Tennessee Dental Hygienists’ Association

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 Download the 2012 TDHA Annual Session Brochure.pdf Annual Session Register Online Here  Latest Information on Bill SA1018
Added 4/3/2012  IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM THE TDHA PRESIDENT To the RDH in the State of TN: Through my Presidential visits of  the districts I have heard many concerns-- lack of jobs, the limits placed on our scope of practice and lack of care to underserve citizens of Tennessee  Your Board of Trustees have heard your concerns and we have discussed various ways to address those concerns. The Board has drafted legislation in the form of the following bill.  SENATE BILL 2816 by Tracy HOUSE BILL 2775 By Hill AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-5-108, relative to the practice of dentistry. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-5-108(c)(3), is amended by deleting the language "No person" at the beginning of the subdivision and by substituting instead the following: Unless a licensed dental hygienist is practicing according to a written collaborative agreement with a dentist in accordance with § 63-5-108(c)(6), no person SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-5-108(c)(5), is amended by deleting the language "Under general supervision" at the beginning of the subdivision and by substituting instead the following: Unless a licensed dental hygienist is practicing according to a written collaborative agreement with a dentist in accordance with § 63-5-108(c)(6), under general supervision SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-5-108(c), is amended by adding the following as a new subdivision (6): (6) A dental hygienist who has a collaborative practice agreement with a dentist may provide to patients all other dental hygiene services not otherwise limited to direct supervision by this chapter or rules adopted by the board, without the presence of a dentist if all of the following requirements are met: (A) The dental hygienist holds collaborative practice certification from the board certifying that the dental hygienist possesses a current Tennessee dental hygiene license in good standing, has actively practiced dental hygiene for two HB2775 01102418 -1- SENATE BILL 2618 By Tracy thousand four hundred (2,400) hours in preceding eighteen (18) months or has practiced three thousand (3,000) hours in two of the past three (3) years, has current certification in basic life support (BLS) or cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and has completed six (6) hours of continuing education in public health content; (B) The collaborative practice dental hygienist and collaborating dentist have entered into a written collaborative agreement whereby the dentist establishes a protocol concerning how treatment is to be carried out, will be reasonably available to provide consultation and will review patient records as necessary. The dentist need not examine the patient prior to the administration of dental hygiene services; (C) The collaborative practice dental hygienist provides dental hygiene services to the patient in accordance with a written collaborative agreement developed by the collaborating dentist for the patient and maintains a copy of each collaborative agreement as; (D) The collaborative dentist possesses a current Tennessee dental license in good standing and maintains an active clinical general dentistry or public health practice within the state and within a reasonable referral distance from the collaborative dental hygiene practice as determined by the board; and (E) The collaborative dentist maintains a copy of each collaborative agreement. SECTION 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012, the public welfare requiring it. - 2 - 01102418 This legislation is very important and we want to provide a united front so we have attached talking points and other pertinent information regarding this bill.  Please feel free to talk with fellow hygienists, dentists, patients, co-workers and other health care providers.  If you do not know the answer to a question please contact me.  It is essential that we have the same message so we can provide the best care possible to our fellow citizens. Diana Saylor, RDH President of TN Dental Hygienists’ Association tdhapresident@yahoo.com An Act to Increase Access to Oral Health HB 2775/ SB 2618 “An Act to Increase Access to Oral Health” This legislation allows registered dental hygienists to practice in alternative settings without the direct supervision of a dentist. Summary: This legislation allows registered dental hygienists to practice in accordance to a written collaborative agreement with a dentist in accordance with section 63-5-108 (c) Because the services of a dental hygienist and a dentist are already covered under Tennessee law this bill would increase access to preventive care at no additional cost to the state. Bill Analysis: The Pew foundation recently gave the state of Tennessee a grade of “C” meeting only 4 of the 8 benchmarks set by the foundation. Pew calculates that almost 20 percent or 1.2 million of the state’s residents are underserved by dentists, and at least 230 additional providers are needed. Currently there is no public mandate for the Department of Health to provide dental services and only children under the age of 21are covered under the Tenncare and Coverkids programs. In Tennessee grants are only given for emergency (extraction) services. According to the Center for Disease Control in 2004 alone, 48% of individuals making under $15,000 were not able to go to a dentist. This CDC statistic is evidence of a larger trend where access to preventive care is tied to finding a dentist’s office willing to accept minorities, the poor, the uninsured, the chronically ill, the elderly, and those in rural parts of the state. Studies show that for every $1 dollar spent in providing preventive treatments to lower income individuals, a state saves between $8-$50 dollars in more expensive restorative dental care. Under present law, dental hygienists can only deliver services under the supervision of a dentist, typically in a dental office. However, 22 states presently allow registered dental hygienists to treat patients in alternative settings without a dentist’s supervision. Practicing with the collaborative practice agreement, during an examination by a registered dental hygienist, all abnormalities will be referred to a practicing dentist for an oral examination, diagnosis, and treatment, as needed. Even with expanded scope of practice for hygienists there is no substitute for seeing a qualified dentist. COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE Collaborative Dental Hygiene Practice: Academic Definition: The science of the prevention and treatment of oral disease through the provision of education, assessment, prevention, clinical and other therapeutic services in a cooperative working relationship with a consulting dentist under general supervision. What is a collaborative agreement: A written document drafted between a licensed dentist and dental hygienist. The agreement outlines the parameters of care and services that may be provided by the collaborative dental hygienist without the presence of a licensed dentist at a location other than the usual place of practice of the dentist or dental