Dear ADA and ADHA Members,

Informed consent, comprehensive risk vs benefit analysis, and bodily autonomy are just a few things Dentists, Dental Hygienists, and assistants are taught to always practice. We are a dedicated group of oral healthcare professionals and have always been on the frontline of infection control protocol, particularly aerosol mitigation. I and many others in my field have successfully treated patients with HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis, Herpes and other transmissible conditions in general practice, without notable incident to present. We have always used universal precautions, been respectful, and followed the data when determining safety protocols for both staff and patients.

When Covid 19 came into perview, we were deemed non essential. Everywhere, across the nation, offices closed their hygiene services down, and were forced to limit care to emergency only in many states. This resulted in profit losses of epic proportions for the dentists and massive loss of income for most hygienists and assistants. Commonly unaddressed was the impact that this had on our patients. Our pediatric patients who went a year or more with often times painful, undiagnosed decay in their mouth and ended up losing teeth prematurely. Our periodontally involved patients who are traditionally seen 3-4 times a year slowly regressed into a state of untreated periodontal infection. In our greatest time of need the ADA and ADHA were there to advocate for our rights to be respected as providers and our patients rights to quality preventive care, and return us to our operatories.

I am a hygienist, and we were deemed high risk for infection due to the nature of our jobs, nearly 100% risk. Unfortunately, the pool of hygienists willing to come back to these uncertain conditions was smaller than anticipated, other dental team members as well. Offices struggled to fill positions, patients were made to wait months to be seen. Offices also cracked down, new protocols were implemented, the dental team got a PPE makeover and now, 18mos into the pandemic, nearly no transmission. Studies in October 2020, while Covid rampaged, showed only 3.1% of hygienists had contracted it. We have proven our worth, our grit, and our commitment to patient care tenfold. 

Now, we are in need again. In need of protection from mandates which violate the very things we uphold in our profession. Transmission has been proven time and time again to be possible regardless of vaccination status, most recently in Israel, which boasts 80% of their population 12 and over has been vaccinated. Viral loads of both vaccinated and non vaccinated have been proven to be comparable in very recent studies. Those of us who simply wish to weigh the risks and benefits and make the right choices for us risk losing our jobs in a field which is already experiencing incredible loss of providers due to the pandemic.

If mandates are pushed through, there will be loss of providers en masse. How many more patients will go without? How many offices will shutter their doors and lose everything? You have already supported us in our journey for professional recognition and touted our competence in treating patients effectively despite the pandemic. All that we ask is for your continued support, and respect. So that we may all continue doing the very best we can for our patients, and for our practices.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. 

Sincerely,

Jane Doe, AAS,RDH