Northern Virginia Dental Hygienists' Component
IN PERSON - Wednesday, September 24, 2025 7PM - 9PM
2CEU's: Free for all who register!
About the Speaker: Derik J. Sven, MBA, MPH, RDH, CDT, FADHA, MAADH, MAAOS
Derik’s career has been rooted in a comprehensive educational background. In addition to his training as a dental hygienist and laboratory technician, he holds master’s degrees in public health and business administration and is currently pursuing his doctorate in health science alongside an additional master’s in healthcare law. This blend of disciplines has shaped his approach to dental care, emphasizing the importance of ethics and patient engagement, honoring their autonomy, and self-direction to improve oral and systemic health.
Derik practices clinically as a dental hygienist while reaching out to the wider community and other professionals through his speaking engagements and media platforms. His efforts are focused not only on enhancing standards in dentistry but also on expanding access to oral health through advocacy measures.
Course Description:
This course explores the evolving landscape of dental hygiene scope of practice, examining the regulatory, educational, and economic frameworks that shape autonomy in the profession. Participants will learn how restrictive policies impact access to care, workforce capacity, and clinical outcomes—and why autonomy is not a threat, but a solution. Through historical context, legal precedent, and real-world examples, the course will dispel myths surrounding dental hygienists’ independence and provide a grounded roadmap for reform, collaboration, and ethical patient care.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Define the current scope of practice variations for dental hygienists across the U.S. and how they impact patient access and clinical outcomes.
- Explain the historical and political forces that shaped dental hygiene regulation and the role of organized dentistry in maintaining restrictive policies.
- Distinguish between common myths and evidence-based realities concerning autonomous dental hygiene practice.
- Evaluate how dental hygiene autonomy improves workforce efficiency, patient safety, and care equity.
- Identify policy levers and professional strategies that support ethical advancement of the dental hygiene profession without compromising interdisciplinary collaboration.
NVCC Medical Education Campus
6699 Springfield Center Drive Lecture Hall Room 154;
Springfield, VA 22150
Parking is free; Park on 1st or 5th level
Please notify: edisilvio@nvcc.edu if accommodations are needed
To Register: https://vdha.wildapricot.org/event-6253322
**Registration closes 9.23.25
Time: Registration 6:30pm You must register for the event.
Course 7:00PM – 9:00PM
ADHA Members: FREE
Dental Hygiene Students (not RDH yet): FREE
Non-Member/Potential Members: FREE
Derik will be the newly installed President of the Virginia Dental Hygienists' Association!
Come join us for conversation and seeing old and new friends!
Northern Virginia Dental Hygienists' Component is an approved course provider by the
Virginia Board of Dentistry.
If you have questions, contact:
Betsy Di Silvio, RDH
NVDHC CE Chair
Email: ejdrdh@gmail.com