hygienist. Current trend: ｷ There are currently 14 States that provide a collaborative practice model according to their States’ regulations ｷ Tennessee is bordered by Kentucky, Arkansas and Virginia, all of whom have passed collaborative practice legislation Specifically what would this mean to the citizens of Tennessee: ｷ Facilitates prompt delivery of preventive services in long term care facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, correctional institutions. ｷ Increases ability to provide health promotion in settings other than the private dental offices or clinics by allowing direct access to the dental hygienist. ｷ Creates a multidisciplinary approach to educational, preventive and therapeutic services by the dental hygienist through established collaborative agreements with Dentists. ｷ Establishes a clinical protocol for the collaborative practice hygienist and the consulting Dentist in scope of practice and referral services. ｷ Increases direct access to educational, preventive and therapeutic services by the dental hygienist without altering substantive functions in the scope of practice Profile of Dental Hygienists Dental hygienists are licensed, preventive oral health care professionals who provide educational, clinical, research, administrative, and therapeutic services to support overall health by promoting optimal oral health. Dental hygienists are required to graduate from an accredited 2 year dental hygiene program. After completion of the accredited program housed in a college or university, the graduate is then qualified to take the required National Dental Hygiene Board as well as a Regional written and didactic licensing examination. The dental hygiene curriculum not only encompasses general education, biomedical sciences, dental and dental hygiene sciences but also asks the students to assimilate knowledge requiring judgment, decision making skills and critical analysis. According to the accreditation standards for dental hygiene education programs, these subjects prepare dental hygiene students to communicate effectively, assume responsibility for individual oral health counseling, and participate in community health programs. The accreditation standards also require that dental hygiene students be prepared to assume responsibility for the assessment, planning and implementation of preventive and therapeutic services. Dental hygienists are required to be licensed in the State in which they work and practice in accordance with the States’ regulatory laws and dental hygiene practice acts
 Oral Health Workforce in the United States According to the federal government, in the United States, there are 140,750 licensed dental hygienists and 130,836 dentists. Since 1990, the number of dentists per 100,000 U.S. population has continued to decline. This decline is predicted to continue so that by the year 2020 the number of dentists per 100,000 U.S. population will fall to 52.7. However, since 1990, the number of dental hygiene programs has increased by 27%. In addition, from 1985–86 to 1995–96, the number of dental hygiene graduates has increased by 20%, while the number of dentist graduates has declined by 23%. The Bureau of Health Professions National Center for Health Workforce Information and Analysis which is a component of The United States Resources and Services Administration has studied dental and dental hygiene workforce issues. Two of the regional centers for health workforce studies have cited and made policy recommendations to consider expanding the role of dental hygienists to include the delivery of oral health care services in shortage areas and to children on Medicaid. It is clear that the numbers of dental hygiene programs and graduates are increasing and that licensed dental hygienists are well educated to provide preventive and therapeutic services to the public. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association believes that dental hygienists who are graduates of accredited dental hygiene programs are competent to provide these services without direct supervision.
 Health Promotion/Disease Prevention Oral health is an important component of an individual’s overall health. Research has linked periodontal disease to heart and lung disease; diabetes; pre-mature, low-birth weight babies; and a number of other systemic diseases. The first-ever Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health has called attention to this important connection and states, that if left untreated, poor oral health is a “silent X-factor promoting the onset of life-threatening diseases which are responsible for the deaths of millions of Americans each year.” The early detection and treatment of oral disease is critical to saving lives. During oral health examinations, dental hygienists can detect signs of many diseases and conditions like HIV, oral cancer, eating disorders, substance abuse, osteoporosis, and diabetes. In addition, dental hygienists can communicate with patients’ the treatment plans that will assist in the management of oral diseases to help encourage an individuals’ overall well-being. Barriers to Care State regulatory laws restrict access to care opportunities by limiting the types of practice settings and imposing restrictive supervisory requirements. In Tennessee dental hygienists practice under what is known as general supervision. This means that a dentist has authorized a dental hygienist to perform procedures but need not be present in the treatment facility during the delivery of care. General supervision can be a positive aspect in increasing access to the underserved populations, however, the Tennessee definition is restrictive in that dental hygienists are limited to a 15 day period without Dental supervision and the patient must be a patient of record within the past 7 months.
 Conclusion The recent Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health identified several barriers which prevent people from accessing needed oral health care. The inability to pay for care, the inability to travel or physically access places where oral healthcare is delivered, and the inability to access an oral healthcare professional. Dental hygienists can play an active role in resolving these issues. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association advocates that the services of dental hygienists who are graduates from an accredited dental hygiene program be fully utilized in all public and private practice settings. Licensed dental hygienists, by virtue of their comprehensive education and clinical preparation, are well prepared and willing to deliver preventive oral health care services to the public, safely and effectively, independent of direct dental supervision. Dental hygienists are also able to provide services in a variety of settings more accessible to patients—residences of the homebound, public health, school based programs, community clinics, and more. The ultimate goal of any program is to achieve public health objectives and sustainability.  Need information on getting your Tennessee Dental  Hygiene license?
Get all the information at the Board of Dentistry website
Board of Dentistry If you have moved or changed your name please update that information with the Board of Dentistry
Download the reporting form here
   ADHA Reinstates Quarterly Payments for Membership Dues! More information on the ADHA website

