100 Years of Leadership in Oral Health
Elevating the Profession
In 1923, a group of 46 forward-thinking dental hygienists representing various states journeyed from across the U.S. to the Hollenden Hotel in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, to hold the first Annual Conference of the ADHA®. Together these pioneering women drafted the first constitution and bylaws for an organization in its infancy so that officers could be elected to unify and lead the group. Mrs. Winifred Hart of Bridgeport, CT, became the first president of the ADHA—the same organization celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
Eight of 46 dental hygienists attending the ADHA’s first annual conference.
Cleveland Press, September 12, 1923.
Over ten decades, hundreds of thousands of determined ADHA members and dental hygiene pioneers have helped push the envelope and elevated the profession to the essential and instrumental force it is today in oral and overall health care. Join the dental hygiene community as we celebrate this historic milestone and look forward to a new century for the American Dental Hygienists’ Association.
View the Press Release
A New Century. A New Look.
Returning to the traditional purple representing the compassion, purpose and inspiration of the dental hygiene profession, the ADHA’s new logo and brand identity features not one but multiple shades of the color representing the diverse roles, responsibilities, career paths and people who make up our membership and the dental hygiene community.
The Transition
This special 100th anniversary edition of the new logo with tagline was used throughout 2023, applied across traditional and digital media. ADHA print, web and social properties gradually transitioned to the new brand identity with a new website that launched in February. Constituent, Component and Student Chapter logos were created and distributed to their respective leadership for transition and application throughout all levels of the association family. At the close of the year, ADHA transitioned to a permanent version of the logo without the tagline.
A Yearlong Celebration
Each month this year, ADHA shared moments in time—of membership, of experiences, of achievements and milestones from this journey—that weave the fabric of our history and have paved the way for our future. These were woven into communication as new web experiences, a new digital content hub, new education, fun member contests, student activities, special member offers, and highlights with a centennial celebration at ADHA23 in Chicago, Ill. that took place July 7-9, 2023.
Be sure to renew your membership and follow ADHA on all social channels and on adha.org all year!