EWU is moving forward with plans to launch a master’s-level dental therapy program, aiming to strengthen the oral health workforce in rural Washington. While dental therapy is designed to expand access to care, the model sometimes faces…

A long-term Finnish study suggests severe gingivitis and periodontitis may increase both the risk of developing a cerebral artery aneurysm and the likelihood that it will rupture. Dental caries, however, was not linked to aneurysm risk,…

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A fatal case of sepsis linked to untreated dental caries underscores how oral disease can rapidly escalate into life-threatening systemic infection. The case highlights the critical role of early dental intervention in preventing deep neck…

A California pilot program proposing to allow expanded function dental assistants to administer local anesthesia threatens to blur critical lines in education, training, and patient safety. Dental hygienists must make their voices heard…

New reporting from the San Francisco Standard reveals a worsening dental hygienist shortage in California that is reshaping both clinical practice and the economics of dentistry. Dentists are increasingly relying on associate dentists or…

A new California pilot program would allow dental assistants to administer local anesthesia, a move many dentists welcome for workflow efficiency and cost savings. But dental hygienists warn that expanding anesthesia privileges to…

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Florida lawmakers are considering a bill to create a dental therapist role to provide preventive and routine restorative care. Supporters see it as a solution to widespread dental shortages, while opponents caution that irreversible…

From classrooms to mobile clinics, public health dental hygienists are reshaping how preventive care reaches underserved communities. While these strategies show promise for improving outcomes, some dentists remain opposed to expanding…