Current conditions in dental hygiene influencing professional education are discussed. Workplace/practice issues include dental hygiene care as a component of dental practice, content, effects, and quality of care, hygienist supply and demand, and job satisfaction. Professional issues include the knowledge base, definitions of practice, and…

In response to declining dental hygiene education enrollments, the only dental school in Virginia plans to increase recruitment and expand use of existing programs. Strategies include hiring a statewide recruitment officer, establishing a forgivable loan program, increasing program capacity, and starting new programs when funding is available.…

A discussion of the state of dental hygiene education looks at the practitioner supply and demand, enrollment trends, student characteristics, changes in admissions and program design, necessary curriculum expansion, financial pressures on institutions, manpower shortages in dentistry in general, and lack of innovation in recent years. (MSE)