The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has released its 2026-2028 Strategic Plan, establishing a new mission and outlining priorities intended to guide the association and the dental hygiene profession through 2028.
The plan introduces a new mission statement: “Advancing dental hygiene as an autonomous, prevention-driven profession that transforms healthcare.” The mission reflects a shift toward positioning dental hygiene as a central force in preventive healthcare, including the ability for hygienists to operate independently in a wider range of practice settings.
“This new mission reflects the driving force that dental hygienists have been for years,” said ADHA President Lancette VanGuilder, BS, RDH, PHEDH, CEAS, FADHA. “This plan gives our profession a roadmap that addresses where hygienists work, how we’re supported, and what it will take to achieve full practice authority. It recognizes that dental hygienists are educated and trained to deliver preventive, patient-centered care in every setting where health happens—and calls for expanding access to improve oral and overall health outcomes for the communities we serve.”
The plan is structured around six strategic goals: Workforce; Professional Autonomy; Clinical Excellence & Professional Achievement; Professional Recognition, Visibility & Influence; Community & Membership Engagement; and Foundational Capacity.
The Workforce goal focuses on the conditions under which dental hygienists practice, including workplace safety, well-being, career development and recruitment initiatives designed to strengthen the pipeline into the profession. The Professional Autonomy goal addresses scope of practice, licensure portability and legislative reforms intended to allow dental hygienists to practice to the full extent of their education and training.
The Clinical Excellence & Professional Achievement goal emphasizes evidence-based care, collaboration with other health professionals and continuous learning. The remaining goals address professional awareness and the association’s internal operations.
Professional Recognition, Visibility & Influence focuses on increasing awareness among policymakers, healthcare systems and the public. Community & Membership Engagement centers on delivering member value and encouraging broader participation across the dental hygiene community. Foundational Capacity addresses governance, financial sustainability and operations following the association’s transition to a new board of directors structure.
Jennifer Hill, chief executive officer of AHDA, said the initiative is intended to strengthen both the profession and the association itself. “This plan not only sets a visionary path for the dental hygiene profession but also strengthens our operational foundation to support hygienists at every stage of their career. Over the next three years, it will shape our investments, advocacy efforts, and development of programs and resources that empower our members,” Hill said.
According to the association, the strategic framework will guide investments, advocacy and program development over the next three years.
The full 2026–2028 strategic plan is available at https://adha.org/strategicplan.
