New Jersey Dental Hygienists' Association

To improve the public’s total health, the mission of the New Jersey Dental Hygienists’ Association is to advance the art and science of dental hygiene by increasing the awareness of and ensuring access to quality oral health care by promoting the highest standards of dental hygiene education, licensure and practice, and representing and promoting the interests of dental hygienists.

A REGISTERED DENTAL HYGIENIST IS A LICENSED, PROFESSIONAL ORAL HEALTH EDUCATOR AND CLINICAL OPERATOR WHO USES SCIENTIFIC METHODS TO CONTROL AND PREVENT ORAL DISEASE AND HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS ATTAIN AND MAINTAIN OPTIMUM HEALTH.

Timeline

1906
Dr Alfred C Fones, a dentist, trains his office assistant, Mrs Irene Newman to clean teeth.

1913
Bridgeport, CT: Dr Fones establishes the first formal training program for dental hygienists. The first hygienists were used in the public schools to educate and treat children, later in private dental offices.

1916
Connecticut, Massachusetts and NY license hygienists.

1923
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association, a national organization, is formed.

1945
The New Jersey Dental Hygienists’ Association is founded.

1946
Hygienists living in NJ had to practice in NY or PA. Dr Walter Wilson helped them to organize and get legislation passed in NJ. (Thirty years behind other states.).

1947
The American Dental Association requires all accredited dental hygiene schools to have the same curriculum. This includes 1,948 clock hours in the following areas:

• General Education
  English, Speech, Psychology, Sociology.
• Basic Sciences
  Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology, Nutrition, Pharmacology.
• Dental Sciences
  Dental Anatomy, Head & Neck Anatomy, Oral Embryology & Histology, Oral Pathology, Radiography(xrays), Periodontology, Pain Control, Dental Materials.
• Dental Hygiene Sciences
  Oral Health Education & Preventive Counseling, Patient Management, Clinical Dental Hygiene (585 clock hours), Community Dental Health, Medical & Dental Emergencies (including basic life support/CPR), Legal & Ethical Aspects of Dental Hygiene Practice.

1962
National Board Dental Hygiene Examination established. All hygienists pass the same written examination. They also pass a regional clinical board exam on live patients.

1977
New Jersey Dental Hygienists Association hires a lobbyist.

1979
The Dental Auxiliaries Act passes in NJ:

• A registered dental hygienist is a member of the State Board of Dentistry.
• Hygienists can practice under general supervision in schools and institutions.
• Continuing education required for relicensure, 10 hours every 2 years.
• Hygienists’ duties expanded (can now legally scale below the gumline in NJ).

1992
Bill introduced to allow preceptorship “on the job” training for NJ hygienists (went nowhere).

2003
Hygienists may monitor nitrous oxide sedation with 14 hours additional training.

2005
Sunset Review—All regulations are reviewed to see if they need to stay the same, be revised or eliminated.

2005
Continuing Education requirement increased to 20 hours every two years.