Mission & History

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, ADHA is the largest national organization representing the professional interests of the more than 185,000 registered dental hygienists (RDHs) across the country. Leading the way as a unified force, the ADHA continues to help move your career and your profession forward.

Our Mission

The ADHA’s core ideology 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