Research
Study explores leveraging dental hygienists to expand access to oral health care
The Brief
- A study examines how dental hygienists could be used to expand access to oral health care.
- Dental hygienists deliver preventive care that can prevent more serious and costly dental problems.
- In many states, laws and regulations governing the dental hygiene profession can limit where hygienists may practise.
Why it matters
Access to preventive dental care depends partly on who is legally allowed to provide it, so state scope-of-practice rules affect how care can be delivered.
Who’s affected
- dental patients and health policy readers
- dental hygienists and dental care providers
- state policymakers who set dental practice regulations
- #dental health
- #oral health care
- #dental hygienists
- #health policy
- #access to care
Dental hygienists play a critical role in delivering preventive oral health care, helping patients maintain good oral health and preventing more serious and costly dental problems. Yet in many states, laws and regulations governing the dental hygiene profession can limit where…
Timeline
Medical Xpress reports on the study on leveraging dental hygienists to expand access to oral health care
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Study explores leveraging dental hygienists to expand access to oral health care