National Dental Hygienists Week: A Celebration of Our Profession

April 4 to 10 is our week, fellow RDHs! National Dental Hygienists Week™ (NDHW™) is a time to reflect on how far we've come as a profession, celebrate our contributions to oral health, and continue advocating for a future where everyone has access to preventive care. We are the unsung heroes of dentistry, bridging the gaps in healthcare, fostering trust with our clients, and standing at the forefront of prevention.

Our Journey: From Auxiliary to Independent Healthcare Providers

Did you know that dental hygiene as a profession started in 1913 with Dr. Alfred Fones training Irene Newman in Connecticut? His vision was clear: rather than just treating disease, we would prevent it. That vision remains at the core of what we do today.

For decades, RDHs were restricted to working under strict supervision, but as research reinforced the connection between oral and systemic health, our role expanded. And now? We are essential members of the healthcare team. We've earned our seat at the healthcare table, and we’re not giving it up!

Our Autonomy: Expanding Access to Care

Today, many of us own our own practices or work independently, offering direct access to care. This isn’t just a win for us—it’s a game-changer for communities struggling to access dental services. From mobile clinics to community outreach programs, we’re bringing care directly to schools, long-term care facilities, and underserved areas. We’re eliminating barriers, one client at a time.

We Are the Heroes of Prevention

Let’s be real, dentistry wouldn’t be the same without us. We are the ones educating clients, performing non-surgical periodontal therapy (not ‘cleanings’), and detecting early signs of disease. We’re the first line of defense against caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, and even oral cancer. Prevention is our superpower!

But we do more than just clinical work. We build trust. Clients often feel more comfortable with us than anyone else in the office. We’re the ones who calm dental anxieties, provide personalized education, and make sure our clients feel heard and cared for. That rapport we build, well, it’s priceless.

Our Ethics: The Heart of Our Profession

We don’t just clean teeth, we uphold the highest ethical standards in healthcare. Our Code of Ethics guides us to act with integrity, prioritize client care, and advocate for equitable access to oral health services. Whether we're in private practice, public health, or independent settings, we lead with compassion, education, and prevention.

The Future is Bright for RDHs

We’ve made incredible progress, but we’re just getting started. As technology advances and our scope of practice continues to expand, the role of RDHs will only become more critical.

We are educators, advocates, and pioneers of prevention. We are shaping the future of dentistry on our terms. And that’s something to celebrate!

This Week, Let’s Celebrate US!

Fellow RDHs let’s take this week to celebrate our hard work, dedication, and impact. Let’s recognize how far we’ve come and continue pushing forward for a future where prevention is prioritized, autonomy is expanded, and every client has access to the care they deserve.

Because when RDHs thrive, so do our communities!

Michelle Aubé (Simmonds) RDH, maxill Dental Hygiene Educator

Michelle is a Dental Hygiene Speaker, Consultant and Educator with over 30 years of experience as a RDH and 4 years as a CDA. She is a professor and curriculum writer at Fanshawe College in both the dental hygiene and continuing education program sharing her knowledge in IPAC, professional practice, periodontal classification, social justice, advocacy and clinical applications. She is maxill's CE and IPAC Director and wears various IPAC hats including auditing federal correctional facilities dental clinics for IPAC standards. Michelle is ODHA's Regional Board Director and authors articles for CDHA's OH Canada professional publication and continues to practice clinically in London ON. She is a CDHO IPAC Remedial Facilitator and IPAC Expert Opinion. Her strong ethics has allowed her to serve on the Discipline Committee at Algonquin College and hold the position of a CDHO Quality Assurance Assessor for 7 years. As a lifelong learner she is completing a BA in Adult Education at Brock University. Her diverse dental background and current status as a practicing RDH offer a fulsome and realistic view of dental-related topics. As a passionate champion for the profession, she advocates for equity, professional autonomy, and systemic change, true grassroots leadership at its finest.

Michelle can be reached at michellea@maxill.com