About Us

International Federation of Dental Hygienists

International Federation of Dental Hygienists, hereinafter referred to as “the Federation”. The Federation is an international non-governmental, non-profit organization, free from any political, racial, or religious ties. It adheres to the United Nations Charter on Human Rights.

Purpose

The purpose of the Federation is to:
Safeguard and defend the interests of the profession of dental hygiene, represent and advance the profession of dental hygiene, promote professional alliances with its association members as well as with other associations, federations, and organizations whose objectives are similar, promote and coordinate the exchange of knowledge and information about the profession, its education, and its practice, promote access to quality preventive oral health care services, increase public awareness that oral disease can be prevented through proven regimen, provide a forum for the understanding and discussion of issues pertaining to dental hygiene

Executive Council

Current Goals for 2007-10

  • Strengthen the professional profile of dental hygienists worldwide
  • Increase IFDH membership in all eligible categories
  • Strengthen collaboration with other organizations
  • Support the development of dental hygiene education and research worldwide
  • Support the development and visibility of dental hygiene education
  • Support the development of research by dental hygienists
  • Strengthen communication within the IFDH

National Association Member Country

AUSTRALIA DHAA INC. www.dhaa.asn.au
AUSTRIA VDHO www.dentalhygienists.at
CANADA CDHA www.cdha.ca
DENMARK Dansk Tanplejerforenging www.dansktp.dk
FIJI FDHA p.ravunawa@fsm.ac.fj
FINLAND FFDH www.suuhygienistillitto.fi
GERMANY DDHVe.V www.ddhv.de
IRELAND Irish DHA www.irishdentalhygienists.com
ISRAEL Israel DHA www.idha.org.il
ITALY AIDI segreteria@aiditalia.it
JAPAN JDHA www.jdha.or.jp
KOREA KDHA www.kdha.or.kr
LATVIA LDHA www.zobuhigienisti.lv
NETHERLANDS NVM www.mondhygienisten.nl
NEW ZEALAND NZDHA www.nzdha.co.nz
NORWAY Norsk Tannpleirforenging www.tannpleier.no
PORTUGAL APHO www.apho.pt
SLOVAK REPUBLIC ADHS www.dentalhygienist.webpark.sk
SOUTH AFRICA OHASA www.ohasanet.co.za
SPAIN HIDES www.hides.es
SWEDEN Sveriges Tandhygienistforening www.tandhygienistfirening.a.se
SWITZERLAND Swiss Dental Hygienists www.dentalhygienists.ch
UNITED KINGDOM BSDHT www.bsdht.org.uk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ADHA www.adha.org

House of Delegates (HoD)

The House of Delegates is the governing body of the IFDH and the Hod Meeting is held every three years immediately before the ISDH. The members on the HoD are representatives from the National Association Members of which there are currently 24 member countries. The HoD meeting is conducted over 2-3 days with an extensive agenda that provides time for discussion among the delegates.

International Symposium on Dental Hygiene (ISDH)

The International Symposium on Dental Hygiene (ISDH) is held every three (3) years under the auspices of the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH) " to provide a forum for the understanding and discussion of issues pertaining to dental hygiene".

IFDH Association Members may submit their bids to the House of Delegates (HoD), who will cast their vote to the candidate of their choice. The successful host association shall be responsible for the organisation of the Symposium, following the IFDH Symposium Guidelines.

The next ISDH will be held in Glasgow 1-3 rd July, 2010. The Theme of the 18th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene is “Oral Health – New Concepts for the New Millennium: New technologies for preventing and treating oral diseases, including alternative treatments”.

The 19th ISDH has already been awarded to South Africa in 2013. The ISDH will be held in Cape Town with its theme “Oral Health - Vital link to Achieving Total Health”

Categories of Membership

National Association: Any national dental hygienists’ association whose members represent a substantial proportion of the qualified registered/licensed dental hygienists in that country, and who meet the IFDH’s criteria may apply for membership to the Federation
Individual Membership: Any dental hygienist who is a member in good standing of a national dental hygienists’ association member or is a graduate of an accredited minimum 2 year dental hygiene program
Corporate Membership: Corporations that support the policies of the IFDH may be eligible for corporate membership
Honorary Life Membership: Individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the profession of dental hygiene and to the Federation, are nominated by the Executive Council and elected by the House of Delegates
Allied Supporter: Allied supporters shall be individuals, institutions, federations, organizations or groups who are allied health care givers and who demonstrate support for the policies of the Federation

IFDH Website

Visit: www.ifdh.org

IFDH Administrator

Angela Fundak: administrator@ifdh.org