Welcome Dental Hygienists to the website of
The Long Island Dental Hygienists’ Association!

Presidents Message:

Dear Colleagues,
I have been a Registered Dental Hygienist and a member of our Association since 1992. I still remember my first Long Island Dental Hygienists’ Association Meeting and how I was in awe of the Board of LIDHA. I was in awe of them because I knew how hard it was just to get through school and now there I sat listening to my “peers” some of who were my professors at school, telling me the struggle had just begun. Of course I have come to learn “struggle” might have been too harsh a word and perhaps “challenging” a better one. I remember thinking what could possibly be harder than the Dental Hygiene Program at SUNY Farmingdale. Being active in our Association for the past fifteen years has taught me that there is so much more to Dental Hygiene than meets the eye. We have so many avenues to go down in regard to diversification within our profession. I have seen our profession grow in directions that were only whispered about perhaps just thirty years ago. Even the Educators at that time were already working on a Bachelor’s Program that they had the insight to foresee for Dental Hygiene. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our Association we are now able to administer local anesthesia, nitrous oxide and block anesthesia is just around the corner. Because of our Association we are looking very much forward to raising the bar in our profession. Some up and coming advances we are looking towards are things such as the ongoing development of an advanced degree program which will allow hygienists an opportunity to expand their horizons to becoming an Advanced Dental Hygienist Practitioner. There is so much more to come. I have noticed that the past Presidents of LIDHA have had their own agenda of how to enhance our Association for it’s members. Some of their ideas have come to fruition in the form of the LIDHA web page, the camaraderie that has developed between SADHA and LIDHA, outreach programs in our communities, building on our continuing education requirements, securing and representing our Profession as we feel it should be, and getting involved in the Legislative and Governmental Affairs portion of our careers.

Here is the “challenging” part. It took great numbers and twelve long years to get local anesthesia into our practice act. The sad fact is one per cent of Long Island Hygienists are members of our Association. Ten per cent of Dental Hygienists across the State of New York are members. We go to Albany in hope of furthering our profession, our careers, that we worked so hard for. Senators and Assemblymen look at our “numbers”. They ask why they should work for us when we don’t work for ourselves.

As a member, I applaud each and every one of you and your efforts to support our profession. If you know of anyone who has even considered becoming a member there has never been a better time! Our ADHA President said it best. “Membership in your professional association strengthens the united voice of the profession and most importantly, supports you as an individual”.

I look forward to serving you in the capacity of President for LIDHA. Thank you for this opportunity.

Warm regards,
Donna

The Long Island Dental Hygienists' Association is looking for
members like you to join our board and committees.

Like any association or group it is vital to its future that its members are active participants. We represent you, and we want to address your needs, but we cannot do that without YOUR help!

Advantages of participation:

Feeling of accomplishment
Learning about governmental affairs
Sense of community
Participation in community projects
IT IS FUN!
The acquisition of life-long friends
It requires minimal time, and the time spent
is always enjoyable.

Committees:
Membership
Advertising
Continuing Education
and many others!

Please contact us at:
LIDHAinfo@gmail.com