is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating the dental hygiene profession and advancing oral health through education, research, and community empowerment. Guided by a legacy of advocacy and excellence, we support professional growth while promoting public health and welfare across California communities.
Through scholarships, research funding, and innovative programs, CDHAF strengthens the dental hygiene workforce and expands access to quality preventive care. As a supporting organization and fiscal agent of the California Dental Hygienists’ Association (CDHA), the Foundation empowers dental hygienists and local components to design and implement community-based initiatives that prevent oral disease, serve vulnerable populations, and improve health outcomes statewide.
Our Legacy Founded in 1980 by fifteen visionary California dental hygienists as Dental Hygiene Associates, Inc., the Foundation played a pivotal role in validating the unsupervised practice of dental hygiene through Health Manpower Project #139. This groundbreaking work helped lay the foundation for the creation of the Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP) license and reflects CDHAF’s enduring commitment to professional advancement and public access to care.
