27.07.2024 09:36

Thank you for all of your support!

26.07.2024 20:19

If you have any questions or would like to comment on the July 23rd meeting, please email contact.dentistry@llr.sc.gov. Thank you!

26.07.2024 19:59

If you have any questions regarding anything moving forward or questions regarding what happened during Tuesdays meeting, please refer to the minutes of the SCBOD for accurate information. Just know that no one is advocating for anything. Everyone is just trying to work things out for the benefit of the public. Thank you again for all of your support!

26.07.2024 15:12

Thank you to all who supported the Petition. No conclusion has been reached yet.


New deadline: 27.07.2024
Signatures at the time of the change: 1,481

24.07.2024 17:34

Changed collection target from 1,500 to 2,000 signatures.


New deadline: 07.11.2024
Signatures at the time of the change: 1,126

20.07.2024 18:12

We have an important update regarding the preliminary interest of the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP) in our state.

📅 This upcoming Tuesday at 7 PM, a meeting will be held with the Taskforce to study dental hygiene workforce issues in South Carolina. This meeting will be open to the public.

📞 If you are interested in attending via video or telephone, please email contact.dentistry@llr.sc.gov for login information.

📢 Additionally, please share this petition with other members of the South Carolina public. Your vote, and their vote, is critical in this matter.

Thank you for your attention and support!

15.07.2024 11:10

An edit was made to reason #3 under infection control to: "Yet, due to the condensed training in the ADHP, dental hygienists might not get sufficient education in maintaining these strict protocols, particularly if the assistant undergoing training lacks CDA-DANB certification. This raises the risk of cross-contamination and infection transmission among both patients and dental staff."


Neue Begründung:

***PLEASE ADD YOUR TITLE AND LICENSE NUMBER AFTER YOUR NAME WHEN SIGNING***

We, the undersigned, are petitioning against the preliminary interest of the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP) in the state of South Carolina for the following reasons:

1. Inadequate Training and Education Standards: The ADHP allows dental hygienists to practice with less formal education compared to national standards. This may compromise the quality of care provided to patients and undermine the professional integrity of dental hygiene practice in South Carolina if this preliminary interest is taken into consideration.
2. Poorer Health Outcomes: The ADHP's alternative pathway may not adequately prepare dental hygienists to handle complex dental issues, potentially compromising patient safety and well-being. Moreover, the reduced educational standards could adversely affect the quality of oral health care provided to patients, leading to inadequate treatment of their oral health conditions. This concern is heightened by the potential increase in periodontal disease cases across the state due to insufficiently trained professionals, which may exacerbate overall health issues. Periodontal disease is linked to systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and without comprehensive training, dental hygienists might miss crucial signs of these conditions manifesting in the oral cavity. This gap in training and understanding could result in delayed or inadequate care, ultimately contributing to poorer health outcomes for patients.
3. Increased Disease Risk: The limited training provided to dental hygienists under the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP) raises significant concerns about infection control, potentially leading to an increased risk of disease in South Carolina if this preliminary interest is considered. Proper infection control protocols are essential to prevent the spread of infectious diseases within dental settings. However,Yet, withdue to the abbreviatedcondensed training ofin the ADHP, dental hygienists maymight not receiveget adequatesufficient education onin maintaining these stringentstrict protocols, increasingparticularly if the likelihoodassistant undergoing training lacks CDA-DANB certification. This raises the risk of cross-contamination and theinfection transmission ofamong infections amongboth patients and dental professionals.staff. This gap in training could have serious public health implications, compromising the safety and well-being of the community.
4. Financial Healthcare Burden: The ADHP's lower educational standards and potential lack of comprehensive training raise significant concerns regarding patient safety and the early detection of health issues through oral indicators. This could lead to compromised care quality and potentially worsen overall health outcomes for patients. Additionally, a fragmented healthcare approach under the ADHP may result in increased healthcare expenditures for the state if this preliminary interest is considered. Suboptimal early intervention and management of preventable conditions could necessitate more intensive and costly treatments later on, imposing a greater financial burden on South Carolina's healthcare system if this is considered. Thus, while the ADHP aims to expand access to dental care, considering this preliminary interest risks diminishing health outcomes for patients and escalating healthcare expenditures for the state.
5. Disparity in Professional Standards: If the preliminary interest of the ADHP is taken into consideration, it could create a disparity between South Carolina and other states that adhere to more rigorous accreditation and educational requirements for dental hygienists. This inconsistency can affect the mobility and recognition of South Carolina-trained dental hygienists in other states.
6. Impact on Employment Opportunities: Dental hygienists trained under the ADHP may encounter difficulties securing employment outside of their state due to the program's lack of national recognition and its misalignment with established accreditation standards. Furthermore, if the preliminary interest of the ADHP is taken into consideration, South Carolina may lose a wealth of experience and knowledge as those trained in accredited programs might move out of state in search of higher wages and less job competition.
7. Undermining Accredited Programs: The ADHP's existence undermines accredited dental hygiene programs that adhere to rigorous educational and clinical training standards, potentially devaluing the profession as a whole.

