Educational Standards Save Lives

Patients often assume that prophylaxis is the purview of dental hygienists and little else. But as professionals in the industry, we know the scope of our role goes far beyond superficial maintenance. Dental hygienists often serve as the first line of defense for detecting health problems, educating patients, and delivering preventive care not just in the mouth, but throughout the whole body.

To provide patients with this high level of care, dental hygienists require strong and thorough education through Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-accredited programs. These industry-standard programs cannot be abbreviated or replaced, as some states are working toward. The accreditation process ensures a consistent and high standard of education that protects both the profession as a whole and the public we serve. It provides students with a strong foundation to begin their career as dental hygienists and equips them with the competencies to deliver safe and effective care that truly impacts lives.

Several states have introduced legislation creating alternative, nonaccredited pathways to expedite education and bring more people, such as dental assistants, dental students, and foreign-trained dentists, into the profession. Examples include Arizona’s SB 1124 (March 2025), which establishes an oral preventive assistant (OPA) role allowing dental assistants to perform limited preventive procedures under supervision in shortage areas,¹ and Massachusetts’ H.4842, which expands reciprocal licensure for dental hygienists and permits qualified out-of-state and foreign-trained practitioners to obtain licensure after examination.² Supporters say these measures could ease workforce shortages and expand access to care, while critics, including the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, warn that bypassing CODA-accredited education risks compromising patient safety and professional standards.³

Requiring licensing or certification through a CODA-accredited program ensures that all dental hygiene students are equipped to serve as preventive oral health care professionals providing educational, clinical, and therapeutic services that support the overall health of the public. Their training extends beyond clinical skills to address behavioral risks and physical conditions related to oral health.^4,5 When state legislation threatens to undermine these standards by reducing licensure requirements or allowing on-the-job training, patient safety becomes seriously compromised.

We must protect not only the credibility of our care and profession, but also patients nationwide who are being put at risk of harm by exposing them to practitioners with varying levels of education. While staffing shortages are an ongoing challenge for our industry, compromising care quality is a dangerous way to fill the gaps.

Oral Health Is Whole Body Health

The care that dental hygienists provide goes far beyond the mouth — it impacts overall health. Our oral health serves as a gateway to the rest of the body. Through our work, we can identify early signs of diabetes and heart disease and are even able to spot potential cancers. This critical connection between the mouth and body means every clinical decision we make has the potential to affect a patient’s life.⁶

Our expertise bridges dental care with broader healthcare, making regular visits an essential part of a patient’s health journey. The depth and rigor of our education prepare us for these immense responsibilities, and they should not be taken lightly. Compromising the quality of dental hygiene education threatens the health of millions who depend on the vigilance of qualified dental hygienists. The stakes are too high to allow for low standards.

Taking a Stand for our Profession

This October, during National Dental Hygiene Month, dental hygienists from across the country will unite in Washington, DC, to amplify our message to policymakers and industry leaders: educational standards save lives.* This powerful, peaceful demonstration is only part of the Oral Health Awareness Project’s critical movement to raise awareness about the essential role dental hygienists play in healthcare and advocate for the preservation of fundamental educational standards.

This rally serves as a call to patients and oral health professionals alike. It’s time to illustrate the importance of the dental hygienist’s role, to educate the public and lawmakers about the true scope of our work, and to stand firm against threats to dismantle the standards that serve as the backbone of our profession.

Every patient deserves safe, competent care from the licensed practitioners they put their trust in. With rising demand for oral health services, there is an undeniable pressure on the industry to fill workforce gaps.^7,8 But shortcuts in education cannot be the solution for this issue; it simply surfaces more problems by lowering the standard of care.

We urge all stakeholders in oral health to join us this National Dental Hygiene Month. Stand with us in Washington, DC, and add your voice to a movement dedicated to protecting the future of our valued profession and the overall public health.

To learn more about OHAP’s movement, please visit oralhealthawarenessproject.org and follow our members on Oral Health Awareness Project across Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay informed of future activity.⁹

* The Oral Health Awareness Project’s Demonstration Day on October 25, 2025, is a peaceful, nonpartisan event in Washington, DC, held in alignment with the United States Constitution’s First Amendment right to assemble. Organized independently of any association, the event aims to raise public health awareness and amplify the voice of dental hygienists during National Dental Hygiene Month.

References

1. Arizona State Legislature. Senate Bill 1124: Oral Preventive Assistants; Dental Assistants; Licensure.
2. Massachusetts General Court. House Bill H.4842: An Act Relative to Dental Hygienist Reciprocal Licensure.
3. American Dental Hygienists’ Association. ADHA Statement on Alternative Dental Hygiene Education Pathways and Public Safety.
4. Commission on Dental Accreditation. Accreditation Standards for Dental Hygiene Education Programs.
5. American Dental Education Association. Statement on Maintaining Accredited Educational Standards in Dental Hygiene.
6. United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health: Fast Facts.
7. United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. Oral Health Workforce Dashboard: Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas.
8. American Dental Association Health Policy Institute. Dental Workforce Shortages and Access to Care Report.
9. Oral Health Awareness Project. Mission and Advocacy Statement.