Graduate Dental Hygiene Program Aims and Outcomes Contributors

Dental hygiene graduate education should be multifaceted, composed of theory and practical application, and be based on a body of knowledge specific to the discipline of dental hygiene and the roles of the dental hygienist. [...] In addition, a master’s degree program in dental hygiene must meet the diverse needs and interests of the profession and its students, as well as prepare graduates to meet the complex oral health needs of a diverse population. [...] This necessitates a shift from the concept of core competencies to a framework of key broad aims and outcomes that integrate with the mission and vision of diverse graduate dental hygiene programs. [...] The focus areas and resulting aims depict a high level of specialized knowledge, current technology, clinical competence and professional behaviors necessary for the provision of care to patients and to promote the integration of dental hygienists as valuable contributors within our health care system. [...] American Dental Education Association Page 3 of 7 Graduate Dental Hygiene Program Aims and Outcomes (Approved by the 2021 ADEA House of Delegates) A dental hygienist with a Master’s Degree specializing in Dental Hygiene: A member of a multidisciplinary health care team who approaches the holistic care of patients from a foundation of evidence-based knowledge and theory.