Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger Signs Bills Opening Doors for Foreign-Trained Dentists: In a significant move to address workforce shortages and expand access to preventive oral healthcare, Abigail Spanberger has signed two key dental workforce bills into law, with strong backing from the American Dental Association and the Virginia Dental Association.
The legislation, introduced at the request of the Virginia Dental Association, represents a major policy priority aimed at improving access to care, particularly in rural and underserved communities where patients often face long wait times for preventive dental services.
The new laws create expanded pathways within the dental workforce. One measure allows internationally trained dentists to pursue licensure as dental hygienists in Virginia, while another permits qualified dental assistants to perform certain scaling and polishing procedures under the supervision of a licensed dentist.
The initiative stems from growing concerns over a shortage of dental hygienists across the state. To tackle this, the Virginia Dental Association proposed a comprehensive three-part strategy: integrating internationally educated dentists into the system, expanding the scope of dental assistants, and increasing funding for dental hygiene education programs.
Data from the Virginia Department of Health Professions Workforce Data Center indicates that Virginia already exceeds the national average in dentist concentration, highlighting a strong provider base. However, stakeholders noted that expanding the dental hygienist workforce is critical to improving preventive care access and reducing patient backlogs.
Momentum is also building around long-term solutions, including proposed funding for a new school of dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University, which is currently under consideration in state budget negotiations.
In a letter to the governor prior to the bills’ approval, the American Dental Association expressed strong support, noting that the legislation aligns with evolving national workforce policies.
“We are pleased that Virginia is leading the charge in addressing the state’s access challenges,” the ADA stated, highlighting provisions that allow internationally trained dentists to qualify for dental hygiene licensure and enable dental assistants to expand their clinical roles.
One of the laws, House Bill 1036, establishes a structured pathway for internationally trained dentists. Candidates must meet standards set by the Virginia Board of Dentistry, including passing the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and completing a clinical assessment. The ADA described the bill as a “responsible pathway” to bring skilled professionals into patient care more quickly.
A second measure, House Bill 970, authorizes trained dental assistants to perform supragingival scaling and coronal polishing under supervision. Citing data and models from other jurisdictions, the ADA emphasized that properly trained assistants can safely perform these services, countering concerns about patient safety.
The association further noted that these reforms could significantly enhance public health outcomes by reducing wait times, increasing clinic capacity, and improving access to preventive care—key factors in lowering emergency room visits related to dental issues.
Welcoming the development, Ryan Dunn, CEO of the Virginia Dental Association, said the legislation provides practical solutions to workforce challenges while maintaining strict standards for training, supervision, and patient safety.
“These bills were developed with quality, safety, and access as the priority,” Dunn said. “They will help ensure that patients across Virginia receive timely and essential preventive dental care.”
The new laws are scheduled to take effect on July 1, marking a pivotal step in strengthening Virginia’s oral healthcare system and workforce capacity.
