Oregon lawmakers advance bills to increase supply of dental assistants

Oregon legislators are supporting two bills in the House of Representatives that would get rid of written tests for dental assistants, according to an April 6 report by The Lund Report.

Advertisement

House Bill 2996 prevents the state board of dentistry and health authority from requiring dental assistants to pass a written exam in order to receive X-ray certification. Thirteen other states already do not require certification in order to operate an X-ray, the report said. 

House Bill 3223 gets rid of the written test barrier for other certifications, including polishing dental restorations, placing orthodontic wires and removing excess cement from crowns. 

Rep. Cyrus Javadi, DDS, is a dentist in Oregon and a chief sponsor for both of the bills. 

The two bills have passed in the House of Representatives and are up for hearings in the Senate. 

At the Becker's 5th Annual Future of Dentistry Roundtable, taking place September 14-15 in Chicago, dental leaders and executives will gain insights into emerging technologies, practice growth strategies and the evolving landscape of dental care delivery, with a focus on innovation, patient experience and operational excellence. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Advertisement

Next Up in Staffing Issues

  • Here are 10 statistics and trends showing how the dental assistant workforce is evolving:  1. Dentalpost reported that dental assistants…

  • Here are eight statistics and trends showing how the dental hygiene field is evolving:  1. Several states have introduced or…

  • Utah Governor Spencer Cox has signed legislation that allows hygienists to practice at hospitals without general supervision from a dentist.…

Advertisement

Comments are closed.