In This Section: Preparing for the Future by Trisha E. O’Hehir, RDH, MS


Preparing for the Future

by Trisha O'Hehir, RDH, MS
Hygienetown Editorial Director


Two things should be considered when looking into the future of periodontal therapy. First, our efforts as dental professionals to eradicate dental disease, periodontal disease and caries have not succeeded. According to the research, these diseases are completely preventable, but not with the prevention approaches we follow today and have followed for the past 50 years. Brushing and flossing will not prevent dental disease because the average person is not effective with either a toothbrush or dental floss.

Second, the growing number of dental hygienists is outpacing the shrinking number of dentists. Hygienists now outnumber dentists, leaving many hygienists without employment. There are currently approximately 350 dental hygiene programs in the U.S. and 65 dental schools. Granted, dental school classes are generally larger than dental hygiene classes, but the numbers no longer balance. Most dental schools now graduate as many women as men, with women working part time more often than men. This creates the need for new work environments for dental hygienists. It is not financially feasible for dental hygienists to open their own practices to provide non-surgical periodontal therapy. A few hygienists have done this successfully, but the majority would prefer to focus on prevention and not on recreating a dental practice to provide a full range of dental hygiene services.

To address this problem, three Hygienetown Townies are creating an international, online university where licensed dental hygienists can complete a Bachelor of Science Degree in Oral Health Promotion, and soon a master's degree will provide the opportunity for hygienists to create new work models taking oral health promotion outside the dental office. O'Hehir University, created by Sarah Cottingham, Tim Ives and myself, is preparing for the future with a focus on eliminating dental disease through the creation of new prevention-focused hygienist positions.

Inside This Section
102    Perio Reports
106    Profile in Oral Health: The RDH's Approach to Periodontal Therapy
109    Message Board: Periodontal Maintenance
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