Dental hygienists are licensed oral health professionals who focus on preventing and treating oral diseases-both to protect teeth and gums, and also to protect patients' total health. They are graduates of accredited dental hygiene education programs in colleges and universities, and must take a written national board examination and a clinical examination before they are licensed to practice. In addition to treating patients directly, dental hygienists may also work as educators, researchers, and administrators. more

TDHA Mission Statement

To improve the public’s total health, the mission of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association is to advance the art and science of dental hygiene by ensuring access to quality oral health care, increasing awareness of the cost - effective benefits of prevention, promoting the highest standards of dental hygiene education, licensure, practice, and research, and representing and promoting the interests of dental hygienists.