Iowa Central Dental Hygiene Students Advocate at Lobby Day

Public Information Office
3/7/2025

On February 26th, second-year Dental Hygiene students from Iowa Central Community College, along with instructors Mrs. Jodi Major and Mrs. Angela Burtch, participated in Lobby Day at the Iowa State Capitol. The event, organized by the Iowa Dental Hygienists' Association (IDHA), provided an opportunity to meet with Governor Kim Reynolds and discuss critical legislative proposals affecting the dental profession and public health.

The IDHA Board of Directors has been closely monitoring proposed bills that could significantly impact dentistry in Iowa. Students engaged with legislators to express concerns about key legislative changes:

• HF 337: Proposes increasing the reimbursement rate for the Dental Wellness Plan (DWP) to match that of HAWK-I.
• HF 338: Would allow dental assistants to administer local anesthesia.
• HF 340: Seeks to eliminate the requirement for dental assistants to become registered in Iowa.

In addition to advocating for their profession, students had the opportunity to network with peers from other dental hygiene programs, including Kirkwood, Indian Hills, DMACC, and Hawkeye Community Colleges. This experience emphasized the importance of collaboration within the field and the collective effort needed to protect and advance dental hygiene in Iowa.

For more information on the Iowa Central Dental Hygiene Program and clinics visit https://www.iowacentral.edu/health_science/dental_hygiene/index.asp