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Demystifying Dental Hygienists’ Autonomy

March 11, 2026 | 6:00 – 7:30 pm CT
Registration closes 03/11 at 5:15 pm CT
Speaker: Derik J. Sven, MBA, MPH, RDH, CDT, FADHA

ADHA Members/Subscribers: Free |  Nonmembers $45

This course examines the historical, political, economic, and professional forces that continue to shape dental hygiene autonomy in the United States. Participants will investigate how entrenched paradigms, systemic sexism, economic control, educational gaps, regulatory loopholes, and legislative opportunities intersect to restrict or expand professional practice. Using case studies, policy precedents, and advocacy strategies, the course challenges learners to reconsider traditional hierarchies in dentistry and to envision models of modernization that prioritize prevention, public health, and professional self-governance. By engaging with evidence-based research and real-world examples, participants will gain the knowledge necessary to influence policy, strengthen the profession's role in health systems, and advance reforms that improve access to safe, affordable, and preventive oral health care.

 

In this webinar you will:

  • Analyze the historical and political factors that have shaped dental hygiene’s restricted scope of practice.
  • Critique economic and regulatory structures that perpetuate dependency on dental supervision.
  • Evaluate evidence from comparative professions and state models that demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of autonomy.
  • Define policy strategies and advocacy frameworks that support modernization and self-governance in dental hygiene.
  • Apply key arguments and precedents to legislative or organizational contexts to advance preventive-focused reform.
 
Speaker:
Derik J. Sven, MBA, MPH, RDH, CDT, FADHA has gained notoriety as an outspoken thought leader, with the publication of his series “Breaking Chains: The Case for Dental Hygienists’ Autonomy”, along with his other articles and interviews. His work presents the evidence and makes a compelling case that autonomy and self-governance are not just ideals but the evidence-based and ethical path forward—modernizing dentistry, expanding access to care, and dismantling a system still constrained by Victorian-era ideologies. He brings a wealth of knowledge and perspective to the field, drawing on his combined 20 years of experience as both a registered dental hygienist and a certified dental laboratory technician, alongside graduate-level education and involvement in public health, business, and legal research. Derik is an inaugural fellow of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and currently serves as President of Virginia’s Chapter.
 
1.5 LIVE/Interactive CE offered for those in attendance. Certificates will be available under the "Completed" tab in your CE Smart Learning Center immediately following the event. 

Can't attend live? The recording will be automatically available in your CE Smart Learning Center within 24 hours post-event. 1.5 CE can be earned after successful completion of a post-test.



The American Dental Hygienists’ Association is an approved provider of dental continuing education as recognized by the Dental Board of California, Provider #5238.
When
3/11/2026 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

To register for this event:

  1. Log in or create an ADHA account.
  2. Click "Register Myself" below event description.
  3. Click "Proceed to Cart" and complete payment on next page.