Sarah M. Luther

Bio

Sarah Luther is an Assistant Professor in the Dental Health Department at the Community College of Rhode Island.  She is a CCRI alumna having graduated from both the Dental Hygiene Program and Dental Assisting Program. She received her Master's Degree in Dental Hygiene, with a focus on education, from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.  Sarah has worked in the dental field in the state of Rhode Island for over 20 years.  She is a Certified Dental Assistant, a licensed Dental Hygienist, and a licensed Public Heath Dental Hygienist.  Her experiences include working in private practice and public health, including general dentistry, periodontics, orthodontics, pedodontics, and endodontics.  Sarah has done thorough research on the oral health needs assessment in Rhode Island and what has been executed in the dental profession nationally to help communities oral health needs.  She has also done extensive scientific research and writing on musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomic interventions in the dental field, including the effects of stretching exercises in other similar professions.  She is a member of the Rhode Island Oral Health Coalition, the Rhode Island Public Health Association, the American Dental Hygiene Association, the American Dental Education Association, and the Sigma Phi Alpha Dental Hygiene Honor Society.

Presentations and Activities

2022: Esther Wilkins Symposium, Exercises and Ergonomics; Reducing Musculoskeletal injuries in the Post-COVID Operatory
2022: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Interventions, and Chairside Stretching for the Dental Hygienist

Awards & Honors

2021: CCRI Dental Health Faculty Outstanding Alumni Award
2005: Helen C. Searles Award for exceptional clinical performance in dental assisting

Areas of Interest

Public Health
Ergonomics in Dentistry
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Interprofessional Education
Student Learning
Oral Healthcare Access