The Role of RDHs in Workforce Innovation

SMILES participating dental hygienists at a recent ITR training

When we look at workforce innovation in the field of dentistry, Registered Dental Hygienists (RDHs) play an important role. And yet, confusion and misunderstanding as to how RDHs are trained – and what oral health services they are qualified to perform, as well as what they’re not trained to do – persist, even among dentists and the greater medical community. For example, while RDHs receive more training than dental assistants, many dental practices ascribe greater flexibility to dental assistants in the services they provide.

Colorado HouseBill 15-1309supports the SMILES Dental Project® model by allowing RDHs to place Interim Therapeutic Restorations (ITRs) under the supervision of a dentist via telehealth. That’s an important step toward expanding dental hygienists’ scope of practice, and building greater awareness and trust in their education – and in their ability to contribute to more innovation in the way we deliver care.

For example – keeping in mind the premise that oral health is key to overall health – RDHs are uniquely qualified to work with individuals on oral health issues and habits that contribute to improved general health. We need to focus on integrating dental and medical care to ensure that people are not only getting their teeth looked at, but also getting the right nutrition and other factors that lead to better overall health. Such an integrated approach makes sense from a public health standpoint – and from a business standpoint, too.

SMILES-participating dental hygienists are out in their communities where they provide everything fromfluoride education to cleanings, sealants, and – in some cases – ITRs (if they’ve completed the ITR training and permit process). Looking at the bottom line, sometimes it’s more cost-efficient to send RDHs into a school or other community setting where they have contact with many more patients than the number of patients who would make their way to a dental office – particularly in Colorado’s rural and underserved communities. That’s good news for children and families who might otherwise forego dental services, and it also increases the number of referrals to area dentists to provide the services that only they are qualified to perform.

Some dentists may argue that such a workforce innovation takes patients away from their practices. However, an oral healthcare delivery system like the SMILES model reaches patients that most likely wouldn’t seek out a dentist due to a variety of barriers – lack of awareness about the importance of oral health, affordability of care, access to care, and so on. It follows that RDH referrals of patients reached in community settings would actually expand the practices of dentists serving such remote, low-income communities.

To better serve populations that do not have access to care in traditional ways, RDHs can expand their skills by completing the ITR permit course offered at the Community Collegeof Denver(CCD). So far, CCD has trained 19 individuals participating in the SMILES Dental Project®. Currently, the Community College of Denver is the only Colorado institution offering ITR training. Learn more about how to earn yourITR permit.

The changing roles of RDHs, dentists and dental assistants is an evolving conversation. But we’re leading the way to expand dental hygienists’ scope of practice – an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to really making a difference in the field, especially in underserved areas.