The Board can affiliate with which organization as an active member?

The Board can affiliate with the American Association of Dental Boards as an active member due to the primary focus of this organization, which is to support state dental boards in their regulation of dental practice, including dental hygiene. This affiliation allows the Board to collaborate and share resources with other regulatory entities, enhancing compliance, standards, and inter-state communication regarding dental practices. Furthermore, the American Association of Dental Boards provides a platform for discussing important jurisprudence issues, educational initiatives, and innovations in dental regulation that directly benefit state boards and their licensed professionals, including dental hygienists.

The other organizations, while relevant to the dental field, serve different functions. The American Association of Dental Hygienists primarily represents dental hygienists as a professional organization, and while it works to advocate for the profession, it does not focus specifically on board regulations. The Commission on Dental Accreditation deals with the accreditation of dental education programs rather than serving as a regulatory board. The National Dental License Board is not a widely recognized entity and thus does not have the affiliation standards typically sought by state boards. This distinction highlights why the American Association of Dental Boards is the appropriate choice for active membership by the regulatory Board in question.