BY JOANN R. GURENLIAN, RDH, PhD
October is National Dental Hygiene Month, and this is the time of year when we can be proud of our chosen profession and the impact we have on improving the health of the public. Certainly, there are numerous opportunities to participate in local and state initiatives to promote dental hygienists as primary care providers and influencers of change during this month. The "Days on the Hill," continuing education programs, state meetings, and countless volunteer projects create awareness about the value of dental hygienists.
One area that strikes me as important during this time of celebration is recognizing the power of membership in our professional associations. We have two dynamic national organizations leading the profession forward: the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) and the National Dental Hygienists' Association (NDHA).
The ADHA was formed in 1923 with the original intent to develop a mechanism for dental hygienists to communicate and cooperate. "To improve the public's total health, the mission of ADHA is to advance the art and science of dental hygiene. We work to:
• "Ensure access to quality oral health care.
• "Increase awareness of the cost-effective benefits of prevention.
• "Promote the highest standards of dental hygiene education, licensure, practice, and research.
• "Represent and promote the interests of dental hygienists."1
ADHA has established a five-year strategic plan. The vision statement, goals, and objectives of this plan appear in Table 1.
The NDHA was founded in 1932 with the purpose of addressing special problems of the minority hygienist. Today, membership spans the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. The mission of the NDHA is to:
• "Promote the highest educational and ethical standards for dental hygienists. Create definite position statements on issues impacting the profession of dental hygiene.
• "Enhance recruitment efforts for minority students' communities in need.
• "Assist in the access to oral care for the under-served communities in the United States.