Medical Xpress
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 and how hygienists practice—potentially restricting patients’ access to essential preventive services.
A new study from the Oral Health Workforce Research Center, part of the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University at Albany, examines these regulatory barriers and identifies opportunities to better leverage the dental hygiene workforce to expand access to oral health care.