On October 25, dental hygienists from across the country gathered in the nation’s capital for a powerful demonstration. Amid chants of “Dental Hygienists Save Lives” and “More Than a Cleaning,” the rally was a manifestation of growing concerns regarding efforts to lower training requirements for dental providers.
Participants united outside of the American Dental Association’s annual SmileCon to speak out against legislation that threatens the standard of education in dental hygiene that could put patients at risk and undermine the integrity of the profession.
The rally was hosted by the Oral Health Awareness Project (OHAP), a nonprofit committed to protecting public health by upholding educational standards in dental hygiene. This national movement defends educational standards of dental hygiene in every state and aims to raise awareness of the critical role hygienists play in the broader health-care ecosystem.
Protecting patients by protecting standards
OHAP marks this rally as just the beginning of their movement. Shavonne R. Healy, MSDH, RDH, OHAP board member, and DC demonstration leader, emphasized that the day was a defining moment for the profession. “This is the movement our profession needs. Dental hygiene has been around for more than a century, yet too often we’re still misunderstood and overlooked.
“Seeing dental hygienists from across the country standing together in our nation’s capital filled me with pride and purpose,” she continued. “It reminded me why I do this work—to make sure prevention and professionalism are never compromised. What we created that day was powerful, but it’s only the beginning. I see a future where dental hygienists are respected, autonomous, and visible, where our voices influence policy, our education is protected, and our role in public health is finally recognized as essential.”
OHAP invited attendees to share their stories, and many urged policymakers to recognize that lowering licensure requirements does not improve access to care but risks more harm. “Access without integrity is not equity,” said one participant. “True access to care isn’t built on shortcuts; it’s built on investments in prevention, education, and the professionals who serve our most vulnerable communities.”
To underscore why maintaining CODA-accreditation is imperative to patient safety, participants spoke about the rigorous preventive care they deliver. These programs provide a strong foundation for dental hygienists to adequately identify early signs of disease and manage complex clinical situations, responsibilities that go far beyond routine cleanings.
Without protection for the high standards of these programs, RDHs are concerned that the US will fall deeper into its oral health crisis. “When people visit a dental office, they assume that everyone caring for them is qualified and credentialed,” said another participant. “Lowering education standards betrays that trust.”
Personal stories that give the movement its power
Throughout the event, hygienists shared emotional stories and firsthand experiences to underscore how comprehensive care can change patient’s lives, and the real-world consequences of inadequate education in dentistry.
One recounted a patient who believed she had an ingrown hair on her cheek. Upon further examination, the hygienist discovered a nodule and referred her to an oral surgeon. Another participant shared that if a patient’s previous dentist had provided a high level of care, their daughter’s throat cancer would have been detected sooner. These experiences, along with countless others, illustrate just how integral the preventive care dental hygienists provide can be to detecting systemic disease.
These real stories are a powerful reminder that hygienists are not simply cleaning teeth—they’re preventing disease, detecting early warning signs, and ultimately saving lives. This high level of care is made possible by hygienists' rigorous education and training.
Education is imperative to public safety
Attendees spoke against proposed legislation that would allow people without accredited education or with abbreviated licensure requirements to perform comprehensive care. Lowering these standards impacts the entire dental ecosystem, diminishing the role of dental hygienists and putting them at a greater risk of burnout. It could potentially lead to dental assistants taking on responsibilities for which they are not appropriately trained.
Maintaining a strong standard of education ensures providers are trained to detect early signs of disease, manage medical emergencies, and deliver care rooted in evidence-based prevention. When those standards are compromised, so is patient safety.
Looking to the future
The demonstration was designed to serve as not just a protest, but as a call to action for dental hygienists across the US. Attendees and passersby were encouraged to take these messages back to their workplaces and communities to continue to advocate for standards that protect the profession and public.
OHAP plans to build on the momentum of the DC demonstration with continued education and advocacy. They hope to inform dental professionals, policymakers, and the public that prevention is power, education is protection, and dental hygienists save lives.
To learn more about the OHAP movement, visit oralhealthawarenessproject.org, and follow members on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay informed about future activities.
