the Hispanic Dental Association, titled Justice for Us/Justicia para Nosotros, this fall. Its ninth edition, to be published during the winter, will be titled Technology: Friend or Foe/Tecnologia: Amiga o Enemiga.

The Hispanic Dental Association will operate Booth 2156 at SmileCon, the American Dental Association’s annual meeting taking place Oct. 5-7 in Orlando, Florida. Those who stop by the booth to become a member and choose to auto-renew will receive a polo shirt.

Hispanic Dental Association leaders will also deliver two lectures Oct. 5 during SmileCon. Manuel A. Cordero, D.D.S., executive director and CEO of the association, will present Mejor Dental Spanish for the Office Team from 10-11 a.m. in room S330D at the Orange County Convention Center. The association’s research team will share its findings related to dental caries and periodontal disease occurrence, utilization of dental services, utilization of emergency services and workforce issues among Hispanic/Latino populations during An Exploration of Oral Health Needs of U.S. Hispanics from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in room S319.

The association will host a reception for its members from 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando as well.

To learn more about the Hispanic Dental Association, visit its website.