Oklahoma lawmakers are considering SB 1942 and HB 4329, bills that would modify how dental plans define covered services and negotiate reimbursement rates. Dentists and employers alike are evaluating how these changes could affect…

A newly proposed federal rule would reinstate a prohibition preventing routine adult dental services from being included as an essential health benefit under the Affordable Care Act. If finalized, the policy could limit states’ ability to…

AB 1952 proposes the development of an alternative licensure process for internationally trained dentists to work as dental hygienists in California. Now more than ever, dental hygienists must advocate for their profession, and California…

The United States Coast Guard has partnered with the University of Minnesota to integrate dental therapists into its healthcare delivery model. The 5-year initiative aims to address provider shortages, strengthen operational readiness, and…

Dental hygienist wages climbed again in 2025, with national averages nearing $49 per hour and top markets pushing well above $65.

California’s AB 1952 would allow internationally trained dentists to become licensed dental hygienists without completing a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program. While supporters cite workforce shortages, dental hygienists argue the…

The Indian Health Service will phase out mercury-containing dental amalgam fillings by 2027, accelerating a shift already underway across dentistry. The move aligns federal tribal health care with global mercury reduction efforts while…

Congratulations to the December winner of the Sunstar eBrief Giveaway, Shanin Peck, RDH, MA, ECPII. A professor and senior clinical coordinator at Wichita State University (WSU) in Kansas, she is a proud first-generation college graduate…

1.3 million Americans went to Mexico for care. Here’s why oral health professionals should be paying attention.

Congratulations to the November winner of the Sunstar eBrief, Kim Kolassa, RDH, BS. A dental hygienist for more than 30 years, Kim worked in private practice for 18 years, where she honed her clinical and patient communication skills.…