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Kimberly K. Benkert Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Grant

American Dental Hygienists' Association Institute for Oral Health

One recipient will be selected per year and a minimum of $2,500 will be awarded.

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) covers a broad range of symptoms, orofacial myofunctional issues, and is utilized in treatment of apnea and functional issues associated with temporomandibular functional and muscular dysfunction. OMT is utilized to also treat orofacial behaviors such as muscle bracing, clenching, bruxism, Range of Motion dysfunction of the mandibles, head & neck. Additional oral behaviors are treated such as digit sucking, chronic nail biting, and other noxious oral behaviors. The pre- to post- surgical and non-surgical interventions addressing tight lingual frenums, commonly known as tongue ties, lip, and or cheek (buccal) ties are therapeutically addressed.

The areas of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy provided by an applicant may include an area of research and/or practice. These areas may include the Role of the RDH as a practitioner of OMT; an RDH OMT in relation to other types of licensed practitioners; Certification and/or Collaborative Relationships; Activities of Daily Living (ADL); and/or Quality of Life (QOL). The educational background of the applicant needs to be well-rounded in OMT and address some area of Functionality in the most commonly seen and/or treated conditions which may include:

Assessment, Examination, OMT diagnosis, Care plan, Implementation, Evaluation
Airway / Breathing
Frenums and/or Frenectomies
Resting postures of the tongue, lips, mandible, maintaining a dental freeway space, head/neck and impact of body posture
Swallowing (all stages from infant to adult)
Chewing
Feeding /eating (all stages from infant to adult)
Mechanics of functional speech
Sleep & Apnea
Oral Behaviors
TMD – Pain and/or functional issues
Myofascial Release and/or Craniosacral Therapy

Grant recipients are encouraged to submit a final thesis or dissertation manuscript to be considered for publication in the Journal of Dental Hygiene not to exceed 2 years from the receipt of the grant.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

Although IOH awards vary in scale and type, successful applications tend to share the following strengths:

✔ 1. Clear Alignment With Oral Health & Dental Hygiene Priorities

Whether a scholarship, research grant or community project, proposals that clearly connect to advancing dental hygiene practice, profession growth or oral health care access resonate with reviewers.

For research grants, this means addressing issues of clinical relevance, preventive strategies or measurable health outcomes.

For community grants, it means defined population needs and measurable outreach impact. IDHA

Success tip: Reference how the work supports the IOH mission and fills a known gap in education, practice, access or outcomes.

✔ 2. Academic & Professional Excellence

For scholarships, academic metrics like GPA (commonly ~3.0+), evidence of leadership, service and commitment to oral health strengthen competitive positioning. ADHA

For research/community proposals, previous experience, clinical insight and institutional support (e.g., faculty advisors, clinical settings) demonstrate capability to complete the project.

✔ 3. Well-Written Essays & Community Narratives

Many IOH scholarships require essays or personal statements. These should:

Tell a clear, compelling story of why dental hygiene matters to you,

Connect goals to long-term oral health impact,

Demonstrate commitment to community care or professional evolution.

Success tip: Use concrete examples — such as prior outreach work or a specific research question — and tie them to professional values.

✔ 4. Realistic, Measurable Plans (for Grants)

For research/community service awards, reviewers evaluate:

Clear objectives and hypotheses,

Methodological plans,

Timelines, and

Measures of success (e.g., community reach, oral health indices, quality improvement metrics).

Success tip: Use concise logic models connecting activities → outputs → outcomes.

✔ 5. ADHA Membership & Professional Engagement

Membership in ADHA — and often active involvement (e.g., student chapters, volunteering) — is usually required and signals commitment to the field. new.expo.uw.edu

Success tip: Demonstrate leadership or role contributions within ADHA or affiliated professional groups.

🛠 Practical Advice for Applicants

✔ Review individual award criteria early: Each named scholarship or grant has specific eligibility, essay prompts and GPA requirements — read them carefully. ADHA

✔ Prepare materials in advance: Transcripts, references, ADHA membership verification and polished essays are common required documents. Access Scholarships

✔ Ask for feedback: For community and research proposals, run project plans past mentors or faculty familiar with grant writing.

✔ Meet deadlines: IOH scholarship deadlines often fall in the winter (around Feb 28), and research grant windows can be Jan–Mar. ADHA+1

✔ Demonstrate impact: For community awards especially, define target populations, outreach methods and how outcomes will be measured or reported.

📌 Summary: IOH Funding & Success Checklist

Funding Type	Audience	Focus	Key Success Factors
Scholarships	DH students & grad hygienists	Education support	High GPA, compelling essays, ADHA engagement
Research Grants	ADHA members with research interest	Dental hygiene research	Clear objectives, methods, professional relevance
Community Service Grants	ADHA members & teams	Oral care outreach	Defined impact, measurable outcomes

Specialties

Clinical Trials

Eligibility Requirements

Develop or expand upon the OMT body of knowledge
Promote the public’s oral health by improving dental hygiene education and practice
Support the delivery of quality oral healthcare

Additional Eligibility Requirements:

The principal investigator (PI) must be a licensed RDH with at least 2 years of working experience within the specialized OMT field and exhibit dedication to continued work within the field
Projects which are in progress may be considered for funding as long as they meet the criteria for approval
Current members of the ADHA Foundation Board of Directors, ADHA Board of Directors and Research Grant Review Committee may not apply as principal investigators, but may do so in another capacity (i.e. secondary investigator, mentor, etc.)

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Dental Hygienists' Association Institute for Oral Health

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 444 North Michigan Avenue Suite 400 Chicago, IL 60611

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