Virginia Expands Dental Hygiene Programs | Charlottesville News

Virginia’s dental hygienist shortage is forcing delays in patient care, especially in Charlottesville, where demand far outpaces supply. To fix it, the state is pouring $20 million into community college dental hygiene programs — including a new Associate of Applied Science degree launching at Piedmont Virginia Community College in January. Partnering with Germanna Community College, the program blends hands-on labs with virtual lectures and is already accepting applications for a small inaugural class of five students. Lawmakers are also expanding roles for dental assistants and streamlining licensing for internationally trained professionals — all aimed at bringing more accessible, quality dental care to underserved communities. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/04be74825ead3175