Contact the Governor

This year, Virginia has introduced deeply concerning legislation that now sits before the Governor. House Bill 970 and Senate Bill 178 would establish an Oral Preventive Assistant (OPA) role—allowing individuals without accredited dental hygiene education or licensure to perform procedures such as scaling. House Bill 1036 and Senate Bill 282 would permit foreign-trained dentists to practice as dental hygienists without CODA-accredited or U.S.-standard dental hygiene education.

These proposals reflect approaches that have failed in other states and deviate from established standards of care. Allowing undertrained or non–U.S.-educated providers to deliver preventive dental services is not a solution to workforce shortages or access-to-care challenges—it is a risk to patient safety and a direct threat to the integrity of the dental hygiene profession.

There is a better path forward. Expanding access should be achieved by empowering licensed dental hygienists to practice at the top of their scope and in expanded settings—ensuring care remains grounded in rigorous education, clinical competency, and evidence-based standards.

We are now calling on the Governor to veto or amend this legislation.

The resources below are provided to support VDHA members and concerned citizens who wish to take immediate action. You can contact the Governor’s office directly, submit a message through VoterVoice, or call to make your position clear.

Take action today:

• Send a message to the Governor

• Call the Governor’s office at (804) 786-2211

• Share this effort with colleagues and across your networks

Every voice matters at this stage. Now is the time to ensure patient safety and professional standards are not compromised in Virginia.