FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ADHA mobilizes against Nevada bill threatening dental hygiene standards, patient safety
Leadership warns SB495 includes provisions that would bypass dental hygiene accreditation and education requirements
CHICAGO, May 22, 2025 – American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) President Erin Haley-Hitz, has issued a letter to ADHA members and the broader healthcare community expressing opposition to Nevada Senate Bill 495, specifically Sections 77–79. The bill is scheduled to be heard in Nevada’s state capitol today.
In her letter, Haley-Hitz expressed concern about legislation that would create alternative pathways to dental hygiene licensure without proper educational foundations.
“I am writing to express our concern and strong opposition to Sections 77-79 of the recently proposed Nevada Senate Bill 495,” Haley-Hitz wrote.
The letter explains that the bill would allow individuals to obtain a dental hygiene license without graduating from a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Instead, candidates would complete a Board-approved training course under dental supervision, aligned with American Dental Association guidance.
Haley-Hitz emphasized her concerns about the impact on patient care.
“As dedicated advocates for the highest standards in oral health and patient care, we are deeply alarmed by the implications of this legislation and its potential to erode the foundations of dental hygiene education,” she stated.
The ADHA president detailed how the proposed changes could affect healthcare delivery.
“These alterations could lead to inconsistent care, insufficient oversight, and a fragmentation of the collaborative model that supports whole-person oral health,” Haley-Hitz wrote. “These shifts jeopardize the safety and well-being of the very patients we are committed to caring for.”
The letter addresses what the ADHA sees as a problematic approach to professional standards.
“To advocate for the removal of educational standards or CODA accreditation standards and process, is violating the essential duties of a professional association and its duty of care to protect the public from harmful healthcare practices,” she stated.
In addition to the public letter, ADHA has sent formal communications to Nevada legislators and legislative committees urging them to amend SB495. The association is working with the Nevada Dental Hygienists’ Association on these efforts.
“The ADHA is working closely with the NDHA to oppose this bill as written, reaching out to legislators, committees and engaging hygienists in Nevada and across the country to raise their voice,” Haley-Hitz wrote.
The letter warns that similar legislation may appear in other states.
“Nevada is the first but likely not the last state where this kind of legislation will be attempted,” she cautioned.
Haley-Hitz called for dental hygienists across the country to stay alert about similar legislative efforts.
“Stay vigilant and monitor legislation being considered in your state,” she urged. “Engage with your state’s ADHA constituent and state legislators, educate your communities, and raise your voice to help preserve the high standards that define your profession.”
The ADHA president concluded with a call for unified action.
“As we face these challenges, it is imperative that we stand together and take action as a profession and as a community, advocating for policies that uphold educational integrity, protect patient safety, and ensure that all providers are fully prepared to meet the demands of modern oral health care,” she wrote.
For more information about ADHA’s current legislative actions and advocacy efforts, visit adha.org/TakeAction.
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About the American Dental Hygienists’ Association
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA®) is the only organization representing the professional interests of the more than 220,000 dental hygienists in the United States. Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals, licensed in dental hygiene, who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services that support total health through the promotion of optimal oral health. The Journal of Dental Hygiene (JDH), published bi-monthly, is ADHA’s scientific journal and flagship publication. To learn more about the ADHA, dental hygiene or the link between oral health and general health, visit www.adha.org.
Media Contact
Bronwyn Barrera, MBA
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