Table 2.

Canadian and American DHDx definitions

Country	Dental hygiene diagnosis definition
Canada (Canadian Dental Hygienists Association)	"A dental hygiene diagnosis involves the use of critical thinking skills to reach conclusions about clients" dental hygiene needs based on all available assessment data."10
United States (American Dental Hygienists' Association)	"The identification of an individual's health behaviors, attitudes, and oral health care needs for which a dental hygienist is educationally qualified and licensed to provide. The dental hygiene diagnosis requires evidence-based critical analysis and interpretation of assessments in order to reach conclusions about the patient's dental hygiene treatment needs. The dental hygiene diagnosis provides the basis for the dental hygiene care plan."11