• What is an RDHAP?

  • An RDHAP (Registered Dental Hygienists in Alternative Practice) is a dental hygienist with specialized training and an additional licence that allows the hygienist to work in settings other than a dental office and without the supervision of a dentist.

• Why was the RDHAP created?

  • The California Legislature created the RDHAP to deliver dental hygiene services to special populations in settings other than (alternative to) the dental office or clinic, such as where people live.  This category of licence was developed to provide care to those without reasonable access to traditional dental care.

• Where can the RDHAP provide services?

  • Practice setting can be schools, institutions, residence facilities, skilled nursing facilities, private home for home bound persons or a dental office in a designated underserved area such as Shasta County.

• How can RDHAP’s be of value of residential facilities?

  • The RDHAP can be the link between residential administration and staff, families and community dental providers.

• The RDHAP can provide:

• Oral evaluations, which include oral cancer screenings, clinical observations of cavities, periodontal disease.

• Oral Care plans

• Bedside, in-residence dental hygiene care, which includes:

  • Oral prophylaxis (cleaning of plaque and deposits above the gum line)

  • Non-surgical periodontal therapies with topical local anaesthetic (deep scaling below the gum line and root planning)

  • Denture cleaning

  • Fluoride treatments

  • Therapies for dry mouth

  • Strategies for prevention of cavities and gum disease

 Benefits of RDHAP

A Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP) can help meet some of the many dental needs of residents in nursing homes, residential care facilities or private homes and help with important prevention strategies. 

These elderly and /or disabled residents may be able to avoid extensive dental treatment and minimize oral problems by taking advantage of the services provided by Julie.  Prevention is indispensable to avoid extensive dental treatment and the hardships it creates on the individual and the staff.