New Law Allows Dental Hygienists to Practice in Public Settings

DAWN ZERA
Times Leader Correspondent


The 2008 graduating class of dental hygienists at Luzerne County Community College will be able to practice outside of dentists¹ offices, thanks to a new law sponsored by Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski.

The dental program curriculum at Luzerne County Community College will not need to change much to accommodate a new law that allows dental hygienists to become certified public health hygiene practitioners.

The new law, which as a bill was introduced by Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski (D-Luzerne), was signed July 20 by Gov. Ed Rendell and effectively will allow dental hygienists to practice without a dentist¹s supervision in public settings such as schools and nursing homes. Hygienists also will be able to take X-rays without a dentist present.

The law is part of Gov. Rendell¹s push to help all residents, regardless of income, get access to some health-care services.

Locally, Luzerne County Community College offers a two-year dental hygiene program, a two-year dental business assisting program and a one-year dental assisting program.

LCCC dental program director Cathryn Brown, a certified dental assistant and registered hygienist, said the new law will fulfill a need in the community that most dental hygienists already are prepared for.

³I don¹t think this is really going to impact our curriculum a great deal. They¹re pretty prepared to do this, and don¹t have to do anything extra during their education to qualify for this,² Brown said.

The only caveat, Brown said, is that in order to be certified, hygienists have to complete 3,600 hours of practice under a dentist¹s supervision, working as a practicing hygienist before they can apply for certification.

³A lot of hygienists work for multiple offices, as it¹s difficult for them to find a full-time job and just to get that variety of working for different dentists,² Brown said. ³We don¹t punch a clock. Who is going to keep track of these hours?²

Brown also noted that with an aging population of dentists in the state, there could be many instances in which a hygienist who applies for certification has trouble proving hours worked due to a dentist being retired or deceased.

Rob Pugliese, director of communication for the Pennsylvania Dental Association, said the State Board of Dentistry will develop the certification process, and may develop an application form on which hygienists can document their hours.

Despite the logistics that need to be worked out, Brown said the law is a good one which will help many people.

³There¹s a lot of need in the community for access to care. This could very well meet the needs of those people. It¹s a step in the right direction,² Brown said.

Brown added that her students at LCCC are very community-oriented, and the college frequently receives requests for students to go out to different organizations to do educational outreach on dental health.

Pashinski said dental problems can lead to more serious disease if unchecked, and he hopes the bill will have a positive effect on the community.

³My saying is Œa healthy mouth, a healthy body.¹ There is a direct correlation between the condition of the mouth and the body. We can prevent the more serious effects of unhealthy teeth, such as gum disease, which is a main cause of critical problems down the line,² Pashinski said. ³Thousands who did not have access to dental hygiene before will now have it.²

Top 10 Things to Know About Your Dental Hygienist

These days, a visit with your dental hygienist may result in more benefits than just cleaner teeth and healthier gums -- you might even decide to stop smoking, improve your nutrition or check to see if you might be at risk for diabetes.

"Most people simply don't realize just how educated and skilled their dental hygienists are," said Susan McLearan, president of the California Dental Hygienists' Association (CDHA). "The profession has evolved to the point where we actually can save lives."

In keeping with its mission to raise public awareness about dental health and to promote the value of seeing a dental hygienist, the association has issued the following list of the Top Ten Things Californians Should Know About Their Dental Hygienists.

"The list is intended to show how dental hygienists play such an integral role in overall public health -- in many different ways and on many different levels."

That role is reflected in the following facts about Registered Dental
Hygienists (RDH):

1. Highly Educated Professionals -- The minimum level of education for licensure is equivalent to a four-year degree with two years specializing in dental hygiene.

2. Committed to Expanding Access to Care -- Specially licensed hygienists can go into underserved communities and provide dental hygiene services to some of the millions of Californians who would otherwise have no access to dental care.

3. Screen for Oral Cancer -- Dental hygienists possess the skills to be the first health professional to identify potential signs of oral cancer and refer a patient to a physician.

4. Promote Healthy Nutrition -- Dental hygienists can tell if a patient is eating poorly or is malnourished; they can then offer helpful advice and information.

5. Spot Signs of Eating Disorders -- Also related to nutritional issues, eating disorders can also be recognized in the mouth during a check up.

6. Recognize Signs of Diabetes -- Dental hygienists can alert patients that they might be in danger from diabetes, and refer them to seek confirmation from a medical doctor.

7. Promote Smoking Cessation -- When examining patients who smoke tobacco, dental hygienists often will counsel them to quit and provide resources and information about steps they can take to stop smoking.

8. Prevent Gum and Periodontal Disease -- By cleaning and examining teeth and gums, dental hygienists play a major role in preventing common oral diseases.

9. Understand the Link Between Oral Health and Emotional Health in Children -- Dental hygienists are passionate about promoting good oral health among children, who can often suffer speech impediments, social ridicule, diminished self esteem and other problems related to poor oral health.

10. Represented by CDHA, the Official Voice of Dental Hygiene -- Since CDHA was established 20 years ago, dental hygienists have been making continuous strides toward becoming the skilled, autonomous and essential public health professionals that they are today.

Furthermore, dental hygienists are qualified to detect a wide range of other life-threatening conditions, including high blood pressure and HIV.

"The items on our list really underscore that the mouth is a window into a person's comprehensive health," said CDHA's McLearan. "And because the average person sees a hygienist more often than a physician, it is especially important for people to understand the many facets and benefits of the dental hygiene profession."

The California Dental Hygienists' Association (CDHA) is the authoritative voice of the state's dental hygiene profession. While registered dental hygienists have worked in the state for nearly a century, CDHA was established 20 years ago when two regional associations merged to form a unified professional group. CDHA represents thousands of dental hygienists throughout the state and is dedicated to expanding opportunities for the
profession and access to care for all Californians.

Source: California Dental Hygienists' Association