Dear whom it may concern,

As a current dental hygiene student, it is important that I share my opinion on the law that was passed that would affect the jobs of dental hygienists and the health of patients. I get that you all are trying to close the gap on access to healthcare and provider shortage, but this is NOT that. How about making it a better process to actually become a RDH? Have more schools that offer the degree? Allow hygienists to be actually recognized as providers? Allowing assistants to scale would be a whole different liability and frankly, you’re just putting up new wallpaper on a moldy house.

As I still currently work as a DA, I see loads of perio patients, and providing inadequate cleanings will not fix the problem. There will be a decline in oral health if you continue to move forward with this. Care for the patients!