Variation in Dental Hygienists’ Scope of Practice and Population Oral Health

Dental hygienists (DHs) are key providers of preventive oral health services. Yet their ability to deliver care varies across states due to differences in scope of practice (SOP), limiting access to care, particularly for underserved populations. The Oral Health Workforce Research Center (OHWRC) has studied this variability and its impact on oral health equity for over 25 years. In 2015, OHWRC developed the Dental Hygiene Professional Practice Index (DHPPI) to quantify DH SOP variations. OHWRC research using this index found that states with broad DH SOP were associated with better oral health outcomes.

OHWRC is currently updating the DHPPI to reflect the current regulatory environment across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This project will link the updated tool to national datasets, including the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), to assess how variations in DH SOP are associated with population-level oral health services utilization and outcomes. Findings will support efforts to expand the DH scope of practice and inform state-level policy decisions aimed at improving access to care.