Working Together to Advance the Future of Oral Healthcare-Working Together to Advance the Future of Oral Healthcare

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar, hosted by AGD in collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA), focused on the future of oral health care through stronger dentist-hygienist collaboration. After introductory remarks and CE instructions, panelists discussed the dental hygienist workforce shortage, its roots in the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty shortages, rising education costs, geographic maldistribution, and workplace culture issues such as inflexible schedules, lack of benefits, and limited professional respect.<br /><br />ADHA leaders emphasized that the shortage is not simply about numbers, but about retention, career growth, and supportive work environments. They recommended practical solutions such as regular check-ins with hygienists, exit interviews, supporting scholarships and faculty recruitment, improving work-life balance, offering portable licenses, and expanding advanced career pathways. They also stressed the need for legislative changes to reduce state-by-state scope-of-practice barriers.<br /><br />AGD leaders echoed the need for a shift from a hierarchical model to a partnership model, where dentists, hygienists, assistants, and staff work as a team with shared goals. Strong culture, open communication, mutual respect, and clear expectations were identified as essential to retention and better patient care.<br /><br />Panelists also discussed broader public health goals, including interprofessional collaboration with medicine, community outreach, teledentistry, and mentoring future leaders. In response to audience questions, they noted that reimbursement and financial pressures affect workplace culture, but culture is also shaped by non-monetary factors like flexibility, respect, and professional growth.<br /><br />Overall, the webinar called for dentists and hygienists to work together to strengthen the workforce, improve access to care, and elevate oral health outcomes.

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Description As the landscape of oral healthcare evolves, effective collaboration between dental hygienists and dentists is more important than ever. This one-hour webinar, cohosted by AGD and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), brings together leadership from both professions to explore shared goals, current challenges and emerging opportunities for integrated practice. Participants will gain insight into how intradisciplinary respect and cooperation can drive innovation, improve access to care, and enhance outcomes for patients and providers alike. Learning Objectives Describe the shared goals and complementary roles of dental hygienists and general dentists in delivering high-quality, patient-centered oral healthcare. Identify barriers and opportunities to intraprofessional collaboration in current dental practice models. Explore strategies for fostering stronger partnerships between professional organizations to promote equity, innovation and access in oral healthcare delivery. Speaker Information Lancette VanGuilder, BS, RDH, PHEDH, CEAS, FADHA ADHA President Fellow, ADHA Jessica August, MSDH, CDA, RDH, FADHA ADHA President-Elect Fellow, ADHA Christina Emmert, RDH, PHDH, PRP, FADHA ADHA Vice President Fellow, ADHA Chethan Chetty, DDS, MAGD AGD President Master, AGD Marc J. Worob, DDS, FAGD, FACD, FICD, FAAOSH AGD President-Elect Fellow, AGD Fellow, American College of Dentists Fellow, International College of Dentists Fellow, American Academy for Oral & Systemic Health George J. Schmidt, DMD, FAGD AGD Vice President Fellow, AGD Hanna Lindskog, FPFA AGD Dental Education Council Chair Master, AGD Fellow, American College of Dentists Fellow, International College of Dentists Fellow, Pierre Fauchard Academy Additional Information This course is in collaboration with the ADHA. The ADHA is an approved provider of dental continuing education as recognized by the Dental Board of California, Provider #5238.

Keywords

oral health care

dentist-hygienist collaboration

dental hygienist workforce shortage

COVID-19 pandemic

faculty shortages

education costs

workplace culture

retention strategies

scope of practice

teledentistry