To improve the public's total health, the mission of the Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association is to advance the art and science of dental hygiene by ensuring access to quality oral health care, increasing awareness of the cost-effective benefits of prevention, promoting the highest standards of dental hygiene education, licensure, practice and research, and representing and promoting the interests of dental hygienists. A Message from our President As you can see from our Mission Statement the hygienists association of Oregon has lofty goals. Being mindful of our professional duties, we strive to stay abreast in this world of constant change. The first ever United States Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health has again brought to our attention the great need for preventive dental services.
Prevention needs to be approached from every possible source.
We need more fluoridated water systems, better access to preventive dental care, and adequate dental insurance. Nationally, over 108 million people lack dental insurance, and dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease. Over the past 50 years there has been a great improvement in dental care but we still have a huge challenge ahead of us. As a united group of preventive professionals we can work together to support coalitions on water fluoridation, seek legislation to improve Oregonians' access to preventive dental care, and be watchful that dental care is not cut from the Oregon Health Plan. We can volunteer for sealant clinics, and work on the NW Medical Team Dental Van.