Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (ADHP)
Facts for New Mexico
There is a great need for oral health care services in New Mexico, especially for the low-income, long-term care residents, and rural populations.
There is a shortage of dentists in New Mexico and nationwide, especially those providing services to the Medicaid population.
Oral Health is an integral part of total health.
It is a goal of Governor's Oral Health Council, of Healthy People 2010
and of the U.S. Surgeon General's Call to Action Plan to
increase access to care and improve oral health.
There are new dental hygiene programs in the state that will substantially increase the number of dental hygienists in the workforce.
By state statute dental hygienists cannot directly serve the public without a dentist employer/consultant.
Dental hygienists are already educated to provide the dental hygiene process of care (assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation) as required by accreditation standards, yet are unable to practice to their full capability due to statute restrictions.
The University of New Mexico has a Dental Hygiene Masters Degree program with an established rural outreach program and health partnerships already in place that could support the education of an advanced dental hygiene practitioner.
Over forty countries successfully utilize the services of a mid-level dental practitioner. It is a new concept in dentistry in the United States, but has been successfully utilized in the medical profession.
New Mexico Dental Hygienists' Association support the creation of an
Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (ADHP), a mid-level practitioner who
is a dental hygienist that has the additional education needed to provide
early disease intervention, diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic services
to the public.
The New Mexico Dental Hygienists' Association believes that changing
the state statute and rules to allow for an Advanced Dental
Hygiene Practitioner would address the disparities in the
oral health care delivery system in New Mexico.
<< Back to State Issues
|
