Statement on the Protection of Dental Hygiene Licensure and the Integrity of the Profession

To Our Dental Hygiene Community,

Across the nation, dental hygienists are facing growing concern over the passage of legislation that permits individuals without a dental hygiene license to perform services traditionally reserved for licensed professionals. These legislative changes threaten not only the integrity of our profession but also the safety and health of the communities we are committed to serve.

Dental hygienists are licensed healthcare providers who undergo rigorous education, clinical training, and examinations to ensure that we provide the highest standard of care. Our licensure is not a formality—it is a safeguard that protects patients from harm and ensures that ethical, evidence-based practices are upheld in every clinical setting.

Allowing unlicensed individuals to perform dental hygiene services undermines the quality of care, erodes public trust, and disregards the dedication and education that define our profession. This shift devalues our clinical expertise and creates a dangerous precedent that compromises patient safety in the name of access or convenience.

What Can We Do?

Now more than ever, we must stand united in defending our profession. Here’s how every dental hygienist can contribute:

-Get Informed & Stay Engaged: Understand the legislation being proposed in your state. Follow us for updates. Join online discussion and webinars.

-Advocate with Confidence: Reach out to your state legislators. Share your story as a licensed professional and explain why licensure is essential for patient safety and public health. Invite them to observe your work in a clinical setting.

-Join Forces: Membership in professional organizations (like NDHA) strengthens our collective voice. Your support helps fund advocacy efforts and legal challenges to harmful legislation.

-Educate the Public: Launch or support awareness campaigns like #LookForTheRDHLicense, which empowers patients to ask questions about who is providing their care. Use social media, community events, and patient education to reinforce the importance of receiving care from licensed providers.

Let us be clear

We are not opposed to increasing access to care. We are, however, steadfast in our belief that access should never come at the expense of quality or safety. Protecting licensure protects lives. Let us rise together to defend our profession, educate our communities, and ensure that every patient receives care from a qualified, licensed provider.

We are licensed for a reason,

Let’s remind the world why.