Building an Accessible Future: How Independent Hygienists Can Lead Inclusive Oral Health Care

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe the process of establishing an accessible dental hygiene clinic – including the challenges, obstacles, financial considerations, and timelines involved in creating a barrier-free practice for patients with disabilities.

• Recognize the opportunities in serving underserved populations – understanding how compassionate clinical providers can expand access to oral health care while building a distinctive and meaningful practice.

• Analyze the competitive landscape of independent dental hygiene practice – identifying the difficulties of competing directly with traditional dental providers for the same patient base.

• Explore strategies for sustainable practice growth – reframing how independent hygienists can succeed by focusing on populations that are often overlooked or excluded from mainstream dental care.

• Evaluate the role of innovation and advocacy in advancing inclusive oral health services – integrating both clinical insights and marketing perspectives to ensure long-term impact and success.