Several states have approved additional funding or moved forward with legislation aimed at improving the dental workforce.
Four updates:
1. Nevada Senate Bill 495 would allow individuals to receive a dental hygiene license without completing a dental hygiene program that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association has opposed this provision, stating that the licensure changes could lead to inconsistent care and insufficient oversight.
2. Washington, D.C., Council member Wendell Felder introduced legislation July 14 that would join the district in the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact. If enacted, Washington, D.C, would become the third member of the compact.
3. Delaware Senate Bill 283 makes several additions to the list of services hygienists are able to provide, including administering and dispensing topical agents under the general supervision of a dentist, directly supervising dental assistants, and providing direct access to prophylaxis without the need for a dentist to examine a patient beforehand if a dentist will see the patient within 12 months of the patient receiving treatment.
4. The Virginia General Assembly has allocated $20 million to expand career and technical education programs in the state, including dental hygiene programs. The budget includes $1 million to create a fund that will support the expansion of dental hygiene programs in Virginia.
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