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Latest News for Dental Hygienists
Tune in to our second legislative update from VDHA Lobbyist, Tyler Craddock. This is why membership matters - we would not have this lobbyist at our state level without your support.
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Legislative Report - January 31, 2025
Dear VDHA Members,
I am writing to inform you about the recent Amendment to SB1475, which directs the Virginia Board of Dentistry to convene a workgroup to assess expedited pathways for licensure for dentists and dental hygienists. This amendment does not implement any immediate policy changes. This amendment serves as a mechanism to gather data and explore the modernization of licensure processes.
Key Points of the Amendment:
● The Virginia Board of Dentistry will form a workgroup consisting of key stakeholders, including the Virginia Dental Hygienists' Association (VDHA) and the Virginia Dental Association (VDA).
● The workgroup will evaluate licensure by credentialing for dentists and licensure pathways for dental hygienists, identifying potential expedited options.
● Consideration will be given to recent regulatory changes in licensure by endorsement within the Board of Medicine.
● The workgroup will also explore options for internationally trained dentists to practice dental hygiene under supervision as a pathway to licensure.
● Recommendations will be submitted to the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health and Human Services by November 30, 2025.
Currently, VDHA is actively gathering information on the implications of this amendment. While no immediate changes to licensure or practice are being proposed, we recognize the importance of participating in this discussion to ensure that the interests of dental hygienists are represented.
This amendment does not advance any policy. Instead, it serves as a starting point for dialogue and analysis. VDHA remains committed to advocating for policies that protect the integrity of our profession and ensure patient safety. As more details emerge, we will keep you informed and provide opportunities for member engagement.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our profession. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Ryan C. Maphis, BSDH, RDH
President, Virginia Dental Hygienists' Association
Here is the first Legislative update for the 2025 General Assembly Session from VDHA lobbyist, Tyler Craddock! Please continue following for weekly updates - now more than ever is the time to stay in tune with your profession and what changes are happening!
Legislative Report - January 18, 2025Video Update - January 18, 2025
Community water fluoridation (CWF) is a safe and beneficial evidence-based practice that reduces cavities and promotes oral and overall health. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral, and 75 years of research has demonstrated consistently that when fluoride is added to water at optimal amounts (0.7 milligrams per liter), it is a safe and incredibly effective way to reduce cavities – offering place-based preventive care at its core. When water is fluoridated, everyone in that community has access to preventive oral health care regardless of income, age, or educational background.
Like everything, the amount matters. Too much of a good thing (iron, many vitamins, even oxygen and water!) usually isn't good, and fluoride is no exception. In very large doses, fluoride has been shown to have some negative effects. Some recent studies have highlighted potential risks, leading to understandable (and essential) curiosity. Water fluoridation has not been a national topic of conversation for some time – and recent headlines have been confusing and, in some cases, inaccurate – the opportunity now is to have a frank discussion about its substantial benefits, how we know the level in our water is optimal with a productive understanding of the potential risks of too much fluoride.
The science showing its effectiveness and safety is plentiful: optimal fluoridation of community water systems can reduce the prevalence of cavities by approximately 25% for both children and adults. This reduction in dental decay translates directly to less pain, fewer dental procedures, and less time lost from school or work due to dental issues. The economic advantages are substantial: communities with fluoridated water save an average of $32 per person annually in dental costs. For communities with populations of 1,000 or more, the return on investment can reach up to $20 for every $1 spent on water fluoridation, with this return increasing as community size grows.
Calgary, a large city in Canada, is resuming city-wide fluoridation early next year at great expense after the city stopped water fluoridation in 2011. After water fluoridation stopped, the negative after-effects were extreme; the number of cavities in adults and children rose substantially, and the number of children who needed to be treated for dental decay under general anesthesia increased by almost 80%[1]. Similar effects have been seen in Israel. When the country stopped fluoridating its water, the number of children with cavities nearly doubled [2].
Fluoride, when ingested over a long period of time in very high doses (double and triple the amount in optimally fluoridated water), is shown to cause joint pain and nausea [3]. In some areas of China, fluoride levels in water are up to four times higher than the World Health Organization's safety threshold, and in extreme cases like this, higher fluoride levels have been linked to reduced IQ [4]. However, studies examining fluoride levels consistent with those found in U.S. municipal water systems do not show such developmental impacts. As with any substance, dose matters, and the fluoride levels used in U.S. water systems are well within the range deemed safe by health authorities.
The benefits and safety of water fluoridation are an important and worthwhile conversation; CWF has been protecting the health and well-being of Americans in the background for nearly 80 years. Organizations such as the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the U.S. Public Health Service, and the World Health Organization endorse CWF for its demonstrated safety and significant public health benefits. More resources about CWF are available from the American Dental Association and I Like My Teeth.
Virginia Health Catalyst affirms that community water fluoridation is a vital public health practice that improves oral health, saves costs, and enhances overall well-being. By maintaining optimal levels of fluoride in community water, we can continue to support the health and prosperity of our communities for generations to come.
For more information...
Save the date ~ March 21-22, 2025
For 2025, VDHA is offering one evening Zoom CE and two full days in Person in Falls Church, VA. Stay tuned for more information!
Our lobbyists have put together this video giving you an update of what is happening in the General Assembly this session. Thank you to all who came to Rally Day!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_IgwNOQvwE
Visit their website to see quarterly updates about what is happening at the Virginia Board of Dentistry, or find the most recent one here.
LIAISON, Catherine A. Berard, BSDH, RDH
The ADHA Institute for Oral Health (IOH) was founded to advance the dental hygiene profession and expand access to oral care through scholarships, research grants and community service grants. In collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), IOH helps ADHA members meet educational needs, expand the field of dental hygiene and provide oral health care and education to their communities. IOH will continue to improve the public’s total health by increasing the awareness of and access to quality oral healthcare for all.
IOH is dedicated to:
Many thanks to all of you who have donated so generously to IOH this year, the IOH fiscal year runs from July 1st through June 30th every year.
Our state goal this year for the ADHA Institute for Oral Health is to raise $6,300.06 and
WE ARE ONLY $610.06 AWAY FROM REACHING OUR GOAL BY JUNE 30, 2023.
Please visit the ADHA IOH page to donate and help us reach our goal.
You can visit our Virginia donor page:
https://mymembership.adha.org/Members/Fundraising/State_Giving_Pages/Virginia_State_Giving.aspx
Congratulations to Virginia members Brenda Bradshaw, Sam Vest, Jessica Suedbeck and Emily Ludwig who won research funding from IOH Research Grants this year!
https://www.adha.org/education-resources/scholarships-grants/
The NPI number is a 10 digit number assigned to YOU as a health care provider. Collectively, it is the first step towards a state policy that changes our payment model in Virginia, as it has in 19 other states, and supports the provision of our services beyond the four walls of the traditional dental office. But it takes a concerted effort with broad participation of everyone!!
BE A PART OF THIS CHANGE TO MOVE OUR PROFESSION FORWARD!!
Click here to complete the FREE 10 minute application. Click here for more information!
The Virginia Dental Hygienists' Association is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization located at 140B Purcellville Gateway Drive, Suite 120, Purcellville, VA 20132. 540-495-0950. Contact VDHA
