Registered dental hygienists in California are now allowed to administer the COVID-19 vaccine after the Department of Consumer Affairs approved a public health emergency waiver on Feb. 11.

Dentists in at least 20 states are approved to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, helping the U.S. healthcare system curb the spread of the pandemic, according to the American Dental Association.

The ADA is asking the U.S. government to grant temporary liability protection to dentists who administer COVID-19 vaccines.

Most dentists are facing rising costs for personal protective equipment, and some have started charging patients to account for the new costs.

Americans in 29 states have filed 510 complaints of coronavirus-related surcharges at dentist offices, senior living facilities, salons and restaurants, according to The Washington Post.

As dental staff in New York and New Jersey get fully vaccinated against COVID-19, some practices are advertising their new protected status in an effort to lure back patients, reports The Wall Street Journal.

After almost a year of new, more complex COVID-19 safety protocols, many dental professionals are exhausted, reports the California Dental Association.

University of Utah Health and Intermountain Healthcare, both based in Salt Lake City, have promised to investigate the death of a man who died a week after getting nine of his teeth pulled at the university's student dental clinic, reports Fox's KSTU.

The California Dental Association is advising practice owners to encourage dental staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19 instead of implementing mandates.

Some patients may refuse to comply with mask mandates for dental appointments. Dental professionals must be prepared for difficult conversations and using de-escalation tactics to reduce tension, reports the California Dental Association.

The California Health Department has expanded its definition of healthcare workers to now include people who work at dental clinics in the state's first wave of COVID-19 vaccination.

The CDC has included dental professionals in its recommendation regarding which healthcare personnel should be prioritized for the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

California officials have approved a public health emergency waiver that allows dentists to administer COVID-19 vaccines to patients 16 and older, reports NBC's KNSD.

Dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants in Idaho are being prioritized for COVID-19 vaccinations, reports CBS affiliate KBOI-TV.

Below is an overview of the factors that affect how quickly California dentists will receive their COVID-19 vaccine, per the California Dental Association.

Dentists are calling for transparency and clarity on when they can expect to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Lufkin, Texas-based Family Dentistry and Orthodontics has reported an increase in dental visits and blames pandemic delays, KLTV reports.

Dental professionals are petitioning the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to prioritize them in the first phase of vaccine distribution, reports ABC affiliate WTVD.

Ryan Thrower, DMD, is the first U.S. dentist to administer a COVID-19 vaccine, reports NBC affiliate KGW.

A Michigan dental practice received a $2,100 fine from Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration for COVID-19 workplace violations, according to a Dec. 22 news release.