Summary
FTC staff submitted a comment, in response to a request from Georgia State Senator Valencia Seay, regarding proposed legislation that would broaden the types of settings under which Georgia dental hygienists are allowed to provide preventive care without direct on-site supervision by a dentist, thereby aligning Georgia’s supervision requirements with those in most other states. Direct supervision requirements may leave dental hygienists unable to provide care in locations where dentists are scarce or unavailable. The comment said that fewer restrictions on dental hygienists likely would enhance competition in the provision of preventive dental care services and thereby benefit Georgia consumers, particularly underserved populations with limited access to preventive care.