05/15/2026
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Message from the President:
As dental hygienists, we play a vital role in healthcare. We are not only clinicians, we
are educators, advocates, and often the first line of defense in promoting oral and
overall health. Across Tennessee, from our urban centers to our rural communities, we
see firsthand the gaps in access to care—and the difference we can make in closing
them.
As we look ahead, we must be unequivocal about protecting the integrity of our
profession.
Our Promise to You:
TNDHA will engage directly in conversations around workforce models, educational
pathways, and scope of practice—but we will not support approaches that dilute
standards or create shortcuts around the rigorous education and clinical training that
define dental hygiene.
That includes ongoing discussions around alternative provider models and licensure
pathways for internationally trained dentists. TNDHA welcomes collaboration, but not at
the expense of our standards, our scope, or patient safety.
TNDHA will advocate for solutions that expand access to care without compromising the
quality, accountability, and identity of our profession. Our patients deserve nothing
less—and neither do we.
Now more than ever, we need unity. Across settings, across experience levels, and
across perspectives—we are stronger when we move forward together.
I encourage each of you to stay involved, speak up, support one another, and help drive
our profession forward—as one voice, with one purpose.
With passion for the profession,
Alicia Azimipour, RDH, BSPH
TNDHA President
