The nationwide lack of dental hygienists is forcing patients in Virginia to have to wait as long as 14 months for a routine cleaning, according to a Feb. 22 report by WWBT.
A major factor causing the shortage in Virginia is that the state only offers two dental hygiene bachelor’s programs. Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Dentistry, located in Richmond, can only accept 20 students into the program at a time because of limited space, resources and faculty, according to the report.
When COVID-19 hit, many dental hygienists left the workforce, leading to the current shortage, said Marion Manski, the director of VCU’s dental hygiene program.
The Richmond and Henrico areas have an above average number of dentists but have some of the lowest dentist-to-hygienist ratios in the country, according to a statement the Virginia Dental Association provided to the news outlet.
The state recently passed an adult Medicaid benefit that covers more than 750,000 new individuals for up to three dental hygiene appointments each year, but the hole in the workforce is making it so many patients aren’t able to utilize the new benefit, the VDA said.
Source: Hygienist shortage causing 14-month waits for patients in Virginia / Becker’s Dental + DSO Review
CODA Standards for Accreditation of Dental Hygiene education do not require a baccalaureate degree. Virginia’s community colleges could be accredited sources of A.A. degreed RDHs. This, compared to four year colleges or universities, offering B.A. or BS degrees, could dramatically reduce costs of education, increase access to hygiene education and widen the applicant pool.
CODA Standard 2.1:
The curriculum must include at least two academic years of full-time instruction or
its equivalent at the postsecondary college-level. The scope and depth of the
curriculum must reflect the objectives and philosophy of higher education. The
college catalog must list the degree awarded and course titles and descriptions.
In a two-year college setting, the graduates of the program must be awarded an
associate degree. In a four-year college or university, graduates of the program
must be awarded an associate or comparable degree, post-degree certificate, or
baccalaureate degree.
Intent:
The dental hygiene curriculum is comprehensive in scope and depth and requires a
minimum of two years of academic preparation. The curriculum should include
additional coursework and experiences, as appropriate, to develop competent oral health
care providers who can deliver optimal patient care within a variety of practice settings
and meet the needs of the evolving healthcare environment.
Virginia clearly has a way to educate increasing numbers of hygienists. Does it have the will?
CODA Dental Hygiene Accreditation Standard 2-1 specifically does not require graduation from a four year college or university.
2-1 The curriculum must include at least two academic years of full-time instruction or
its equivalent at the postsecondary college-level. The scope and depth of the
curriculum must reflect the objectives and philosophy of higher education. The
college catalog must list the degree awarded and course titles and descriptions.
In a two-year college setting, the graduates of the program must be awarded an
associate degree. In a four-year college or university, graduates of the program
must be awarded an associate or comparable degree, post-degree certificate, or
baccalaureate degree.
Intent:
The dental hygiene curriculum is comprehensive in scope and depth and requires a
minimum of two years of academic preparation. The curriculum should include
additional coursework and experiences, as appropriate, to develop competent oral health
care providers who can deliver optimal patient care within a variety of practice settings
and meet the needs of the evolving healthcare environment.
If Virginia seeks to produce more dental hygienists, it could use community colleges, perhaps even in collaboration with supporting dental practices. Costing less than colleges or universities, community colleges also provide pathways to careers in dental hygiene, for many more Virginians, who might consider these often nearby institutions attractive.