Three states have recently taken action to expand dental care by introducing and passing legislation to change how services are performed.
Three notes:
- Wisconsin authorized the practice of dental auxiliaries in the state, allowing them to help dentists complete specific services such as applying sealants, taking impressions and adjusting dentures.
- The Alaska House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow dental hygienists to apply for permits to work independently. It has been sent to the Senate for consideration.
- A bill introduced to the California Legislature would expand treatments dental assistants are authorized to perform under the supervision of a dentist, including polishing the coronal surfaces of teeth and applying pit and fissure sealants.