Development and status of the advanced dental hygiene practitioner.

PURPOSE: Advanced dental hygiene practitioners (ADHPs), members of the oral health care team, bring care to persons disenfranchised from adequate dental services. ADHPs are licensed and provide the traditional educational, preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene services, plus diagnostic, prescriptive and minimally invasive restorative services. ADHPs work in collaboration with all members of the dental team, referring patients in need of services outside of their scope directly to dentists or other health care providers.