WVU dental hygiene students participate in advocacy at the Capitol
Dental hygienists play a critical role in advocacy efforts to improve oral healthcare for their individual patients and communities as a whole. Students enrolled in the West Virginia University School of Dentistry Dental Hygiene program recently had the opportunity to learn more about advocacy in state government during Educational Advocacy Day at the Legislature.
“Advocacy is important for dental hygienists because it helps bring awareness to issues that would otherwise be overlooked in oral health,” Kristen Blair, a senior from Duck, said. “It helps educate the public, policymakers and even healthcare providers about the critical role dental hygienists play in overall health. Advocating in dental hygiene can also improve access to care.”
Sponsored by the West Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association, WVU students Blair, Abigail Ash, Brynn Davis and Hannah Keener were joined by students from BridgeValley Community & Technical College and West Liberty University to learn about the legislative process and basic lobbying skills from a variety of healthcare and governmental relations professionals. They were also able to network with the students, faculty and members of the West Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association at a mix and mingle dinner.
During their visit, the group was presented with Senate Resolution 17 introduced by Senator Jay Taylor designating February 28, 2025, as Dental Hygienists’ Day at the Legislature. The proclamation recognizes the importance of dental hygienists in promoting the health and well-being of the citizens of West Virginia.
“As a cohort, we know how instrumental we are in dentistry, but for members of the Senate to recognize us for all we do was a surreal experience that I will never forget,” Blair said.
“Advocacy is very important for dental hygienists because it allows us to advance the profession by shaping public health policy, such as dental hygienist’s scope of practice, which gives us the ability to treat our patients to the highest standard of care with fewer limitations,” Madylin Hinkle, WVU alumna and vice president of the West Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association, said. “We can also improve patient care by advocating for changes to policy to expand access to dental care that people may not have due to barriers such as cost or insurance.”
Hinkle chose to become an active member of the West Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association because of the impactful mentorship she received from its members and the opportunities provided by the organization.
“I have been able to meet other like-minded hygienists and advance my skills and knowledge as a dental hygienist,” she said. “I feel like my voice is heard when it comes to advocating for the dental hygiene profession for both myself and my patients.”
Partners for this year’s event included Aspen Dental, Dentsply Sirona and Dimensions of Dental Hygiene who provided items such as tote bags, hand sanitizer, thermal cups, and evidence-based resources to prepare the students for their day. In collaboration with the West Virginia Oral Health Coalition, educational materials focused on the Oral Health and Cancer Rights Act were provided by Mountains of Hope Cancer Coalition. The students were able to use these materials to educate legislators about the need for cancer-related oral healthcare in the state.
Following graduation, Blair plans to continue participating in community outreach programs that allow her to advocate for her patients.
“I believe that coming from a rural area and seeing many people suffer from oral health disparities sparked an interest in me and makes me want to push for change,” she said.
The four-year WVU Dental Hygiene program prepares graduates to serve as an integral part of the dental team by combining patient care experiences with science and liberal arts education. The extensive hands-on curriculum ensures students are confident and prepared to meet the public's oral healthcare needs. Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared for a career in clinical care as well as administration, education, research and advocacy.
“The WVU Dental Hygiene program provides a thorough education on the broader impact of oral health on overall health, and because of that, I have confidence in my ability to communicate the value of dental hygiene services to the public and policymakers,” Hinkle said. “It also helped prepare me to be an advocate for my patients because we focus on patient-centered care. Advocacy to me is all about ensuring that my patients and community receive the best oral healthcare possible.”
Photo at Top: Students in the WVU Dental Hygiene program, Hannah Keener, Kristin Blair, Brynn Davis and Abigail Ash, traveled to Charleston for Educational Advocacy Day at the Legislature and were presented with Senate Resolution 17 designating February 28, 2025, as Dental Hygienists’ Day at the Legislature.
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