Bill would expand reach of dental hygienists across rural Kentucky
A recent study showed high rates of tooth decay among young children in Kentucky, particularly in rural areas, and dental health advocates are pushing for better preventive and treatment care.
The Kentucky Oral Health Coalition is backing proposed legislation to allow Public Health Registered Dental Hygienists the ability to treat school children and others.
Jennifer Harrison, registered dental hygienist and member of the coalition, said House Bill 223 would allow hygienists with additional qualifications an exemption from current regulations.
“In Kentucky, dental hygienists have to work for a dentist,” Harrison explained. “For them to see a patient, that patient must have had an exam from a dentist. There are exceptions, one of which is the PHRDH model. And it just removes barriers so that hygienists can go straight out into the community.”
Public health hygienists are allowed to provide assessments, cleanings, education, fluoride varnish and sealants to mainly underserved populations.
Harrison pointed out currently, public health hygienist programs in Kentucky are limited to public health departments, often serving children through school-based programs. Expanding the program to Federally Qualified Health Centers could increase access to preventive dental care for more children.
“We’ve been working to expand it,” Harrison noted. “But local health departments have a particular regular budget amount, and whether or not they prioritize oral health as one of those interventions in their community is truly up to them.”
Harrison added people often think young children do not need dental care because they still have their baby teeth, which will eventually fall out. But she cautioned poor care at a young age can mean a lifetime of dental problems.
“We’re talking about permanent teeth and the overall wellness of the child, because if they’re in pain or they have an infection, they can’t think, they can’t behave, learn, sleep well,” Harrison outlined. “It really impacts their quality of life.”
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