T I F FA N Y B A G G S , R D H , B A S D HJ O Y D AV I S , R D H , B A S D H

History of Dental Hygiene

Founder of Dental Hygiene Profession

Dr. Alfred C. Fones- the “father of dental hygiene”

1913 Opened the first dental hygiene school in Bridgeport, CT

First Dental Hygienist

1917- First licensed Hygienist - Irene Newman in CT

Hygiene Care Process

Assessment- 1st Component of care Collecting subjective, and objective data

Dental hygiene diagnosis Data from assessment phase is analyzed and a diagnosis is

formulated. See Table 1-1 Pg. 7Planning

Interventions needed in order to achieve whole oral healthImplementation

Activation of the care planEvaluation

Determine need for retreat, referral, or maintenance

American Dental Hygiene Association

150,000 RDH - 40,000 membersAdvance the art and science of dental hygiene by

increasing public’s awareness of quality oral carePromote highest standard of dental hygiene education,

licensure, and practiceRepresent and promote the interests of dental hygienists

Goals of ADHA

Continue consumer advocacy in the healthcare systemPromote DH as a primary care provider of preventive and

therapeutic servicesPromote self regulation of DH education, licensure, and

practiceServe as authoritative resource on issues related to DHPromote research relevant to DHIncrease membership and participationProvide financial base

Tri-level Structure of the ADHA

Individual members are part of local (component) GODHA, SADHA

State (constituent) FDHA, FSADHA

National Level

Standards of Practice

Standards of practice should be based on current scientific findings

Define what DH can doProvides guidelines to what is quality hygiene care to

consumers, employers and colleaguesEstablishes goals for DH educationAssurance of competent professional development

Evidence-based decision –making process (EBDM)

Ethics

A sense of moral obligation (right and wrong behavior) Box 1-3 Ethical Key Words

A system of principles that governs the conduct of a professional group

Principles of morality-Core values

Code of Ethics

Describes professional conduct

Responsibilities and duties of each member toward patients, colleagues and society

Purpose: Aware and sensitive to situations in practice

Core Values

Autonomy The act of self-determination by persons with the ability to make a choice or a

decision Confidentiality

Patient privacy, protect privileged communication Societal trust

Trust in relationships- DH and patients, other professional persons, and the public

Beneficence Doing good for a benefit

Nonmaleficence Avoiding harm to others

Justice and fairness Fair treatment, impartiality

Veracity Telling the truth to patients about treatment

Ethical Applications

Ethical Issue Clearly defined A solution is seen by the

laws, standards of care, standard rules

Ethical Dilemma Two morally correct choices May have more than one

answer or solution to an issue

Steps to Resolution Gather facts Ethical theories and

principles applied Options are explored

Steps are broken down in detail Pg. 10 and 11

Final Decision

Is the final action/decision morally defensible on the standards of practice for the DH profession?

Can the choice be defended to solve the dilemma?

Patient, the dentist, peers, state board, court of law

A frequent review of the practice acts and regulations will keep your license happy! Know your laws and abide by them.

The End