[The changing role of the dental hygienist]

This article describes the role of the dental hygienist in the Netherlands from the start of the training of dental hygienists in 1968. With the new Individual Health Care Professionals Bill from 1997 the dental hygienists are entitled to perform more tasks than in the past. This article describes the viewpoint of the professional dental hygienist organization on the future role of the dental hygienist. Cooperation with the other members of the dental team and free entry to the dental hygienist are considered important conditions. The creation of appropriate conditions by government and insurance companies is a matter of major concern.