title: Technology is a critical game changer to the practice of dental hygiene.
abstract: Dental hygienists will need to embrace 21st century technology to adapt to workplace settings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To stay relevant in the workforce, dental hygienists need mastery of new skills and technologies. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the vast array of technological advances impacting dental practice and the consequent implications for oral health care providers.
  New technologies have provided unparalleled opportunities for degree and career advancement for dental hygienists. Advances in science and technology are providing patients with better quality and more convenient oral health care. Dental hygienists need technological skills that enable them to fully utilize technology as a strategy for consultation with dentists and other health care professionals and for other purposes. Continuing education and life-long learning factor into preparing dental hygienists for 21st century technologies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With technological advances, less adaptive professionals could potentially see a decrease in demand for their services. Possessing a high level of knowledge of dentistry and dental hygiene does not ensure a position in the workforce. Knowledge of technologies and associated skills are required for quality patient care and career and personal growth.
authors.affiliation: Instructional Technology and Faculty Development, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, MO 64108, USA. Electronic address: amyotc@umkc.edu.
authors.forename: Cynthia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gadbury-Amyot
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D002322:Career Mobility; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003729:Dental Care / Q000639:trends; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education* / Q000639:trends; D004496:Education, Continuing; D020375:Education, Distance; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000639:trends*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013674:Technology, Dental / Q000193:education* / Q000639:trends
keywords: Dental hygiene; dental; evidence based decision making; technology