About NYDHA

The New York Dental Hygienists' Association, Inc. (NYDHA), a constituent of the American Dental Hygienists' Association, is the professional association for dental hygienists in New York State. For consistency in name format of dental hygienists' association across the country, NYDHA has changed its name from the Dental Hygienists' Association of the State of New York (DHASNY).

NYDHA is accountable to the profession, the public and the members we serve. We strive to provide services to all hygienists in clinical and non-clinical settings. NYDHA works to foster high standards for dental hygiene education, licensure and practice. This is accomplished through legislative activity, ongoing education of dental hygienists, and collaborative endeavors with regulatory agencies and other professional associations.

Mission Statement

The New York Dental Hygienists Association supports the advancement of the art and science of dental hygiene in order to ensure access to and delivery of quality preventive and therapeutic oral health care services to all New Yorkers in a cost-effective manner. Through education and outreach to the public, NYDHA strives to increase awareness of the benefits of preventive dental hygiene services. NYDHA promotes the highest standards of dental hygiene education, licensure, practice and research and seeks to integrate dental hygiene as a component of interdisciplinary health care to improve the public's total health.

NYDHA's strategic plan, adopted by its House of Delegates, presents goals and objectives in pursuit of the Association mission.

Vision Statement

The New York Dental Hygienists’ Association will maintain its position as the foremost professional organization within New York identifying, assessing and meeting the needs of its members and ensuring the statements within our mission are met.

Governing Structure

The Board of Directors is the administrative body of the Association, vested with full power to conduct the Association’s affairs and business. The Board also can enact interim policies when the House is not in session and when such policies are necessary to the proper conduct of Association affairs; in such cases, these policies are brought to the House for ratification.  Board members include the President, President-Elect, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, immediate past President, and directors from each component.  The Executive Director serves ex officio without vote.

The House of Delegates is the governing body of the New York Dental Hygienists’ Association. The House consists of certified delegates and alternate delegates from each component and a student delegate and alternate delegate; the officers of the Association serve ex-officio members of the House without vote.

Governing provisions are set out in the NYDHA Bylaws.