The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH) have issued a joint position statement advocating that dental hygiene services be provided only by individuals who have completed accredited educational programs and hold appropriate licensure.
The document, titled Qualified Dental Hygiene Providers, addresses recent legislative developments in the United States that permit individuals without formal education or credentials in dental hygiene to deliver care. According to ADHA and IFDH, these changes raise concerns about public safety and professional standards.
“Across the globe, the dental hygiene profession is at a crossroads with numerous challenges regarding our autonomy and credentials,” said IFDH President Jill Rethman, RDH, BA. “Disguised as ways to alleviate workforce shortages, these efforts are quick fixes that won’t address the root causes of personnel shortages. These efforts could endanger the public by allowing those without the thorough training of licensed dental hygienists to treat patients. The IFDH stands with the ADHA opposing any effort to dilute the dental hygiene profession.”
The organizations emphasized that dental hygienists play a critical role in disease prevention and therapeutic care. They noted that licensure typically requires completion of 84 to 120 credit hours of dental hygiene curriculum for entry into the profession.
“As the largest professional association for dental hygienists in the United States, the ADHA is proud to partner with the IFDH in leading the global dental hygiene community,” said ADHA President Erin Haley-Hitz, RDH, BSDH, MS. “Together, we are committed to establishing and upholding the highest standards of education and practice, ensuring dental hygienists worldwide continue to deliver exceptional care.”
ADHA and IFDH stated that efforts to address workforce issues should focus on increasing recruitment and improving workplace conditions, rather than reducing qualifications.
The full position statement is available on the organizations’ websites at adha.org/positions and ifdh.org.