***PLEASE ADD YOUR TITLE AND LICENSE NUMBER AFTER YOUR NAME WHEN SIGNING***

10.07.2024 17:40

Increased the number of signatures required for the petition from 1,000 to 1,500 signatures.


New deadline: 05.11.2024
Signatures at the time of the change: 961

03.07.2024 13:10

A few wording edits were made in the "Reason" section of the petition to improve coherence.


New petition description:

***PLEASE ADD YOUR TITLE AND LICENSE NUMBER AFTER YOUR NAME WHEN SIGNING***Our objective is to oppose the notion of the preliminary interest of the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP) in South Carolina in order to uphold educational standards and professional competency in dental hygiene. Achieving this entails advocating for the preservation of structured, accredited educational programs that ensure consistent and high-quality training for dental hygienists. It is crucial to emphasize the necessity of rigorous educational requirements to adequately prepare practitioners for maintaining the highest standards of patient care and professionalism within our state. This advocacy involves garnering support from dental hygienists across South Carolina to highlight the potential risks associated with adoptingconsidering less stringent educational pathways like the ADHP, thereby promoting the integrity and reliability of dental hygiene practice statewide.

***PLEASE ADD YOUR TITLE AND LICENSE NUMBER AFTER YOUR NAME WHEN SIGNING***

We, the undersigned, are petitioning against the preliminary interest of the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP) in the state of South Carolina for the following reasons:

1. Inadequate Training and Education Standards: The ADHP allows dental hygienists to practice with less formal education compared to national standards. This may compromise the quality of care provided to patients and undermine the professional integrity of dental hygiene practice in South Carolina.Carolina if this preliminary interest is taken into consideration.
2. Poorer Health Outcomes: The ADHP's alternative pathway may not adequately prepare dental hygienists in South Carolina to handle complex dental issues, potentially compromising patient safety and well-being. Moreover, the reduced educational standards could adversely affect the quality of oral health care provided to patients, leading to inadequate treatment of their oral health conditions. This concern is heightened by the potential increase in periodontal disease cases across the state due to insufficiently trained professionals, which may exacerbate overall health issues. Periodontal disease is linked to systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and without comprehensive training, dental hygienists might miss crucial signs of these conditions manifesting in the oral cavity. This gap in training and understanding could result in delayed or inadequate care, ultimately contributing to poorer health outcomes for patients in South Carolina.patients.
3. Increased Disease Risk: The limited training provided to dental hygienists under the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP) raises significant concerns about infection control, potentially leading to an increased risk of disease in South Carolina.Carolina if this preliminary interest is considered. Proper infection control protocols are essential to prevent the spread of infectious diseases within dental settings. However, with the abbreviated training of the ADHP, dental hygienists may not receive adequate education on maintaining these stringent protocols, increasing the likelihood of cross-contamination and the transmission of infections among patients and dental professionals. This gap in training could have serious public health implications, compromising the safety and well-being of the community.
4. Financial Healthcare Burden: The ADHP's lower educational standards and potential lack of comprehensive training raise significant concerns regarding patient safety and the early detection of health issues through oral indicators. This could lead to compromised care quality and potentially worsen overall health outcomes for patients in South Carolina.patients. Additionally, a fragmented healthcare approach under the ADHP may result in increased healthcare expenditures for the state.state if this preliminary interest is considered. Suboptimal early intervention and management of preventable conditions could necessitate more intensive and costly treatments later on, imposing a greater financial burden on South Carolina's healthcare system.system if this is considered. Thus, while the ADHP aims to expand access to dental care, itsconsidering implementationthis preliminary interest risks diminishing health outcomes for patients and escalating healthcare expenditures for the state.
5. Disparity in Professional Standards: TheIf the preliminary interest of the ADHP createsis taken into consideration, it could create a disparity between South Carolina and other states that adhere to more rigorous accreditation and educational requirements for dental hygienists. This inconsistency can affect the mobility and recognition of South Carolina-trained dental hygienists in other states.
6. Impact on Employment Opportunities: Dental hygienists trained under the ADHP may encounter difficulties securing employment outside of Souththeir Carolinastate due to the program's lack of national recognition and its misalignment with established accreditation standards. Furthermore, if the preliminary interest of the ADHP is taken into consideration, South Carolina may lose a wealth of experience and knowledge as those trained in accredited programs might move out of state in search of higher wages and less job competition.
7. Undermining Accredited Programs: The ADHP's existence undermines accredited dental hygiene programs that adhere to rigorous educational and clinical training standards, potentially devaluing the profession as a whole.

