Public Health Dental Hygienist (PHDH) Toolkit
Introduction
Office of Oral Health
Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Public Health Dental Hygienist (PHDH) Toolkit

•	The information and resources within this toolkit will help a registered dental hygienist take advantage of the exciting new professional opportunities that exist in providing preventive dental services in public health settings.
•	The series of 9 PowerPoint presentations will cover:
•	An Introduction to Dental Public Health
•	PHDH Legislation and Requirements
•	Procedures, Equipment, Supplies, and Reporting
•	Mobile and Portable Certification
•	Evidence-based Oral Disease Prevention Strategies
•	PHDH and the Preschool Setting
•	PHDH and the School-Age Setting
•	PHDH and Nursing Homes/Assisted Living Facilities
•	Next Steps

Dental Public Health: 
An Introduction

•	Dental Public Health is the science and art of preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting dental health through organized community efforts (American Association of Public Health Dentistry). 
•	Dental Public Health is a form of dental practice that serves the community as a patient rather than the individual. Public health dentists and dental hygienists promote oral health by:
•	Assessing the oral health needs of the community;
•	Developing and implementing oral health policy; and
•	Providing programs and services that address oral health issues.

Dental Public Health Activities
•	Focus on the prevention and control of dental disease at a population/community level
•	Are often delivered to populations at high-risk for developing dental disease, including children and adults:
•	From certain minority groups
•	With low socioeconomic status
•	In certain age groups
•	Without access to routine dental care
•	With special health needs
•	Living in non-fluoridated communities
•	Should reflect evidence-based and ‘Best Practice’ oral disease prevention strategies

Oral Disease in Massachusetts: 
A Great Unmet Need

•	Unfortunately, many communities in Massachusetts are in great need of preventive dental care. 
•	Dental Caries remains the most common chronic disease of childhood (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
•	The dentate senior population is growing. 
•	Few school-aged children are receiving dental sealants.
•	Furthermore, oral health disparities exist in the State across all age groups from childhood through older adulthood. 

The Status of Oral Disease in Massachusetts: A Great Unmet Need

For more information on the state of oral disease within specific populations in Massachusetts, please see The Status of Oral Disease in Massachusetts 2009: A Great Unmet Need

Picture- Cover of the Oral Health Burden Document

Public Health Dental Hygienist Legislation
•	In January 2009, in response to the high prevalence of oral disease in Massachusetts and limited access to dental care for vulnerable population groups, Governor Deval Patrick signed into law legislation that created a new professional category for dental hygienists, called the ‘Public Health Dental Hygienist’
•	This legislation is supported the Board of Registration in Dentistry under 234 CMR 2.00 et seq., the regulations that govern the licensure and practice of dentistry and dental hygiene in Massachusetts.

•	In January 2009, in response to the high prevalence of oral disease in Massachusetts and limited access to dental care for vulnerable population groups, Governor Deval Patrick signed into law legislation that created a new professional category for dental hygienists, called the ‘Public Health Dental Hygienist’
•	This legislation is supported the Board of Registration in Dentistry under 234 CMR 2.00 et seq., the regulations that govern the licensure and practice of dentistry and dental hygiene in Massachusetts.
•	This is done by establishing the eligibility and licensure requirements and by establishing  standards for the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene within the Commonwealth.

What’s next?

•	The next PowerPoint presentation in this toolkit will review the specific requirements that must be met to earn the designation of ‘Public Health Dental Hygienist,’ along with the types of settings in which a Public Health Dental Hygienist may work.