Renew your membership today!  NOTICE TO MEMBERS Email addresses are vital to our organization! This is the primary (and economical) way that TDHA communicates with hygienists. By providing us with all of your current contact information, especially email address, we are able to keep members informed of important announcements and breaking news for our profession and organization.
 NOTICE TO NON-MEMBERS
The primary way TDHA will contact non-members is by email. By providing your all of your contact information, non-members may occasionally receive hard copy messages from TDHA. As a non-member, you may be able to get some information about TDHA events by viewing our Continuing Education page and our news page.

Contact TDHA
P.O. Box 22870
Nashville, TN 37202
 (615)777-TDHA   
Fax (615)254-1186
Email Us
  index_files/2012%20TDHA%20Annual%20Session%20Brochure.pdfhttps://www.formstack.com/forms/?1166407-Qqf2nfe8oDhttp://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Amend/SA1018.pdfmailto:tdhapresident@yahoo.comhttp://www2.state.tn.us/health/Boards/Dentistry/http://www2.state.tn.us/health/Boards/Dentistry/http://www2.state.tn.us/health/Boards/Dentistry/http://health.state.tn.us/boards/Dentistry/index.htmhttp://health.state.tn.us/Downloads/g6019027.pdfhttp://www.adha.org/aboutadha/payments.htmce.htmlnews.htmlmailto:tdhapresident@yahoo.com,%20info@tndha.org,%20tdhadirector@gmail.com?subject=From%20the%20TDHA%20websiteshapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2shapeimage_2_link_3shapeimage_2_link_4shapeimage_2_link_5shapeimage_2_link_6shapeimage_2_link_7shapeimage_2_link_8shapeimage_2_link_9shapeimage_2_link_10shapeimage_2_link_11shapeimage_2_link_12

Contact TDHA
P.O. Box 22870
Nashville, TN 37202
 (615)777-TDHA  
Fax (615)254-1186
Email Us

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TDHA's Mission
To improve the public's total health, the mission of this association is to advance the art and science of dental hygiene by ensuring access to quality oral health care; increasing awareness of the cost-effective benefits of prevention; promoting the highest standards of dental hygiene education, licensure, practice, and research; and representing the interests of dental hygienists.

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