Founded in 1923, the primary goal of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) was to develop a better way for dental hygienists to communicate and cooperate. Today, the ADHA is the largest national organization representing the professional interests of the more than 226,000 registered dental hygienists (RDHs) in the United States. Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals, licensed in dental hygiene, who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services that support total health through the promotion of optimal oral health. Leading the way as a unified force, the ADHA continues to help move the careers of dental hygienists and the profession overall forward.

The Journal of Dental Hygiene (JDH), published bi-monthly, is ADHA’s scientific journal and flagship publication.

Our Mission

The ADHA is focused on leading the transformation of the dental hygiene profession to improve the public's oral and overall health. The ADHA's vision is that dental hygienists are integrated into the health care delivery system as essential primary care providers to expand access to oral health care. The mission of ADHA is to advance the art and science of dental hygiene. We work to:
•Ensure access to quality oral health care
•Increase awareness of the cost-effective benefits of prevention
•Promote the highest standards of dental hygiene education, licensure, practice and research
•Represent and promote the interests of dental hygienists