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'The Bachelor' earns the scorn of dental hygienists across North America

Dental hygenist and dentist (Thinkstock)
Dental hygenist and dentist (Thinkstock)

ABC’s “The Bachelor” may be all about the search for love, but the network has earned the scorn of two major health organizations.

The show recently posted on its Facebook page a dozen images of faceless, comic book-like women under the heading “Bachelor jobs are the best jobs!”

Those jobs had such esteemed titles as “professional snuggler,” “jewellery untangler,” “flatulence smell-reduction underwear tester,” and “wine enthusiast.”

Somewhat seemingly out of place, “dental hygienist” also appeared on that list, alongside “miniature hat maker,” “hand model,” “hot dog vendor,” “chicken entrepreneur,” “pantsapreneur,” “free spirit,” and “hashtag enthusiast.”

Screengrab of the post shared on 'The Bachelor' Facebook page. (via CDHA)
Screengrab of the post shared on 'The Bachelor' Facebook page. (via CDHA)

The perceived mocking of the dental hygienist profession has drawn the ire of the Canadian Dental Hygienists’ Association (CDHA) and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA).

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In a statement released on the afternoon of January 29, the CDHA expressed its “extreme disappointment” in ABC Studios and “The Bachelor” for their “unprofessional and inaccurate” description of the dental hygiene profession in social media posts.

“The amount of hard work and dedication it takes to become a dental hygienist as well as the invaluable services they provide to enhance the oral and overall health of the Canadian public deserve nothing but respect,” the statement read.

Both associations have demanded that ABC issue an apology and re-evaluate its “communication messages that inaccurately depict other professions.” At press time, hundreds of comments on the show’s Facebook page in defence of dental hygienists included the hashtag #boycottTheBachelor.

CDHA president Donna Scott and CDHA CEO Odina Love also wrote a joint letter to ABC Entertainment president Ben Sherwood on January 29 calling the depiction of the profession “highly offensive.”

“Dental hygienists are primary health care providers who work in a variety of settings, including public health agencies, independent dental hygiene practices, traditional dental practices, hospitals, long-term care facilities, educational institutions, and research centres,” Scott and Love wrote. “Dental hygiene care is not limited to preventive therapeutic services, such as scaling, root planing, tooth sealants, and fluoride applications, but extends to comprehensive oral cancer screenings, facilitating behavioural change through tobacco cessation and nutritional counselling, as well as prescribing medications and other critical treatment modalities.”

The CDHA is the collective national voice of nearly 27,000 registered dental hygienists working in Canada, who are members of the sixth largest registered health profession in the country.

According to the CDHA, poor oral health can cause pain, diminish quality of life, and contribute to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and lung disease.

No word yet on whether Ben Higgins flosses twice daily.