Reflecting on 2024: The Positive and Negative Changes Shaping the Future of Dental Hygiene

And just like that, another year has come and gone as we get ready to say goodbye to 2024. The year may have sped by, so hopefully you didn’t miss the exciting changes that transpired for dental hygienists across the country! While there is a lot to celebrate, there have also been some setbacks. Examining the advancements made by fellow hygienists in their respective states is always advantageous. By doing so, we foster the growth of our profession and advocate responsibilities and skill development.

Texas Hygienists Can Administer Local Infiltration!

After years of delegation, Texas has finally adopted a rule allowing dental hygienists to administer local infiltration anesthesia! To qualify, hygienists must complete a 32-hour TSBDE-approved education course provided by a CODA-accredited institution, which includes 20 hours of didactic education, as well as 12 hours of clinical instruction.

To maintain their local infiltration anesthesia certificate, hygienists must complete at least 2 hours of continuing education every two years, focusing on the administration of local anesthesia or managing medical emergencies related to the procedures they perform. Similarly, hygienists in Missouri and Maine can now administer local anesthesia under general supervision. Delaware is now the only state that does not allow hygienists to administer any type of local anesthetic.

Georgia Hygienists Can Use Dental Diode Lasers

In Georgia, hygienists can now use dental diode lasers for bacterial reduction and disinfection under direct supervision of a licensed dentist. They must undergo comprehensive training, including laser safety, infection control, patient management, and laser operation.

ADA Addresses Workforce Shortage

The ADA has passed resolutions to address dental workforce shortages:

1. Internationally Trained Dentists: States are encouraged to allow internationally trained dentists to obtain dental hygiene licenses, provided they meet state requirements and pass competency exams.
2. Dental Students and Residents: Active dental students and residents who have completed required hygiene competencies may practice dental hygiene under state licensure requirements.
3. Faculty-Student Ratios: The ADA urges revising accreditation standards to increase faculty-student ratios, allowing allied dental programs to expand class sizes.

ADHA President Erin Haley-Hitz has expressed concerns about these resolutions’ impact on patient safety and professional standards. ADA President Brett Kessler reassured that the resolutions aim to address workforce shortages without compromising education and safety standards.

Oregon EFDA’s Can Administer Local Anesthetic

In Oregon, dental assistants with an EFDA certificate can now obtain a Local Anesthesia Functions Certificate (LAFC) by completing a Board-approved curriculum. This change aims to make restorative care more efficient and comfortable for patients.

For more information, visit the Oregon Dental Hygiene Association’s Advocacy News page.

Join the ADHA to Drive Further Change

The positive changes for dental hygienists this year are a direct result of the hard work and dedication of the members of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, who advocate not only for their peers within their own states but for dental hygienists nationwide. If you’re dissatisfied with any of the changes mentioned above, I encourage you to consider joining the ADHA. There is strength in numbers! Together, we can continue to unite, advance our profession, and safeguard it from potential challenges.

Sources:

• Anderson, Olivia. “New ADA Policies Empower States to Alleviate Dental Workforce Shortage.” ADA News, 15 Nov. 2024.
• “Dental Hygiene Trends in Laser Therapy.” Georgia Dental Hygiene Association, 12 June 2024.
• “TDA Successfully Champions Dental Hygienists’ Local Infiltration Rule at the TSBDE.” Capital Read Dental, May 2024.