The Educational Gap: A Comparison of ADHP vs. CODA-Accredited Dental Hygiene Curricula

In healthcare, a clear hierarchy of providers exists across the spectrum of care, with each team member playing an intricate role. Dentistry, however, has moved to disrupt this structure through programs like the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP), which grants full professional credentials with severely reduced educational requirements. Justified by an alleged “access to care” crisis, Alabama was the first to adopt this model. Yet, a review of state statistics shows that implementing the ADHP – a glorified preceptorship – has demonstrably failed to improve access to care or overall dental health.1
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The ADHP is fundamentally flawed, based on the premise that the dental hygiene profession is simply scaling teeth. While a program limited to that one task might succeed, the ADHP overlooks the dental hygienist’s comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic role on the dental team...

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