Dental Hygienists rock the Big Easy

Nearly 900 dental hygienists gathered in New Orleans June 21 to 24 for the 84th Annual Session of the American Dental Hygienists Association, a meeting that was historic on a number of fronts.

First, this meeting marked the official release of the report "Dental Hygiene: Focus on Advancing the Profession." The report, three years in the making, envisions a future of heightened professionalism, patient care and career growth and opportunities for dental hygienists. You can access the full report here. The following is from the ADHA website:

Three years ago, a selected group of dental hygienists met to establish what the future would hold for their profession if it were determined by those in the field. The result is Dental Hygiene: Focus on Advancing the Profession.

The report, which was released officially at annual session, takes a progressive stance with controversial statements and recommendations, such as:

• baccalaureate degree recommended as the entry point for dental hygiene practice,
• traditional method of providing dental hygiene services through a private dental practice is inadequate to meet the oral health needs of the country and must be expanded,
• given the conflict of interest that occurs when employer dentists regulate their own employees, dental boards make frequent decisions that limit the public’s access to dental hygiene services,
• dental hygiene professionals should have the authority to regulate themselves,
• promoting expanded practice settings and removing restrictive supervision barriers is essential to the current and future health of the nation,
• warning that without the development of an advanced dental hygiene practitioner, other allied health professionals (i.e. physicians, nurses) will assume the responsibility of meeting the diverse oral health care needs of the public, especially the underserved.

It's no secret that the ADHA's push for greater autonomy often puts it at odds with dentists and the organizations that represent them. And it's important to note the words above, "a selected group of dental hygienists" crafted this report. For an organization whose membership comprises a minority of the professionals it represents, the ADHA, like all professional associations, must strive to make sure it really is representing its profession, not just its membership or leadership. At the same time, I have sat through hours of debate on the ADA House floor and listened while dentist politicians posed arguments that reeked of turf protection when it came to some sensible loosening of supervision restrictions on dental hygienists in cases where it would truly benefit patients.

In my years covering the oral health profession, I have known dental hygienists to be passionate patient advocates and dedicated protectors of oral health, not to mention the best agents most dentists have when it comes to case presentation and acceptance. I always have viewed the dental hygiene profession as one with incredible opportunity for growth for those who take an entrepreneurial approach to their work. I encourage more dental hygienists to join the ADHA, to seek opportunities for growth and to take pride in their work.

While I may not agree with everything in the report, I applaud the ADHA on continuing to push for the professional rights of its constituents. And I encourage the ADA and other dental organizations to enter into sober and thoughtful discussion on the points raised. Only by pushing the limits will we find the wide open center, where all oral health professionals can succeed in their careers and serve their patients to the best oral health care possible.

NEW BRAND

The ADHA also unveiled its new brand at the meeting... a fresh look, that more accurately captures the spirit of this dynamic profession. (That's it at the top of this post.) The ADHA refers to its new brand as "a vital tool for allowing the association to evolve and remain relevant with the current professional, and personal, trends and needs of dental hygienists." Check out the ADHA website to see the new look and feel surrounding the brand.