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 Access magazine can be used to gather information but should not be used as a reference since the magazine is not peer-reviewed.
Georgia Dental Hygienist's Association
International Federation of Dental Hygienists
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
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.
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.
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.
Shared information on this page is used with permission from the Illinois Central College Library's Dental Hygiene Resources LibGuide.