The profession of dental hygiene has existed for 82 years.
The changes in patient care have been causing us to shift gears.
Starched white uniforms and crisp white caps were worn,
standing and pumping up chairs, our white hose did get torn.
The belt driven handpiece was oiled at the end of each day.
Cold sterilization was used, so we didn`t throw much away.
As we approach the year 2000 some things remain the same,
our quality care and dedication are values we still claim.
There is a dental hygienist who has served the profession well,
her 41 years of service has a story we`re so proud to tell.
Her support of all dental team members and associations too,
has been demonstrated quite often in newsletters sent to you.
She has been the editor of Prophyways, newsletter of the FDHA.
She is the author of Toothtalk ,and of that we are proud to say-
keeps us in touch with each other and the latest dental techniques,
to the importance of association membership she so impressively speaks.
She has practiced in the general dentistry office of Dr. Enwood Ashmore
and given more years to that practice than anyone could ever ask for.
A book of her accomplishments that would need to be read much faster,
could only begin to pay tribute to the laudable, JoAnn LaMaster
Editor`s Note: Cindy Biron, the author of the Medical Alert column in RDH, writes poems as part of a tradition for commencement exercises at the colleges where she teaches. Graduates receive a poem written especially for them. On Oct. 19, Biron wrote the above poem for LeMaster as the Tallahassee, Fla, dental community paid tribute to a colleague whose career spanned four decades in Florida. An active ADHA delegate between 1969-1980, LeMaster kept Florida hygienists informed of events as the editor of Prophyways from 1973 to 1981. RDH joins Florida hygienists in commending LeMaster for her years of devotion to the profession.
JoAnn LaMaster
