%0 Journal Article %A Janice C Grant %A Zul Kanji %T Exploring Interprofessional Relationships Between Dental Hygienists and Health Professionals in Rural Canadian Communities %D 2017 %J American Dental Hygienists Association %P 6-11 %V 91 %N 4 %X Purpose: For most Canadians living in rural communities, limited access to dental care can negatively impact oral and general health. This narrative, tertiary review of the literature explores the outcomes of interprofessional relationships between dental hygienists and other health professionals on individuals residing in rural communities in Canada. Themes addressed include: implementing interprofessional education experiences in entry-to-practice health programs, interprofessional dynamics in primary health care teams, health perceptions in rural communities, and barriers and enablers to interprofessional relationships.Conclusion: Findings from this review suggest that the development of interprofessional relationships between health care professionals is complex and dynamic. Interprofessional collaboration should first be implemented at the educational level to help develop trust and understanding of each profession's role in health care. Alternative models of health care delivery, such as interprofessional collaborative practice, have the potential to reduce overall health care costs and improve access of comprehensive health care services to Canadians residing in rural communities. %U https://jdh.adha.org/content/jdenthyg/91/4/6.full.pdf