Sunstar Announces New Regional Awards of Distinction for Dental Hygienists

Sunstar Oral Health, a division of Sunstar, has announced the commencement of the Regional Awards of Distinction for Dental Hygienists in 2024. These prestigious awards aim to honor the remarkable achievements and contributions of dental hygienists throughout Europe and North America. This year, the European and North American Awards of Distinction are now accepting entries, providing an unparalleled opportunity for dental hygienists to be recognized for their dedication and excellence in the field.

The Regional Awards of Distinction are open for submissions until March 31, 2024, for the North American region, and until April 15, 2024, for the European region. In collaboration with esteemed partners such as the European Dental Hygienist Federation (EDHF) in Europe and RDH Magazine in North America, and supported by the Sunstar Foundation, these awards celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of dental hygienists within their respective regions.

Hygienists eligible for nomination, whether self-nominated or nominated by a colleague, must be officially registered dental hygienists. The awards feature 6 distinct categories, including Public Health, Full-Time Clinician, Academia, Entrepreneur, New RDH, and Research, providing a comprehensive platform to acknowledge excellence across various aspects of the profession.

Both the European and North American Awards of Distinction serve as qualifying rounds for the prestigious World Dental Hygienists Award (WDHA). Established in 2007 and reintroduced last year after a temporary hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the WDHA honors the most outstanding dental hygienists globally. The winners of the 2024 WDHA will be announced during the International Symposium of Dental Hygiene in Seoul, with the next edition commencing in January 2025.

Gitana Rederiene, President of the European Dental Hygienist Federation, expresses enthusiasm for the continuation of the European Award of Distinction, stating in a press release, "We have been very impressed by the standard of nominations received for the 2023 European Award of Distinction, and the EDHF is delighted to continue our involvement in the 2024 edition together with Sunstar."

Jackie Sanders, RDH, MBA, Chief Editor of RDH Magazine, adds in the press release, "We have seen how the Sunstar/RDH Award of Distinction has become the annual celebration of dental hygienists, and we are extremely proud to have built this along with Sunstar over the years."

Mayumi Kaneda, director of the Sunstar Foundation, emphasizes the commitment to recognizing dental hygienists globally. "Our commitment to celebrating dental hygienists is now stronger than ever with not just 1, but 3 awards dedicated to acknowledging their successes and achievements globally," Kaneda states in the press release.

The judging process for all nominations across the 6 categories of both the European and North American Awards of Distinction will be conducted by independent selection committees. Winners will not only receive regional recognition but will also automatically qualify for the WDHA, with the opportunity to compete for the global award and attend the award ceremony in Milan during the International Symposium on Dental Hygiene in 2026.

For more information and details about the awards and prizes, dental hygienists can visit the following links: European Award of Distinction,

North American Award of Distinction, and World Dental Hygienist Awards.

Sunstar Foundation is dedicated to promoting health, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation through education and research, with a focus on the correlation between oral and general health. To learn more about Sunstar Foundation's initiatives, visit www.sunstarfoundation.org/en/.

Sunstar, a multinational company headquartered in Switzerland, celebrates its 92nd anniversary this year since its establishment in 1932 in Osaka, Japan. Sunstar is a leading global company in the Mouth & Body Care field, with significant presence in Health & Beauty Care and Environment & Amenity business fields, as well as being a world leader in Safety Support & High Technology fields.