Elevating Dental Hygiene Through Research and Advanced Academic Pathways

Since its inception more than 11 decades ago, the profession of dental hygiene has continuously progressed into a critical component of preventive healthcare. Serving as the frontline in early detection and management of oral diseases, dental hygienists contribute significantly to both oral and systemic health outcomes. However, regardless of the advancements made, the profession remains underdeveloped in comparison to other healthcare professions in terms of research infrastructure and access to advanced academic pathways. Currently, the existing evidence used to support the practice of dental hygiene has originated from other related healthcare disciplines, such as public health, dentistry, and periodontology rather than from within the discipline itself.¹ This has hindered the development of dental hygiene-specific theories, models, and innovations that are uniquely relevant to dental hygiene.¹ Hence, to ensure dental hygiene continues to advance and assert its relevance in the broad healthcare system, the profession must prioritize the creation of discipline-specific research and invest in doctoral-level education to support a strong scholarly foundation.

Why Research Matters

According to the National Health Services, research is the foundation upon which modern healthcare is built. Additionally, it serves as a driving force behind innovation, shaping clinical practice, health policy, and patient outcomes.² Research not only supports the development of new treatments and technologies, but it also ensures that existing interventions remain effective, safe, and aligned with the evolving needs of diverse populations.² By actively engaging in research, dental hygienists aid in bridging the gap between oral and systemic health, ensuring that patient care is not only comprehensive but that it is also evidence-based, current, and impactful.^3–5 Furthermore, research is a critical component of graduate education and essential to the advancement of the dental hygiene profession, as it upholds the profession’s integrity, promotes continued relevance, and supports the growth of the discipline within the broader healthcare system.⁷

The Current Gap in Dental Hygiene Research

Despite the substantial importance of research in healthcare, dental hygiene continues to face significant challenges in building a strong and sustainable research infrastructure.³ One of the most foundational issues lies within the educational preparation of dental hygienists, particularly in associate degree programs. The literature has noted that formal course work in research methodology is most often not included in associate degree programs, which limits a student’s exposure to the principles of scientific inquiry and critical appraisal.³ Instead, research concepts are often introduced superficially through community dental or oral health courses, which has left many associate degree graduates unprepared to participate in or to lead evidence-based initiatives.³

Another critical barrier present in dental hygiene education is the availability of advanced academic pathways, particularly at the doctoral level. The terminal degree in dental hygiene remains at the master’s level, leaving dental hygienists with no other option but to pursue a doctoral study in adjacent fields such as public health, health sciences, or education.^1–4 While these areas of study offer valuable interdisciplinary perspectives, they may not directly support the development of theoretical frameworks or research agendas specific to dental hygiene.^1–4 As a result, this not only limits the profession’s ability to generate new and original research necessary to build a unique disciplinary knowledge base, but it also hinders its ability to develop its own cadre of researchers.⁴

Pathways for Building Research in Dental Hygiene

To address some of the current limitations in dental hygiene research, the profession must work toward developing strategic solutions that will strengthen its academic and scientific foundation. To start, the profession should mandate that entry-level programs incorporate more comprehensive coursework on basic research principles. As mentioned earlier, much of the research that informs dental hygiene practice is published in journals outside of the discipline. Preparing dental hygienists with the skills to critically evaluate and interpret research will prepare them to appropriately assess the validity and credibility of existing evidence that ultimately supports daily evidence-based practice.⁵ In addition to strengthening entry-level education, the profession must develop a doctoral degree designed specifically for dental hygiene. Doing so would not only support the cultivation of discipline-specific research, but it also ensures that dental hygienists can advance their academic careers without having to rely on adjacent fields.^1–5 Furthermore, a doctoral program would also provide the essential academic structure to prepare dental hygienists to become independent researchers capable of producing original discipline-specific research that advances the profession and contributes to its scientific credibility.⁴

Conclusion

As the dental hygiene profession continues to evolve within the broader landscape of healthcare, strengthening both the academic and research foundation is crucial for its future success.⁶ Additionally, to truly advance as a respected, evidence-based healthcare discipline, the profession must commit to developing its own body of knowledge and cultivate a strong group of researchers.^{1, 3, 5} By empowering dental hygienists to conduct, publish, and lead original research is not only essential for enhancing clinical practice, but it is also vital for shaping healthcare policy, influencing curriculum development, and asserting the profession’s relevance in interdisciplinary care.⁶ With numerous studies continuing to emphasize the need for more evidence-based research on critical health issues, dental hygiene needs to seize this moment to invest in doctoral-level education and develop a strong internal research infrastructure. Doing so will ensure that the profession remains innovative, self-sustaining, and a vital contributor to the modern health care system.

References

1. Bowen DM. History of dental hygiene research. J Dent Hyg. 2013;87:5–22.
2. Nass SJ, Levit LA, Gostin LO, eds. Beyond the HIPAA Privacy Rule: Enhancing Privacy, Improving Health Through Research. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2009.
3. Partido B, Colon M. Motivations and challenges towards research activities among undergraduate dental hygiene students. J Dent Hyg. 2019;93:23-31.
4. Gurenlian JR, Spolarich AE. Advancing the profession through doctoral education. J Dent Hyg. 2013:87 Suppl 1:29-32.
5. Westphal CT, Beall A. Facilitating advanced research skills beyond the undergraduate dental hygiene curricula. J Dent Hyg. 2022;96:59-66.
6. American Dental Hygienists’ Association. National Dental Hygiene Research Agenda. https://jdh.adha.org/content/jdenthyg/90/suppl_1/43.full.pdf