A wave of dental hygiene scope-of-practice legislation is reshaping the workforce landscape in 2026, with at least nine states advancing bills that expand what hygienists and assistants can do and state regulators moving to codify the changes.
In Colorado, the dental board held a rulemaking hearing recently finalizing revisions to licensure, anesthesia, recordkeeping, and supervision rules for dentists, hygienists, and dental therapists under Senate Bill 25-194.
In other states, Utah now allows hygienists to practice in hospitals without general dentist supervision. Idaho's House Bill 805 would permit hygienists to perform any service within their education and training. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed legislation creating a licensure pathway for foreign-trained dentists to practice as hygienists. Maine is weighing a bill allowing independent hygienists to administer local anesthesia and nitrous oxide with appropriate licensure. Oklahoma's newly signed House Bill 3934 allows dental assistants to work under general dentist supervision to assist hygienists, which aims to fix rural oral healthcare gaps.
