Abstract
Compared to the majority, minority people in the United States face disproportionate barriers to receiving health care, including dental care, in part because health professionals lack communication and intercultural communication competence. Scholars and leaders in government, medicine, dentistry, and dental hygiene have called for training of students and practicing health providers because education helps address these disparities. Current communication references for dental hygienists are dated and barely mention cultural issues. This handbook devotes one chapter to culture and addresses cultural issues throughout and has been conceived to help dental hygienists enhance their communication and intercultural communication knowledge and skill. The prospectus documents the need for such a book and outlines the theory, principles, and concepts in instructional, health, and intercultural communication that have served as its foundation. The book appears in Appendix D.