Belonging, Leadership, and a Global Voice: What Dental Hygiene Can Become
There are friendships in dentistry that go far beyond proximity or convenience. They’re built through shared service, shared challenges, and a shared belief in what this profession can be.
On a recent episode of The Dental Handoff, I had the absolute joy of welcoming back one of my best friends and long-time colleagues, Kelli Swanson Jaecks, RDH—or as we lovingly say, Kelly with an I (I’m Kelly with a Y).
Kelli’s career is a masterclass in what’s possible in dental hygiene when curiosity meets courage. From past president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) to international delegate for the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH), her story is about leadership, relationships, and finding where you truly belong.
Walking Into Your Belonging: The ADHA Experience
Kelli recently returned from the ADHA Annual Session in Long Beach, and her reflection resonated deeply with me.
There’s something powerful about walking into a space where you don’t have to explain yourself—where everyone shares the same foundational experience:
The intensity of licensure
The challenges of clinical care
The heart of prevention and connection
ADHA isn’t just an association. For many hygienists, it’s where careers are shaped, friendships are formed, and confidence is built.
As a past ADHA president (2014–2015), Kelli reflected on how service—at the component, state, and national levels—opens your mind to perspectives you didn’t even know existed. Geography alone changes how dentistry is practiced, regulated, and experienced.
And yet, that shared foundation is what makes us feel like we belong.
From National to Global: Inside the IFDH
If ADHA expands your view nationally, the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH) expands it exponentially.
Many hygienists don’t realize this:
ADHA is a member organization of IFDH, meaning every ADHA member is eligible to become an individual member of IFDH.
Kelli has served nearly nine years as an ADHA delegate to IFDH, representing U.S. dental hygienists on a global stage—and the perspective she’s gained is nothing short of transformative.
At the international level, dental hygiene looks very different:
In some countries, hygienists and dental therapists are combined into a single role
In others, dental hygiene is embedded within broader allied health titles
The scope of practice, education, and regulation varies dramatically
And yet, the common thread remains prevention, access to care, and public health.
Dental Therapy: A Global Conversation with Local Impact
One of the most fascinating parallels Kelli shared is that dental therapy has been a recurring theme throughout her career, both nationally and internationally.
Ten years ago, as ADHA president, she testified repeatedly during CODA hearings as dental therapy education standards were being developed in the U.S.
Today, she’s still engaged in that conversation—now through the IFDH—watching countries like:
The UK
Australia
Scandinavian nations
Merge dental hygiene and dental therapy into a unified professional association.
Meanwhile, states like Oregon (Kelli’s home state) now license dental therapists as regulated providers.
The takeaway?
Dental hygiene is not static; it is evolving globally, and our voices matter in shaping that evolution.
The United Nations of Dental Hygiene
One of my favorite moments in our conversation was Kelli’s reflection on a childhood dream.
At 16, she visited Washington, D.C. and thought, “I want to work for the United Nations.”
Years later, she realized:
The IFDH is the United Nations of dental hygiene.
Representing your country.
Debating policy with delegates from around the world.
Learning how culture, healthcare systems, and education shape oral health.
That is the power of saying yes to service.
A Career that Evolves with You
Today, Kelli continues to:
Speak nationally and internationally
Consult with dental corporations
Advise on education, communication, and product development
Mentor hygienists seeking non-traditional career paths
Her career has included:
Clinical practice
Academia
Sales and marketing
Corporate dentistry
Leadership at the highest levels
And now, she chooses projects that align with her values, lifestyle, and passion.
That is the beauty of a long, intentional career.
Advice for Hygienists at Any Stage
Kelli’s guidance for anyone wondering “What’s next?” is refreshingly simple:
Follow What Lights You Up
Curiosity is a compass. Pay attention to what energizes you.
Shadow Before You Leap
Want to teach? Speak? Work in corporate dentistry?
Ask someone doing it if you can shadow or have a 30-minute conversation.
Relationships Matter More Than Résumés
Most opportunities don’t come from job boards—they come from people who know you.
You Don’t Have to Know Everything
You just have to be willing to learn.
Connection Is the Core of Dental Hygiene
With patients.
With colleagues.
With yourself.
Why This Conversation Matters
This episode wasn’t just about leadership titles or global service.
It was about:
Belonging
Evolution
Connection
The power of relationships
And the reminder that dental hygiene offers far more paths than most of us were ever told
Whether you’re early in your career, mid-career, or redefining your next chapter, there is room for you.
And there is a seat at the table.
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/n7BYxF316eE
Keywords: dental hygiene leadership, ADHA annual session, American Dental Hygienists’ Association
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