A collection of evidence-based guidelines to help you optimize your dental hygiene education practice.

CODA Accreditation Standards for Dental Hygiene Education Programs

ADHA supports accreditation standards that prepare entry level dental hygienists to assume all the professional roles of a dental hygienist in a variety of settings to address the oral and overall health care needs of the public. In addition, ADHA actively monitors proposed changes or additions to the dental hygiene accreditation standards, and makes strategic recommendations based on member feedback with the best interests of the dental hygiene community in mind.

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CODA Accreditation Standards for Dental Therapy Education Programs

In August 2015, the Commission on Dental Accreditation voted to implement national Accreditation Standards for Dental Therapy Education Programs – creating a framework for policymakers across the country. There is perhaps no greater example of ADHA’s commitment to ensuring that the voices of dental hygienists are represented than its collective work in advancing the dental therapy education standards. As the national organization, ADHA worked in tandem with state associations to clarify that the standards should include a dental hygiene-track, as well as advanced standing for dental hygienists looking to become dental therapists. With recognition that this career path may not suit all dental hygienists, ADHA is committed to supporting dental hygienists in the exploration of current and future career pathways.

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National Board Dental Hygiene Examination Resource

Each year, the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations releases a guide for dental hygiene students taking the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE). The guide is necessary for dental hygiene students to review prior to applying to take the examination, and serves as the official guide detailing application and examination procedures, content and scoring.

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Core Competencies for Graduate Dental Hygiene Education

Graduate education in dental hygiene is imperative for developing dental hygiene professionals who will lead the profession and assume leadership roles in health care and education, as well as developing scholars to participate in the generation and dissemination of knowledge. Created by ADHA and the American Dental Education Association, the Core Competencies for Graduate Dental Hygiene Education resource defines the body of professional knowledge, and establishes an educational foundation for all graduate level dental hygiene programs.

Competencies for Graduate Education

ADHA White Paper: Dental Hygiene Diagnosis

It is the position of ADHA that dental hygiene diagnosis is a necessary and intrinsic element of dental hygiene education and scope of practice. The new ADHA Dental Hygiene Diagnosis White Paper underscores the ability of dental hygienists to perform dental hygiene diagnosis as part of the oral care team working to ensure that every patient is evaluated and treated, based on their individual oral health needs. ADHA created the white paper to help practicing dental hygienists understand and use dental hygiene diagnoses in daily practice. In addition, the resource provides guidance for dental hygiene educators to help teach dental hygiene diagnosis to students.

Dental Hygiene Diagnosis Paper

ADHA White Paper: Transforming Dental Hygiene Education and the Profession for the 21st Century

Graduate education in dental hygiene is imperative for developing dental hygiene professionals who will lead the profession and assume leadership roles in health care and education, as well as developing scholars to participate in the generation and dissemination of knowledge. Created by ADHA and the American Dental Education Association, the Core Competencies for Graduate Dental Hygiene Education resource defines the body of professional knowledge, and establishes an educational foundation for all graduate level dental hygiene programs.

Transforming Dental Hygiene Education and the Profession for the 21st Century

Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice

Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice promote the knowledge, values, practices, and behaviors that support and enhance oral health with the ultimate goal of improving overall health. The primary purpose of the standards is to assist dental hygiene clinicians in the provider-patient relationship. In addition, dental hygienists in other professional roles such as educator, researcher, entrepreneur, public health professional, and administrator can use the standards to facilitate the implementation of collaborative, patient-centered care in interprofessional teams of health professionals.

Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice

National Dental Hygiene Research Agenda

ADHA acknowledges the importance of a body of research unique to dental hygiene in defining it as a profession and developing it into a discipline. The aim of the National Dental Hygiene Research Agenda (NDHRA) is to provide a framework to guide those members of the profession who desire to add to the body of knowledge that defines the dental hygiene profession. In recognition of its importance to the dental hygiene profession, ADHA is committed to regularly updating the NDHRA as the dental hygiene body of knowledge continues to grow.

National Dental Hygiene Research Agenda