Washington’s Dental Workforce Debate Stalls at the Capitol
Dental care reform or risky shortcut? Washington bill stalls after fierce Capitol showdown.
During the 2025–2026 regular session, Washington State Senate Bill 6146 emerged as a high-profile proposal to address access gaps in preventive dental care. Sponsored by Senator Mike Chapman, the bill would create a new licensed role known as an oral preventive assistant (OPA), allowing these professionals to perform limited preventive services, such as prophylaxsis and periodontal probing, under a dentist’s supervision. Supporters argue the measure responds to a severe dental workforce shortage, particularly among dental hygienists, that has left many communities waiting months for care.
However, SB 6146 has encountered significant pushback. The Washington Dental Hygienists’ Association (WDHA) mounted a coordinated opposition, warning that the bill would permit less-trained, effectively unlicensed workers to perform duties traditionally handled by dental hygienists. Dental hygienists argue this approach risks patient safety and undermines established professional standards, contending that workforce shortages should be solved through better recruitment, retention, and utilization of fully licensed providers, not by creating lower-tier roles.
The opposition proved influential. After strong, unified testimony from the dental hygiene community, SB 6146 was pulled from the committee agenda, halting its forward momentum for now. On the same day, WDHA members gathered in Olympia for a “Day on the Hill,” signaling a strategic shift from defense to proactive advocacy.
Dentist groups, meanwhile, continue to urge lawmakers to revive and support the bill, citing oral health equity, delayed care, and the need for flexible workforce solutions, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
As of now, SB 6146 remains stalled, with its future uncertain.
