Happy National Dental Hygiene Month!

Where it Began

• • 1917: Irene Newman became the first licensed dental hygienist, and within the next three years, six more states followed and licensed dental hygienists
  • 1923: The ADHA (American Dental Hygienist Association ) launched; the ADHA was established with forty-six members and played a vital role in the growth of the dental hygienist profession.
  • 1952: All fifty states had licensed dental hygienists

Dental Hygiene of the 1960s

• • ADA provided an endorsement for fluoride effectiveness in 1960
  • The first electric toothbrush in the U.S. was invented in 1962
  • The first national board exam for dental hygienists was given in April 1962
  • The Butler Stimulator and Butler Dr. Bass toothbrush gained popularity
  • The American Dental Hygienist Association amended its bylaws to allow equality for male dental hygienists in 1965
  • ADHA provided continuing-education recommendations in 1967

Dental Hygiene of the 1970s

• • The National Board exam became function-oriented
  • Maryland appointed the first dental hygienist to a state board of dentistry in 1974
  • Sealants gained an upswing in popularity as a tool for caries prevention
  • Ultrasonic scalers became more regularly used
  • Hygienists organized widespread fluoridation programs in schools
  • Dental hygiene uniforms got updated, changing from dresses to pants to sit more comfortably
  • The state of Washington allowed dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia (Now 45 states allow dental hygienists to administer anesthetic)

Average Fees Among General Practitioners (1975)

• • $6.00: Dental hygienists' average hourly wage
  • $6.39: Cost of two bitewing radiographs
  • $22.11: Cost of full-mouth series of radiographs
  • $13.58: Cost of adult prophylaxis
  • $5.62: Cost of periodic oral evaluation

Dental Hygiene of the 1980s

• • The first edition of RDH, a new magazine for dental hygienists, was published in 1981
  • HIV/AIDS identified in 1981
  • Dental hygienists no longer wear caps; pinning ceremonies replaced capping ceremonies
  • In 1987, digital radiography in dentistry was first introduced as "RadioVisioGraphy"
  • In 1988, the John O. Butler Company was acquired by Sunstar, Inc.
  • The first home bleaching kit became available in 1989

Average fees among general practitioners (1982)

• • $15.00: Dental hygienists' average hourly wage
  • $10.14: Cost of two bitewing radiographs
  • $ 32.63: Cost of full-mouth series of radiographs
  • $ 22.41: Cost of adult prophylaxis
  • $ 9.68: Cost of periodic oral evaluation

Dental Hygiene of the 1990s

• • A case-based section was added to the National Board Exam format in 1998
  • Added functions for dental hygienists were legalized in response to a need for access to care
  • Ultrasonic use becomes routine in dental offices
  • Teeth whitening and esthetics gained tremendous popularity.
  • AmyRDH.com was founded in 1999

Average fee among general practitioners (1995)

• • $18.00: Dental hygienists' average hourly wage in 1995
  • $19.89: Cost of two bitewing radiographs
  • $62.25: Cost of full-mouth series of radiographs
  • $44.55: Cost of adult prophylaxis
  • $20.82: Cost of periodic oral evaluation

Dental Hygiene from 2000 through 2009

• • Patient demands are high for esthetic services, such as veneers and whitening products
  • Private offices address concerns over heightened latex sensitivity, and more non-latex products become available
  • New products for dentinal hypersensitivity come to the marketplace.
  • More private offices offer digital radiography