History

1945 - The first program for dental hygiene in Ontario is established at the University of Toronto, offering a certificate in dental hygiene.

1950s - Dental hygiene becomes recognized as a regulated health profession in various provinces across Canada, including Ontario.

1963 - The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is founded to advocate for the interests of dental hygienists and promote oral health across Canada.

1963 - The Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association (ODHA) is established as a professional association representing dental hygienists in Ontario.

1981 - The ODHA publishes the first edition of the "Standards of Practice for Dental Hygienists in Ontario," outlining professional guidelines and expectations.

1983 - The Canadian Dental Hygiene Certification Board (CDHCB) is formed to develop and administer a national examination for dental hygienists.

1986 - The CDHA publishes the first edition of the "Canadian Dental Hygienists Act," providing a national framework for dental hygiene regulation and practice.

1991 - Ontario expands the dental hygiene scope of practice to include self-initiation, allowing dental hygienists to practice independently.

1995 - The National Dental Hygiene Certification Board (NDHCB) is established to provide a national certification examination for dental hygienists in Canada.

1999 - The dental hygiene profession in Ontario moves towards entry-to-practice at the baccalaureate level.

2000 - The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) publishes the National Competencies for Entry-to-Practice Dental Hygiene Programs in Canada.

2007 - The CDHA and the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board (NDHCB) collaborate to implement the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE) as a requirement for dental hygiene licensure in Canada.

2009 - The Ontario Dental Hygiene Act is amended to include expanded practice settings for dental hygienists.

2011 - The CDHA launches the National Blueprint for Dental Hygiene, outlining the vision and goals for the profession in Canada.

2012 - The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) is established as the regulatory body responsible for licensing dental hygienists in Ontario.

2013 - The Ontario Dental Hygiene Scope of Practice is expanded to allow dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia under certain conditions.

2016 - The CDHA celebrates the first-ever National Dental Hygienists Week in Canada, highlighting the contributions of dental hygienists to oral health.

2017 - The ODHA launches the Dental Hygiene Quality Assurance Program (DHQAP) to ensure ongoing professional competence and quality care among dental hygienists in Ontario.

2019 - The CDHA launches the Canadian Dental Hygiene Research Program to support research and evidence-based practice in the profession.

2021 - Introduction of teledentistry and remote dental hygiene services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dental hygienists were recognized as essential primary health care providers through inclusion in the federal government's guidance to provinces/territories on essential services and function during the COVID-19 pandemic.