The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association (VDHA) have issued an advocacy alert regarding legislation under consideration in Virginia that would establish a new oral health provider role and modify pathways to practice for certain individuals.
The alert follows developments in other states, including Arizona, where lawmakers last year passed SB 1124 creating the Oral Preventive Assistant (OPA) role. The associations state that the OPA is an expanded function dental assistant position permitted to perform procedures such as scaling, which they describe as a traditional dental hygiene service requiring accredited education, clinical training, and licensure.
Across the country, some policymakers have promoted the OPA model as a response to workforce shortages and access-to-care challenges. ADHA opposes that approach and instead supports policies that enable licensed dental hygienists to practice at the top of their scope and in expanded settings.
This year, similar legislation has been introduced in Virginia. According to the associations, House Bill 970 and Senate Bill 178 would establish an OPA role, while House Bill 1036 and Senate Bill 282 would allow foreign-trained dentists to practice as dental hygienists without Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited or United States-standard dental hygiene education. The associations report that the bills have moved quickly through the legislature in Virginia.
The alert states that allowing OPAs and individuals without CODA-accredited, United States-standard dental hygiene education to provide care is not an appropriate response to workforce shortages or access challenges. The alert reads in part, “Allowing OPAs and individuals without CODA-accredited, U.S.-standard dental hygiene education to provide care is not a solution to workforce shortages or access challenges. These are risky shortcuts the public did not ask for.”
The ADHA is working with legislatures nationwide to advance policies that support licensed dental hygienists practicing more autonomously and in expanded settings. Regarding Virginia, the alert reads, “ADHA is doing everything possible to halt the progress of these bills in Virginia. We are asking our community to contact the Virginia legislature and the Governor’s office to oppose this legislation. We cannot allow unqualified individuals to become the norm or replace qualified, licensed dental hygienists.”
The associations are asking members to contact the office of Governor Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and members of the Virginia legislature to express opposition to the legislation. The alert encourages participation in VoterVoice campaigns and sharing information through social media.
Resources to assist dental hygienists in contacting elected officials in Virginia are available on the ADHA website, at https://www.adha.org/advocacy/action-center/.
