Research is critically important to achieving our mission to advance the art and science of dental hygiene. Facilitating the development of new clinical techniques, materials and treatments modalities, research also has an impact on access to care, education and public and private policies on oral health.
Both inside and outside of the research arena, it is important for practitioners to make decisions that are firmly grounded in knowledge obtained from research and clinical experiences. To help advance our profession, the National Dental Hygiene Research Agenda (NDHRA) identifies the following priority research areas:
- Health Promotion/Disease Prevention
- Health Services Research
- Professional Education and Development
- Clinical Dental Hygiene Care
- Occupational Health and Safety
Requests for Research and Research Support
The ADHA regularly conducts research studies on various important topics within or affecting the practice of dental hygiene and the ADHA membership. ADHA also receives many requests for research or research support. Please view the ADHA’s Policy on Requests for Research Support prior to soliciting support from ADHA for a research project.
VIEW THE POLICY ON REQUESTS FOR RESEARCH SUPPORT
The Journal of Dental Hygiene
The Journal of Dental Hygiene (JDH) is the premier, peer-reviewed publication for evidence-based practice. Published bi-monthly, it features articles from recognized experts in dental hygiene and related fields. ADHA members and paid JDH subscribers have access to the last 24 months of research and content.
Theoretical Models
Dental hygiene did not advance concepts related to theoretical models until the early 1990s when a paradigm for the discipline of dental hygiene science was proposed by Darby and Walsh. The concepts defined as central to the discipline of dental hygiene include: client, environment, health/oral health, and dental hygiene actions. ADHA adopted this paradigm and the concepts contributed to a refined definition of the discipline of dental hygiene which evolved to a framework that allows for a continuum of knowledge advancement through research and theory development.