Historical Perspective


In 1932, the National Dental Hygienists' Association (NDHA) was founded by African American Dental Hygienists' to address the special problems faced by the minority hygienists in the profession as well as unite the limited number of minority dental hygiene practitioners in the United States.  It functioned for three years under founder Ernestine P. Gates of Missouri.

In the spring of 1962, Dr. James B Singleton, Dr. Eugenie Mobley and Barbara Ashby Robinson of Meharry Medical College contacted all of the African American Dental Hygienists' known to them and invited them to meet in Detroit, Michigan for the purpose of reactivating the organization.  During the 1962 National Dental Association (NDA) convention, the NDHA reactivated and implemented a restructuring initiative designed to enhance the visibility of the association.  In 1963 NDHA elected its first President, Barbara Ashley.  The NDHA joined the NDA in holding concurrent annual conventions.  While the NDHA and the NDA still hold their functions jointly, the NDHA functions as an autonomous organization.  Today the NDHA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization designed to improve the dental health of the public through education and service. The NDHA board is comprised of five officers and five trustees who are elected by the ever-growing general membership body.  NDHA is proud to have nine component organizations functioning as official affiliated professional organizations:  

  • African American Dental Hygienists' Association (Chicago, IL) founded 1997

  • Beyond the Beltway Dental Hygienists’ Society (Maryland, Virginia, and District of Columbia) founded 2017

  • City of Lights Dental Society (Las Vegas, NV) founded 2005

  • Greater Ohio Dental Hygienists’ Society founded 2017 (Columbus, Ohio)

  • Inner City Dental Hygiene Society (Los Angeles, CA) founded 1996

  • Music City Dental Hygienist Association (Nashville, TN) founded 2011

  • River City Dental Hygienists' Society (Jacksonville, FL) founded 2009

  • Wolverine Dental Hygienists' Society (Detroit, MI) founded 1972

  • Tri-State Dental Hygienists' Society (Philadelphia, PA) founded 1995

Governance

The National Dental Hygienists' Association (NDHA) is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advocating for and supporting minority dental hygienists, while welcoming all licensed dental hygienists and students enrolled in accredited dental hygiene programs who are committed to our mission, vision, and values. NDHA embraces diversity and inclusivity, and membership is open to individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations.

Founded with a focus on uplifting historically underrepresented professionals in dental hygiene, NDHA is committed to advancing the art and science of the profession while promoting equity in oral healthcare. Our members play an active role in addressing disparities and improving access to care for underserved populations and communities.

NDHA also invests in the next generation of dental hygienists through mentorship, leadership development, and professional guidance. This commitment is reflected in the creation of Student National Dental Hygienists’ Association (SNDHA) chapters, beginning in the 1980s at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry—the first U.S. institution to formalize an SNDHA. We’ve proudly expanded this initiative to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), including Meharry Medical College and Howard University.

Our goal is to see SNDHA chapters established in every accredited dental hygiene program nationwide, fostering culturally competent, community-focused oral health professionals prepared to lead and serve.

Mission

  • Promote the highest educational and ethical standards for dental hygienists. Create definite position statements on issues impacting the profession of dental hygiene.

  • Enhance recruitment efforts for minority students' communities in need.

  • Assist in the access to oral care for the under-served communities in the United States.

  • Improve the Associations’ visibility via public service.

  • Provide a professional foundation for minority dental hygienists.

  • Increase the number of minority dental hygienists.

Objectives

  • Seek and encourage under-represented minorities to enter the profession of dental hygiene and give support to their endeavors.

  • Cultivate and promote the art and science of dental hygiene.

  • Provide an arena for the development and advancement of the dental hygiene profession.

  • Maintain the highest professional standards and education of dental hygienists.

  • Promote membership of under-represented minority dental hygienists into organized dental hygiene and encourage membership retention.

  • Increase public awareness of the profession of dental hygiene.

  • Enlighten and direct public opinions related to the dental hygienist and the dental hygiene profession.

  • Promote mutual improvement, social interaction, and goodwill among its members.

  • Disseminate dental health education information.

  • Provide current, research based, dental hygiene academic, and clinical information to its members.