Learning Objectives:

• Analyze emerging trends in workforce delegation within dentistryandexamine how evolvingrolessuch as‘preventive assistants’underscore theneed for licensed dental hygienists to practice at the top of their scope
• Demonstrate strategiesfor elevating clinical care through comprehensiveassessments, periodontal charting,systemic risk screening, airwayevaluations, and oral cancer detection,reinforcing the irreplaceable value ofthe licensed RDH.
• Identify key opportunities for dental hygienists to elevate their rolethroughenhanced clinical decision-making, interdisciplinary communication, andpatient-centered care that differentiates the RDH from delegated supportroles.

This isn’t a breakout session. It’s a rallying cry.In a time when the role of the dental hygienistis being diluted, redefined, or outrightdelegated, this keynote challenges us to take a hard look at how we got here,and whatwe’re going to do about it. From missed diagnoses to overlooked assessments, we’ve seenhow easily our profession can be misunderstood... and undervalued.But it’s time to change the narrative.Through powerful storytelling, clinical insight, and a clear-eyed look at legislation like theOral Preventive Assistant bill, this session calls hygienists to reclaim their identity aslicensed health care providers,not prophy machines. We'll explore what it truly means topractice at the top of our scope: assessing risk, managing disease, identifying systemiclinks, and guiding patients toward whole-body health.If others think “anyone can do it,” then it's up to us to show them what only a dentalhygienist can do.Because if anyone can do it...it’s time to make sure we’re doing so much more.