The American Dental Hygienists’ Association is pressing for dental hygiene to become a self-regulating profession.
In all but two states, dental hygienists are regulated by dental boards primarily composed of dentist members, which can create a conflict of interest, according to a Dec. 22 news release from the ADHA.
In a recent white paper, the organization called for hygienists to be able to self-regulate education, licensure, practice standards and discipline.
The ADHA compared dental hygiene to nursing, which has been a self-regulating healthcare profession for more than 120 years. Dental hygiene meets the criteria of a profession through its established body of knowledge, education standards, code of ethics and commitment to public service, the release said.
