Send us a text

It's legal in Arizona. Missouri is running a pilot program. And more states are considering it: the Oral Preventive Assistant (OPA) model allows dental assistants with just 120 hours of training to perform "dental cleanings."

In this episode, I break down what OPAs can and cannot do, why this model is being pushed as a solution to the dental hygiene shortage, and why it's actually a symptom of much bigger problems in dentistry.

We'll talk about:

• The training gap between OPAs (120 hours) and dental hygienists (2-4 years, 2,000-3,000 clinical hours)
• What "supragingival scaling only" really means for your oral health
• Why patient satisfaction surveys don't measure clinical outcomes
• The gender dynamics of creating cheaper substitutes for female-dominated professions
• What happens when an industry regulates itself with zero independent oversight
• Real solutions that would actually address workforce shortages

This isn't about gatekeeping. It's about patient safety, professional standards, and the systemic devaluation of healthcare workers - especially women.

If you've ever wondered why your dental office feels like a production line, or why there's no independent body watching out for patients in dentistry, this episode connects the dots.