Advocacy in action: ADHA protects and shapes the future of dental hygiene and public health
Advocacy is a foundational pillar of the dental hygiene profession. Through the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), hygienists across the US are strengthening and amplifying the collective voice of our profession to shape and protect the future of oral health care. Only by working together can we collaboratively drive meaningful policy changes that benefit both providers and patients. We recommend reviewing recent ADHA position statements.
At its core, this movement extends beyond legislative initiatives; it’s fundamentally about people. It’s about ensuring that every person, regardless of their background or circumstance, has access to high-quality, evidence-based oral health care. It’s about standing against workforce models that jeopardize public health and safety. And it’s about championing policy changes that properly acknowledge the education, expertise, and essential role of dental hygienists while promoting professional opportunities.
As they advocate for meaningful change, the unwavering dedication and passion of grassroots ADHA members highlights the profound impact that a committed group of professionals can have on public health.
Across the country, dental hygienists are mobilizing at state capitals and taking an active role in advocacy efforts through legislative days or lobby days organized by state dental hygiene associations and local leaders.
These strategic events provide a forum for hygienists to engage directly with stakeholders and lawmakers and advocate for policies that expand access to care, address workforce challenges, enhance professional autonomy, ensure fair reimbursement for services, and improve health outcomes.
By sharing firsthand experiences and presenting evidence-based arguments, hygienists can directly influence and contribute to policies that benefit the profession and the communities we serve.
Protecting public health remains a top priority
At local, state, and national levels, ADHA actively opposes bills being introduced for workforce models that lack evidence-based data and do not require CODA accredited education, licensure requirements, or direct access to the public. These models compromise patient safety.
The Oral Preventive Assistant, introduced by the American Dental Association in the fall of 2024, is one such initiative that ADHA is scrutinizing. Through strategic discussions with stakeholders, dental organizations, corporate partners, and health-care leaders, ADHA continues to advocate for education-based workforce solutions that prioritize patient safety and professional standards.
At the same time, ADHA is championing legislation to enhance licensure portability, which reduces barriers for dental hygienists practicing and relocating across state lines. The Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact has now been enacted in 10 states, with legislation pending in 16 additional states as of this writing. To learn more, visit ddhcompact.org.
ADHA actively supports advocacy at every level
ADHA supports advocacy at local, state, and national levels by providing policy and position statements, training, resources, and guidance to ensure that dental hygienists are well-prepared to engage in meaningful discussions with policymakers. These efforts have already led to significant legislative advancements, including expanded practice opportunities in multiple states and greater recognition of dental hygienists as essential health-care providers.
Now is the time to take action
We cannot allow others outside our profession to control its direction or determine our value in health care. Remaining silent and uninvolved is passive acceptance of their control. By standing together, supporting one another, and amplifying our collective voice, we are united in our mission to drive meaningful change for our profession and the communities we serve. The future of dental hygiene depends on involvement and commitment to advocacy, and through ADHA, we continue to move forward—together.
