Dental Hygiene Practice and Health Care Reform: Taking Advantage of Opportunities

The Health Care Reform Act has afforded the health care delivery system an excellent opportunity to expand the role and scope of practice of dental hygienists. This expansion is much needed because it will provide access for oral health to largely underserved populations. This article describes the extent of the problem and provides a plan to implement the needed changes through examples of care dental hygienists can provide in alternative practice settings.