A bill before the New Hampshire Senate to expand the role of dental hygienist now has the support of 24 organizations even as the state dental society opposes it, calling it an unnecessary distraction from the real barriers to dental care, according to a news story in the Concord Monitor.
The bill, which was proposed by state Sen. Peggy Gilmour (D-Hollis) last January, calls for the creation of dental hygiene practitioners. These are dental hygienists with advanced education who would work under the direct and indirect supervision of a dentist and be allowed to read x-rays, drill and place temporary fillings, and remove teeth in specific circumstances, according to the story.
"Dental hygienists can work in federally qualified health centers, nursing homes, and school-based programs, and this bill expands the provider care to include restorative care," said Susanne Kuehl, a representative of the New Hampshire Dental Hygienists Association, told the Monitor.
However the New Hampshire Dental Society disagrees with the proposed utility of this model.
"There is no evidence that adding a new provider will directly help lower tooth decay or guarantee more care in rural areas," said President Puneet Kochhar.
The Senate is scheduled to vote on a bill Thursday.
