Dental Works Blog

Happy National Dental Hygiene Month!

Written by Dental Works | Oct 13, 2020 8:46:51 PM

It’s officially National Dental Hygiene Month! The Dental Hygiene profession has a long, rich history spanning over a century. As we continue to navigate through all the changes 2020 has brought to the Dental Hygiene profession, let us look back at how far we have come.

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
Thank you to all the Dental Hygienists who have dedicated their careers to improving the oral health of their patients. Without you, dentistry and SMILES would not be the same.

As a token of our appreciation, any hygienist that accepts an assignment through Dental Works or Select Dental Staffing in October will automatically be entered into a raffle to win a $100 VISA gift card. The winner will be announced on November 9, 2020.