The Baccalaureate-Educated Dental Hygienist

A review of the oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQL) model for dental hygiene: Eighteen years later

“…(16) Stolberg and Tillis write about the need for a baccalaureate degree as entry level education for dental hygiene. (19) In their article, the OHRQL is cited as an example of how the science of dental hygiene is expanding; therefore, the need for a more comprehensive education would equate to a baccalaureate versus an associate degree.…”

“…Stolberg and Tillis advocated in their 2016 article, the need for dental hygiene education to evolve to an entry level baccalaureate degree to meet the challenges of an increasing complex oral healthcare environment. (19) The importance of the OHRQL model for the practice of dental hygiene is discussed in their paper where they highlight that poor oral health extends beyond oral impacts into quality of life consequences. Finally, a paper published in 2016 by MacDonald and Bowen, compares nursing to dental hygiene in the use of theory for advancing their respective professions.…”

“…Five of the citations in Table 1 are in the category of education. [15][16][17][18][19] Two of these articles are authored or co-authored by faculty from the UMKC Division of Dental Hygiene where the model was developed. 15,18 A group of researchers in Japan described the process involved with implementing the OHRQL into their dental hygiene curriculum.…”

Dental hygiene education exceeds the degrees granted: A pilot study

“…This bias is perpetuated by the CODA Standard, 7 put in place in 1947 by the American Dental Association, that holds entry to practice at a 2-year level, no matter how much the curriculum is expanded. To be viewed as equal colleagues, dental hygienists should have degrees at least equivalent to other healthcare providers, 22 as the education required actually reflects a higher degree. 20 When questioned, associate degree dental hygienists feel less confident than their baccalaureate degree colleagues.…”

“…21 The complex and interrelated aspects of oral health and systemic health today require dental hygienists and other healthcare providers to work collaboratively to provide optimal care. To be viewed as equal colleagues, dental hygienists should have degrees at least equivalent to other healthcare providers, 22 as the education required actually reflects a higher degree.…”