Two dental bills passed in Washington's House with the goal of increasing the dental workforce and improving access to oral healthcare.
The bills were proposed by Rep. Marcus Riccelli, chair of the state's House Health Care & Wellness Committee, according to a March 7 news release from the Washington State House Democrats.
One bill, HB 1678, aims to allow dental therapy to be practiced in federally qualified health centers and similar facilities. Washington currently only allows dental therapists on tribal lands.
The other bill, HB 1466, intends to rename the current "limited dental hygiene license" to a temporary license. It also aims to extend the license expiration from 18 months to five years to give dental hygienists more time to acquire their license while working in the field.