As Registered Dental Hygienists in Alternative Practice (RDHAPs), we often serve those who are overlooked by the traditional healthcare system—homebound seniors, people with disabilities, residents of care facilities, and underserved communities. Yet despite the critical role we play, RDHAPs are not always recognized as essential healthcare providers by other professionals, policymakers, or even the public.
The good news? We can change that. By elevating our professional presence, deepening community trust, and positioning ourselves as collaborative partners in health, RDHAPs can claim our rightful seat at the healthcare table.
Here’s how to begin:
1. Lead with Value: Know and Communicate Your Impact
RDHAPs prevent disease, reduce ER visits, and improve quality of life through accessible, preventive oral care. But unless others understand that, our value goes unnoticed.
- Use stories and case examples to show outcomes, like how oral care reduced a patient’s pain or improved nutrition.
- Share statistics in plain language. For example: “Treating gum disease can lower inflammation throughout the body and help manage chronic illnesses like diabetes.”
- Include oral health facts in newsletters, social media, or conversations with patients’ families and caregivers.
Pro tip: Don’t just say what you do—explain why it matters.
2. Build Interdisciplinary Relationships
Dentists, primary care physicians, nurses, case managers, and social workers can become your greatest allies—if they know you exist.
- Attend community health coalition meetings, senior care conferences, or interdisciplinary forums.
- Introduce yourself and your services to local medical clinics, hospice providers, and care coordinators.
- Offer in-services or short presentations on how oral health connects to overall health.
The goal is to become a go-to contact, not just for oral care, but for integrated wellness.
3. Show Up Like the Healthcare Professional You Are
RDHAPs are licensed providers. But how we present ourselves can reinforce or undermine that perception.
- Use professional branding—business cards, a website, and polished email communication.
- Wear professional attire and communicate with confidence and compassion.
- Document visits thoroughly, write reports when needed, and speak the language of healthcare (e.g., use SOAP notes if working with other providers).
Remember: You’re not “just a hygienist”—you’re a healthcare provider with a specialty in access and prevention.
4. Educate Patients and Caregivers
Many patients and their families don’t know that an RDHAP exists, let alone what you can do.
- Explain that you are licensed to provide care independently and legally.
- Leave behind easy-to-understand materials about the importance of oral health.
- Encourage caregivers to ask questions and treat every visit as an opportunity for education and empowerment.
When people understand your scope and see your consistency, they trust you more deeply.
5. Advocate for the Profession
RDHAPs are still carving out space in the broader healthcare landscape. By engaging in advocacy, you help define and defend the profession’s value.
- Support local and state policy efforts that protect and expand RDHAP practice.
- Educate lawmakers about the populations you serve and the gaps you fill.
- Join RDHAP networks and professional groups to stay informed and united. C
6. Join RDHAP Connect
One of the most powerful steps you can take to grow as a provider is to join a community of professionals who understand your journey. RDHAP Connect offers support, mentorship, resources, and real-world strategies to help you thrive.
- Learn from seasoned RDHAPs.
- Access tools to grow your practice.
- Stay informed about legislative updates and business tips.
- Find the encouragement and collaboration you need to keep going.
You don’t have to do this alone. RDHAP Connect is your professional home.
Being seen as an essential healthcare provider doesn’t happen overnight—but with consistency, professionalism, and connection, it absolutely can happen. You are already doing the hard work. Now it’s time to own your place in the healthcare system and ensure others see your value, too.
Your voice helps shape the future of care delivery in California.
You’re not just changing smiles—you’re changing lives. Let’s make sure the world knows it.