JEFFERSON CITY - The debate over who gets to do what in your mouth continued Wednesday at the state Capitol.
Several hundred dental hygienists descended on Jefferson City for an all-out lobbying campaign, with delegations from around the state visiting with their representatives and senators throughout the day.
At issue is a long-standing feud between the state's hygienists and dentists over what kind of licenses should be required for the hygienist profession, and who should have the ability to perform certain procedures. Dentists want to give so-called dental assistants greater latitude to treat patients, while hygienists are opposed to such measures.
A bill by Rep. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, would have allowed dental assistants to perform certain cleaning procedures after only 72 hours of clinical training, and not required them to have any specialized education. Dental hygienists, on the other hand, have to complete nearly 700 hours of clinical training, and must study for three years before receiving their certification.
Kay Carlton, a former dental hygiene instructor at Missouri Southern State University, came to the Capitol Wednesday with a group of about 50 hygienists and another 35 MSSU students from the greater Joplin area. Carlton said the group came to protest Wasson's legislation.
"The educational requirements just would not have been there (for dental assistants)," Carlton said. "Basically they could just have someone come in off the street who didn't have any previous experience or training."
But word came down early Wednesday that a truce had been declared. Wasson had decided to withdraw the measure.
In a memo sent out to state legislators on the eve of the hygienists arrival, Wasson said "in an effort to work with the Missouri Dental Hygienists, the Missouri Dental Association has decided not to pursue (the bill) at present." While not quite declaring to beat their drills into plowshares, the memo stated the Missouri Dental association was interested in "working with the hygienists to solve the problem" rather than support the legislation Wasson was offering.
Carlton said the news came as a surprise to her Wednesday morning, and that she welcomed the chance to sit down at the table with the dentists.
"There's always room for compromise," Carlton said. "They're leaving their instruments at home, we'll leave ours at home."
Carlton said legislators told her while the General Assembly would not take up the measure this session, there was the distinct possibility lawmakers would revisit the issue a year from now if the dentists and hygienists could not come to an agreement by that time.