ADHA White Paper Reignites the Self-Regulation Debate
A new ADHA white paper argues that dental hygiene self-regulation could strengthen public protection while expanding access to oral healthcare. With only two states currently allowing self-regulation, the report calls for a rethink of how dental hygiene is governed nationwide.
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has released a new white paper that takes a close look at who regulates dental hygiene and why it matters for patients. Titled Dental Hygiene Self-Regulation: How Self-Regulation Strengthens Public Protection and Expands Access to Care, the paper outlines how professional self-regulation could remove barriers that limit where and how dental hygienists practice.
Currently, only California and Washington allow dental hygiene self-regulation. In the remaining 48 states, dental hygienists are regulated by dental boards largely composed of dentists, creating what the paper describes as an inherent conflict of interest. According to the analysis, this structure can restrict practice settings, slow innovation, and limit access to preventive oral health services, particularly in underserved communities.
The white paper points to nursing as a long-standing model of successful self-regulation. For more than a century, nursing boards have overseen licensure, education, and discipline while supporting expanded access to care. ADHA argues that dental hygiene already meets every hallmark of a profession, including education, ethics, and a defined body of knowledge, except for independent regulation.
The report frames self-regulation as a public health issue rather than a professional turf battle. By modernizing regulatory structures, the paper suggests that oral healthcare could become more accessible, efficient, and responsive to community needs. Click here to read the paper.
