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Dentist + Hygienist = A Healthy Mouth
Dr. Alfred Fones of Bridgeport, CT realized the need for someone to work on the preventative side while he met the restorative needs of his patients. He understood the importance of oral care to reduce the bacteria that caused cavities/caries. Dr. Fones trained Irene Newman to become the first ever Dental Hygienist! She trained and could then perform dental prophylaxis and educate the patients. This brought about the career of dental hygiene. -
Let's Go To School!
Fones opened the first dental hygiene school in Bridgeport training students to do preventative treatments such as prophylaxis, patient education and charting. The first class graduated in 1914 and they all were employed in a school-based setting in order to emphasize the importance of oral care to children. The achievements of Dr. Fones may have also contributed to Bridgeport, Connecticut reporting the lowest death rate of a large city during the Influenza Pandemic of 1918. -
The Piece of Paper That Makes a Difference!
Irene Newman became the first licensed dental hygienist, and within the next three years, six more states followed and licensed dental hygienists. In order to obtain a license, the person had to have a high school diploma. They applied to the school, got accepted, trained and tested. By 1940, it became required for hygienists to complete a two year study program in order to obtain a license. -
Hygienists Unite!
The American Dental Hygiene Association was created with 46 members in 1923. This association helped advocate for hygienists and keep everyone in the loop, just like the ADA. The ADHA adopted the term "Registered Dental Hygienist" in 1940 and then created the first regional board exam in 1968. Since then, each state has a different requirement for licensing, and hygienists must take a national and state board exam. If the state allows further items, like local anesthesia, they must also take it -
Curettes & Sickles & Ultrasonics, Oh My!
In 1945, Dr. Clayton Gracey developed the Gracey curettes.
By the 1950’s, the first ultrasonic scaler was introduced along with fully reclining dental chairs!
In 1981, an ultrasonic with a prophy jet was created to replace rubber cup polishing.
The 1st Edition of Clinical Practice of The Dental Hygienist, also known as “the Dental Hygiene Bible,” was published by Dr. Esther Wilkins(who passed away in 2016). All of these are still used today in the dental hygiene setting! -
Equal rights for everyone! Yes, even the guys!
The 1950’s & 60’s brought around the Civil Rights Act. This was a great thing for the dental hygiene world. The ADHA lifted the restrictions for admissions, such as race, color, & creed. In 1964, “Female” was deleted from the ADHA Constitution which paved the road for the first male dental hygiene graduate, Jack Orio, in 1965. The below picture shows a male hygienist working on a fellow soldier. Male hygienists became more popular in military environments after the ADHA dropped the restrictions. -
No Babysitter Required!
The 1980’s brought about a huge change in the hygiene industry. Washington became the first state to implement the unsupervised practice of dental hygiene in certain settings. Colorado & other states followed Washington's ideas over the next two decades. These laws vary by state & also on the terms of the practice that the hygienist works in. Most states require a dentist to be present when treating a new patient. Most offices still have a dentist on site due to business hours. -
Who needs gloves?
Pre 1980's, when you went in for a cleaning, the hygienist was in your mouth, bare handed with no mask or glasses on. They believed that washing their hands did "just fine" at protecting them. Even though OSHA was established in 1971, Personal Protective Equipment was not required until 1988. A main factor that contributed to the requirement of PPE was the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The below picture shows how PPE developed in the 1980's. Gloves, eye wear and masks became a standard. -
I See Numb People
The 1990’s had another tremendous change for the hygiene world! Fourteen states elected to allow registered dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia. By 2000, over half of the fifty states allowed local anesthesia administration by a Registered Dental Hygienist. However, there are still a few states to this day that do not allow hygienists to administer local anesthesia (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas). -
Why Not Add Lasers?
Laser therapy became a new thing in the dental world back in 1994 when lasers were used by the dentist to do procedures such as soft tissue removal, extractions, removal of bacteria and sometimes to help with discomfort. In 2005, hygienists began using lasers for soft tissue manipulations and bacterial removal. In order to do so, the hygienist must go through a certification course in laser use and practice according to their states laws.
