Dear RDH:
Dental hygienists must be more politcally active. JoAnn Gurenlian?s advice (July 1996 RDH) has never been more timely.
In the current political environment, effective lobbying can influence legislation. Individual hygienists and hygienists groups should be in frequent contact with their legislators so that our concerns are known.
Public health is not a liberal or conservative issue. Legislators will respond to reasoned, well-prepared, and thoughtful arguments for or against issues we are concerned with.
Sitting back and allowing others to co-opt our issues can only lead to further decline in our profession. Hygienists need to personally advance our political agenda before it?s too late.
Lynne A. Dabanian, RDH
Dearborn, Michigan
