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Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
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Dental Hygiene and Direct Access to Care: Past and present
Cynthia C Gadbury-Amyot1,2, Melanie L Simmer-Beck3, Ann Lynch4
1Division of Dental Hygiene, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, Kansas City, MO, USA amyotc@umkc.edu.
Journal of Dental Hygiene : JDH
|October 10, 2023
Summary
Direct access allows dental hygienists to provide care independently. Increased legislative support and national reports highlight the importance of expanding dental hygienist roles for improved oral health access.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Dental Hygiene
- Health Policy
Background:
- The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) defines direct access for dental hygienists, enabling independent treatment initiation and patient care.
- The number of states with direct access has grown significantly from nine in 2000 to 42 currently, reflecting legislative progress.
- Research and data support the benefits of preventive and therapeutic care provided by dental hygienists, yet barriers persist.
Purpose of the Study:
- To chronicle key partnerships and advocacy efforts that have advanced direct access for dental hygienists.
- To examine the role of dental hygienists as primary health care providers.
- To reflect on opportunities and barriers in workforce policy and effective state policies for dental hygiene care delivery.
Main Methods:
- Review of legislative initiatives and advocacy efforts by organizations like the ADHA.
- Analysis of reports from the National Governors Association (NGA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on oral health access.
- Examination of state policies and educational curricula designed to prepare dental hygienists for expanded roles.
Main Results:
- Significant legislative progress has been made, with 42 states now authorizing some form of direct access for dental hygienists.
- National reports from NGA and NIH advocate for increased deployment of dental hygienists and expansion of their scope of practice.
- Effective state policies and specialized educational curricula are emerging to support dental hygienists in providing care outside traditional settings.
Conclusions:
- Advocacy and strategic partnerships have been crucial in expanding direct access for dental hygienists.
- Dental hygienists are increasingly recognized as essential primary health care providers, capable of delivering vital oral health services.
- Future dental hygiene education must equip graduates with the skills to provide direct access care in diverse settings, addressing workforce policy needs.
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