The American Dental Hygienists’ Association criticized an Arizona bill amendment that would eliminate educational requirements for dental assistants seeking to become oral preventive assistants.
In April, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed Senate Bill 1124 into law to allow dental assistants to practice as oral preventive assistants. The bill establishes the qualifications needed, which includes dental assistants completing an oral preventive assistant training course with at least 120 hours of didactic and clinical instruction.
An amended version of another bill, SB 1037, would allow dental assistants to attend any licensed private, postsecondary educational institution to qualify for oral preventive assistant training, instead of requiring graduation from a CODA-accredited program as originally mandated in SB 1124.
ADHA President Erin Haley-Hitz said the amendment would lower educational standards for oral preventive assistants, jeopardizing patient safety.
The ADHA sent a letter June 19 urging legislators to reject the amendment.
The Arizona House of Representatives passed the amendment June 18. The amended bill will now be sent to the Senate for a final vote before the legislative session ends June 30.
