January 2023 Social Commentary
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If you could change one thing about the profession of dental hygiene, what would it be?
![Hadeel]()
Hadeel M. Ayoub, PhD, MSDH, RDH Dimensions Peer Review Panel Member
License portability. ALL programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) graduate competent dental hygienists who maintain the same standards. At the same time, obtaining the dental hygiene license in ALL states requires graduating from a CODA-accredited program. Yet, license portability is still a challenge!
![Marion]()
Marion C. Manski, RDH, MS Dimensions Editorial Advisory Board Member
Self regulation—controlling the destiny of our own scope of practice.
![Noriko]()
Noriko Edeza, RDH Dimensions Facebook Commenter
The lack of benefits in our field. Many dental hygienists work part-time in multiple offices, leaving them without the opportunity for benefits. Working more than one part-time position adds up to full-time work for some dental hygienists, like me. I was able to negotiate with my offices but not all hygienists are able to do so.
![Ellen]()
Ellen R. Guritzky, MSJ, RDH Dimensions Facebook Commenter
Reciprocity, autonomy, and independent practice in all 50 states.
![Kim]()
Kim Kolassa, RDH, BS Dimensions Brand Ambassador
The limited services offered by insurance companies. The dental hygiene profession is alive and well but is being held back by the almighty dollar.
![Janet]()
Janet Goertz-Myer, RDH Dimensions Facebook Commenter
More independence.
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Danielle Rulli, RDH, MS, DHSc Dimensions Peer Review Panel Member
Self-regulation. Nobody knows the breadth and depth of our education better than we do. If we could change that, everything else would naturally follow.
![Jenna]()
Jenna Arcaro, RDH Dimensions Facebook Commenter
The line between dentists as “hard tissue specialists” and dental hygienists as “soft tissue specialists” would be more clearly delineated to patients.
Like Dimensions of Dental Hygiene’s Facebook page at: facebook.com/dimensionsofdentalhygiene to share your thoughts on posted questions. We may publish your comment in an upcoming edition of our new column “Social Commentary,” and one lucky respondent will receive a coupon for a free continuing education course.
From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. January 2023; 21(1)11.
