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EDITORIAL

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It is a pleasure to write an editorial for this promotional issue of International Journal of Dental Hygiene because I can address an issue which lies close to my heart: dental hygiene research.

In my view, dental hygienists will only be globally recognized as professionals when research is done by the professionals themselves. This research takes place mainly in the United States, Canada and Sweden and other countries are following, but at a much slower pace.

An international peer-reviewed journal like the International Journal of Dental Hygiene supports the community by being an international forum for this research, more so since the journal was accepted by MedLine, LInstitut de LInformation Scientifique et Technique (INIST), Cinahl Information Systems and others. International Journal of Dental Hygiene is published online and is available to all subscribers as part of the various Blackwell Publishing consortia deals. We can see the wide demand for the journal content in the increasing number of articles that are being downloaded.

It is a journal where research can be presented to colleagues internationally. This level of research is central to lifelong professional learning.

The articles selected for this issue have proven to be very popular amongst the readers of the International Journal of Dental Hygiene. They show the variety of article content which the journal offers and the variety of interest amongst the readers. Enjoy reading them!

This issue celebrates the success of the journal which is nearly five years old. I would like this success to continue, but for me to be able to realize this, as always, we need more readers, more libraries stocking the journal and an increase in article submission. You can support International Journal of Dental Hygiene by notifying your library and institution that you would like access to the journal.

In May 2007, International Journal of Dental Hygiene introduced online submission and peer reviewing. The journal no longer accepts paper submissions. Information on how the process

works is available at the Manuscript Central site, where authors also have to go to submit their manuscript: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/IDH. Authors are guided along through the submission process, which is more or less selfexplanatory and it will also facilitate your author experiences.

To get more information about International Journal of Dental Hygiene and to subscribe, please go to:

http://www.dentistry.blackwellmunksgaard.com/idh

Marjolijn Hovius

Editor-in-Chief

International Journal of Dental Hygiene