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Virginia Board of Dentistry votes to initiate fast-track rulemaking to expand certain restorative tasks for dental hygienists
Summary
The Virginia Board of Dentistry voted unanimously June 13 to initiate fast-track regulatory amendments to allow dental hygienists to perform specified restorative procedures without registering as a Dental Assistant II, while retaining a requirement that refresher courses be CODA-accredited.
The Virginia Board of Dentistry voted unanimously June 13 to initiate a fast-track regulatory action to create a pathway allowing dental hygienists to perform specified restorative procedures without holding a separate Dental Assistant II credential. Dr. Alf Hendricksen moved to accept the Regulatory Committee's recommendation and the motion passed with nine yes votes and no opposition.
Board members said the change responds to recommendations from the Regulatory Committee that drafted amendments to Chapters 21, 25 and 30 of the board's regulations. Erin Barrett, Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, reviewed the draft language and explained the proposed regulatory change would remove the requirement that a dental hygienist obtain a second credential to perform certain restorative tasks. The Committee’s recommendation followed a prior discussion of training standards and credentialing pathways.
The Board also addressed a 2022 petition for rulemaking related to refresher-course requirements. After review, the Regulatory Committee recommended withdrawing the active regulatory action tied to the petition and to maintain the Board’s current position that refresher courses must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). J. Michael Martinez de Andino moved to withdraw the regulatory action; that motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The changes, if finalized through the fast-track regulatory process, would alter which restorative duties may be delegated to dental hygienists in Virginia and remove the separate DA II registration for those duties. Maintaining the CODA-only refresher requirement preserves the Board’s existing standard for accepted continuing-education providers.
What’s next: The fast-track amendment will proceed through the Department of Health Professions’ regulatory process; the Board did not adopt final rules at this meeting. The withdrawal action leaves the current refresher-course requirement in place pending any future rulemaking.
At the meeting, no public comments were registered on these items and the Board’s votes were unanimous among members present.
