After her husband died during a routine dental procedure, Shital Patel hoped to bring a patient’s voice to North Carolina’s State Board of Dental Examiners. While she was not appointed as the board’s patient representative, Patel will…

In a powerful joint statement, ADHA and IFDH call for dental hygiene services to be delivered only by licensed, educated professionals. IFDH President Jill Rethman, RDH, BA, warns that shortcuts to fix workforce shortages could compromise…

Nearly half of all American adults have some sort of periodontal disease. Dental hygienists are on the frontlines of the fight against periodontal diseases and effective instrumentation is the key to improved patient outcomes. 

More than 2,000 concerned citizens have signed a petition asking Governor Katie Hobbs to rescind SB1124, which allows dental assistants with only 120 hours of training to perform prophylaxes. Petitioners argue the law compromises patient…

New legislation passed in Utah allows dental hygienists and dental assistants to perform expanded functions, including placing restorations, under specific supervision. The move is poised to reshape team-based care in dental practices…

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants the CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water, igniting fresh debate over a decades-old public health practice. As Utah becomes the first state to ban fluoridation, oral health…

The ADA and ADHA express alarm over the dismantling of the CDC’s Division of Oral Health, warning that the cuts could unravel decades of progress in preventing dental disease and pose serious risks to the nation’s oral health.

A new study reveals that pregnant women experience nearly twice the rate of dental caries compared to nonpregnant women, with hormonal fluctuations playing a key role. Researchers found increased levels of certain oral bacteria and fungi…

A controversial new Arizona law allows dental assistants to perform prophylaxes, a role traditionally reserved for licensed dental hygienists. While supporters claim it increases patient access to care, critics warn it could compromise…

After an extraordinary 44-year career in academia, Rebecca Wilder, RDH, MS, has retired from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A trailblazer in dental hygiene education and faculty development, Wilder leaves behind a lasting…