This is your opportunity to be a member of the largest organization in the United States that represents dental hygienists. With your membership, you become part of the national level (ADHA), the constituent level (MDHA) and the component level (HCDHA). Through this tri-level structure your professional interests are further developed and protected.

ADHA Membership Benefits:

• Security- Through membership, you will help to secure a future for dental hygiene. We are a strong, united organization that guides the development of dental hygiene practice and helps enhance and protect your status as an oral health care provider. The ADHA, the MDHA and the HCDHA are working to protect the value of your educational credentials and to preserve the integrity of your license. Only through uniting as one voice can the ADHA, the MDHA and the HCDHA continue to represent the dental hygienist effectively.
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• Access to Information- Members receive a online subscription to the Journal of Dental Hygiene, the ADHA’s official publication that brings you scientific and technical articles on clinical practice, research, and education. In addition, members receive the Association’s magazine Access, that helps you stay on top of the issues that are important to dental hygiene.
  
  Insurance Discounts- Your membership will provide you with the opportunity to apply for several types of insurance such as professional liability, disability, major medical, automobile and term life at competitive premiums, as well as VISA/Mastercard programs, discounts at hotels nationwide and discount buying programs. Manufacturer's discounts are offered for: Orascoptic loupes and lights and Tafford uniforms.

• Continuing Education- Membership offers you discounts on continuing education through online courses, self-study courses and the ADHA Annual Session.

  Leadership Opportunities and Recognition- Becoming active in the Association gives you the opportunity to acquire and develop new skills and interests such as leadership and public speaking. The ADHA is the "authoritative resource" for dental hygiene. Leadership opportunities are present on every level of membership, recognizing the RDHs nationwide from educators to grass roots to clinicians to public health care RDHs. Valuable friendships can be made along the way. Membership can open the door to many opportunities for professional recognition and growth.

  Employment Assistance- Members can access online advertising of employment opportunities posted by potential employers across the country. In addition, both dental hygiene publications offer classified advertising and career information.

  Scholarships & Research Grants-Members may apply for scholarships and grants through the ADHA's Institute for Oral Health (IOH). The IOH encourages and promotes professional excellence through scholarships and quality research in collaboration with the ADHA. Through this program, the Institute has awarded hundreds of scholarships to full and part-time students pursing higher education.

   

MDHA Membership Benefits:

Members receive all of the above mentioned benefits with the ADHA, plus:

Continuing Education- The MDHA has it's Annual Session in the fall and it's Spring Scientific Session in early spring each year. Each session offers two days of continuing education courses for members featuring nationally recognized speakers.

Rehabilitation Program- The MDHA offers a rehabilitation program that provides an opportunity for all Registered Dental Hygienists' in Maryland to seek assistance for problems of substance abuse, physical, mental or emotional conditions. This is a strictly confidential program that is operated by members of the MDHA in a joint agreement between the Maryland Board of Dental Examiners and the Maryland Dental Hygienists' Association. Clinical services are arranged by the rehabilitation committee's contracted mental health practitioner. For more information about this program contact Robin Swope, RDH, at 1-800-974-0068. You may also access more information at MyMDHA.

Newsletter subscription-Members receive a subscription to "Oral Pursuits" the MDHA newsletter which contains Association business, legislative news and other informative information.

For more information on the benefits of the MDHA, refer to their web site at MyMDHA.

HCDHA Membership Benefits:

Members receive all of the above mentioned benefits with the ADHA and the MDHA plus:

Online Employment Opportunities-Members will now have direct access to new job opportunities through our website. An Employment Opportunities page has been dedicated for employers to place advertisements of Dental Hygiene openings. This is an exciting feature for members and they will receive direct notification of openings when they are posted.

Referral Service- Members are eligible to participate in an in-county referral service. This service is an alliance with the Howard County Dental Association and places permanent and temporary dental hygiene positions within Howard County. For more details about the service see the referral service page on this web site.

Continuing Education-Members receive free and discounted continuing education courses featuring local and national speakers throughout the year. HCDHA offers monthly meetings from September through May, December optional, at different locations throughout the county.

Professional Newsletter- Members will receive our annual component's newsletter. The newsletter contains information regarding Association business, continuing education courses, community service projects and postings of employment opportunities. Component updates are continually posted on the web site.

Community Involvement- Members will be able to participate in organized community projects throughout the year. You can make a difference in your community’s oral health standards through professional activities with your local association. It is at the component or grassroots level that we will be most effective in conveying our message of the importance of preventative oral health care. See list of community projects.

Professional Contacts and Networking- By attending local, state and national membership functions, you have the opportunity to form new friendships and develop professional contacts. It is through these contacts that you may have opportunities for professional recognition and growth.