PDAA LEGISLATIVELY WORKING WITH PDA 

The Pennsylvania Dental Assistants Association has been working with the Pennsylvania Dental Association, the Pennsylvania Academy of General Dentistry and the Pennsylvania Dental Hygiene Association to change the scope of practice for both dental assistants and EFDA's. The House Professional Licensure Committee, in February 2008, approved proposed legislation (HB1257) that would allow CDA's and EFDA's  to perform coronal polishing and administer fluoride. This legislation then moved to the Senate. On September 17, 2008 the Senate approved the first consideration of this bill with DRASTIC cuts. The portion to include DANB CDA's was cut from the bill however they did include HB494 to the package. This addition would allow for an EDFA on the PA State Board of Dentistry. Second consideration is scheduled for September 22.  

We have also been asked to join the PDA and the PA Academy of General Dentistry in their legislative fight for fluoridation of public water supplies (HB1649). The PDAA Legislative Committee will be working with the rest of the fluoride coalition on this worth while cause.

STATE BOARD OF DENTISTRY REPRESENTATION

Do you realize that dental assistants are NOT represented on our State Board of Dentistry?  The PDAA, lead by Northeast PA Dental Assisting Society Legislative Chairperson Bonnie Bell CDA, EFDA is trying to see that changed. Bonnie is working directly with  PA State Representative John Yudichak for legislation (HB494) to add a seat on the State Board of Dentistry for an Expanded Function Dental Assistant who will represent ALL dental assistants. The best way to support Bonnie is by joining the ADAA/PDAA. For more information  please contact Bonnie directly at bonniebell@padentalassistants.org  

PUBLIC HEALTH DENTAL HYGIENE PRACTITIONER

On July 20, 2007 PA Governor Rendell signed into law SB 455 now know as Act 51 of 2007. This creates a new health care provider, a Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner (PHDH), to help with the Access to Care issue in PA. A licensed dental hygienist in the Commonweath of PA, with 3,600 hours of practice experience and a minimum of private malpractice insurance can apply for this special license allowing them to practice without a dentist in certain public health settings. Our State Board of Dentistry has just begun working through all the guidelines for this newly created provider.