It can be difficult to find websites that have reliable information. Your instructors may restrict the types of websites used for a project because it can be difficult to find the author, if the site has been reviewed, or even when it was published. Anyone can add anything to the internet, so it is best to proceed with caution, especially when researching health-related topics. Some types of websites that you can trust to provide authoritative information include:
Professional organization websites
Professional organizations can be extremely valuable, both during your time as a student and later as a professional yourself. These sites provide information and resources on current issues and developments of significance to the dental hygiene profession. Some, like the American Dental Hygienists Association, also offer free online access to publications and research papers contributed by association members.
American Dental Hygienists Association -- The ADHA publishes a peer-reviewed journal (The Journal of Dental Hygiene) and a magazine (Access). As an ADHA member, you have access to the Journal of Dental Hygiene. Access magazine is included in the CINAHL database. The Journal of Dental Hygiene is a fantastic reference because it is peer-reviewed. Access magazine can be used to gather information but should not be used as a reference since the magazine is not peer-reviewed.
- The Journal of Dental Hygiene is the premier scientific research publication for dental hygiene professionals. The Journal is peer-reviewed and available to ADHA members through the Members section of this website.
- Access magazine focuses on dental hygiene practice, along with professional issues and legislative developments that affect the provision and future of oral health care. Access also shares important product information and descriptions of new technologies.
Georgia Dental Hygienist's Association
International Federation of Dental Hygienists
American Dental Association
Government websites
Websites for governmental organizations are great sources for reliable, mostly consumer-friendly information, though they do often offer more in-depth research, as well. Indeed, these sites strive to make the massive amounts of government-funded health research accessible and understandable to the public.
National Institutes of Health - National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Healthy People 2020 - Oral Health
Center for Disease Control - Division of Oral Health
MedlinePlus
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Healthfinder
Research or educational institutions' websites
Educational and/or private research institutions often provide access to authoritative information and research generated through their activities.
Mayo Clinic
National Center for Dental Hygiene Research and Practice
What if I'm not sure about the website?
Take time to evaluate the website. You can use the CRAAP checklist (see below) as a guideline. You can also consider these points.
- You are using this source for a college assignment for a grade not sharing a random article with friends. Would your professors approve of the website? If it was a paper, how would you grade it?
- Would you buy something from the site?
- Context matters. How does the website compare to what you've already found?
I know I am on a bad website, but I like it. What do I do?
Go find the original source(s.) There's probably a reference to a primary research article or government report somewhere.
- Can you find a title, author, researcher, university, government agency, date, report, journal, etc that you can Google? You're looking for a citation.
- Both Google Scholar and Galileo Discover are good places to check for a citation and full-text.
- Search Galileo Discover for full-text or place a request for Inter-Library Loan.