***PLEASE ADD YOUR TITLE AND LICENSE NUMBER AFTER YOUR NAME WHEN SIGNING***

03.07.2024 06:28

A few edits in the wording were made. Changes made were from proposed implementation to preliminary interest, as this is an idea that is being brought up to the board of dentistry.


New title: Petition Opposing the ImplementationPreliminary Interest of the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP) in South CarolinaSC

New petition description:

***PLEASE ADD YOUR TITLE AND LICENSE NUMBER AFTER YOUR NAME WHEN SIGNING***Our objective is to oppose the notion of implementingthe preliminary interest of the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP) in South Carolina in order to uphold educational standards and professional competency in dental hygiene. Achieving this entails advocating for the preservation of structured, accredited educational programs that ensure consistent and high-quality training for dental hygienists. It is crucial to emphasize the necessity of rigorous educational requirements to adequately prepare practitioners for maintaining the highest standards of patient care and professionalism within our state. This advocacy involves garnering support from dental hygienists across South Carolina to highlight the potential risks associated with adopting less stringent educational pathways like the ADHP, thereby promoting the integrity and reliability of dental hygiene practice statewide.

***PLEASE ADD YOUR TITLE AND LICENSE NUMBER AFTER YOUR NAME WHEN SIGNING***

We, the undersigned, are petitioning against the proposedpreliminary implementationinterest of the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP) in the state of South Carolina for the following reasons:

1. Inadequate Training and Education Standards: The ADHP allows dental hygienists to practice with less formal education compared to national standards. This may compromise the quality of care provided to patients and undermine the professional integrity of dental hygiene practice in South Carolina.
2. Poorer Health Outcomes: The ADHP's alternative pathway may not adequately prepare dental hygienists in South Carolina to handle complex dental issues, potentially compromising patient safety and well-being. Moreover, the reduced educational standards could adversely affect the quality of oral health care provided to patients, leading to inadequate treatment of their oral health conditions. This concern is heightened by the potential increase in periodontal disease cases across the state due to insufficiently trained professionals, which may exacerbate overall health issues. Periodontal disease is linked to systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and without comprehensive training, dental hygienists might miss crucial signs of these conditions manifesting in the oral cavity. This gap in training and understanding could result in delayed or inadequate care, ultimately contributing to poorer health outcomes for patients in South Carolina.
3. Increased Disease Risk: The limited training provided to dental hygienists under the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP) raises significant concerns about infection control, potentially leading to an increased risk of disease in South Carolina. Proper infection control protocols are essential to prevent the spread of infectious diseases within dental settings. However, with the abbreviated training of the ADHP, dental hygienists may not receive adequate education on maintaining these stringent protocols, increasing the likelihood of cross-contamination and the transmission of infections among patients and dental professionals. This gap in training could have serious public health implications, compromising the safety and well-being of the community.
4. Financial Healthcare Burden: The ADHP's lower educational standards and potential lack of comprehensive training raise significant concerns regarding patient safety and the early detection of health issues through oral indicators. This could lead to compromised care quality and potentially worsen overall health outcomes for patients in South Carolina. Additionally, a fragmented healthcare approach under the ADHP may result in increased healthcare expenditures for the state. Suboptimal early intervention and management of preventable conditions could necessitate more intensive and costly treatments later on, imposing a greater financial burden on South Carolina's healthcare system. Thus, while the ADHP aims to expand access to dental care, its implementation risks diminishing health outcomes for patients and escalating healthcare expenditures for the state.
5. Disparity in Professional Standards: The ADHP creates a disparity between South Carolina and other states that adhere to more rigorous accreditation and educational requirements for dental hygienists. This inconsistency can affect the mobility and recognition of South Carolina-trained dental hygienists in other states.
6. Impact on Employment Opportunities: Dental hygienists trained under the ADHP may encounter difficulties securing employment outside of South Carolina due to the program's lack of national recognition and its misalignment with established accreditation standards. Furthermore, South Carolina may lose a wealth of experience and knowledge as those trained in accredited programs might move out of state in search of higher wages and less job competition.
7. Undermining Accredited Programs: The ADHP's existence undermines accredited dental hygiene programs that adhere to rigorous educational and clinical training standards, potentially devaluing the profession as a whole.

***PLEASE ADD YOUR TITLE AND LICENSE NUMBER AFTER YOUR NAME WHEN SIGNING***