[Dental hygienists vital to sound oral health care]

Abstract

The first Dutch Dental Hygiene School was opened in 1968. Educating dental hygiene professionals with preventive qualifications was a well-considered decision. From the beginning on, the Dutch Dental Hygienists'Association has aimed at optimizing dental hygienists' role in preventive oral health care. Current developments, such as the introduction of a new national health insurance system and the rearrangement of oral health care, require reflection on the position of dental hygienists. Prevention should remain the core business of the dental hygiene profession. However, preventive oral health care has lost its social priority. Therefore, a new campaign preventing development of both old and new oral health threats should be initiated. In the opinion of the Dutch Dental Hygienists' Association, dental hygienists should be committed both to public and individual oral health prevention. The association pleads for the reinforcement of preventive oral health care for children and young adults, with a special focus on high-risk groups. Likewise, oral health care for elderly people should receive more attention.