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    Hands-on dental hygiene exam for dental student

    In brief: ADHA response to failed Nevada bill, phenazopyridine’s possible cancer risk, breakthrough AI dental resource

    June 6, 2025
    Dental news updates: The ADHA's response to Nevada's push to lower hygiene licensure standards, widely-used OTC drug's possible link to cancer, and a new dental AI platform.

    ADHA responds to controversial Nevada bill

    Earlier this year, Nevada legislature proposed Bill SB495, which would have allowed individuals to circumnavigate CODA-accredited education to practice dental hygiene. This "alternative pathway" to licensure was designed to expand the practice setting for aspiring hygienists and give them prescribing power. They would be eligible for a dental hygiene license after completing a non-ADA approved competency exam, written exam, and clinical exam.1

    According to the ADHA, dental hygienists currently earn a minimum of an associate degree in dental hygiene and complete nearly 3,000 hours of comprehensive and clinical training from CODA-accredited institutions in most US states. Bill SB495 failing to pass marks a temporary win for the dental community as well as patient safety.1

    Registered dental hygienist and ADHA president Erin Haley-Hitz said: "Last night's outcome demonstrates the power of our profession when we unite to protect patient safety and educational standards. Our profession's commitment to rigorous education and training is non-negotiable. We remain hopeful that Nevada will pursue workforce solutions that maintain the integrity of dental hygiene education while addressing legitimate healthcare access needs."2

    Common OTC drug may cause cancer

    Phenazopyridine is an over-the-counter (OTC) drug primarily used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), but it may be doing more harm than good. Phenazopyridine is easily accessible in US stores and pharmacies despite the fact that it is not currently FDA-approved. It may be linked to cancer, which poses a potential threat to its consumers.3

    A recent article by Bloomberg highlighted a concerning study done on phenazopyridine. After it was tested on animals in 1978, tumors developed in the lab rats and mice exposed to the drug. The National Toxicology Program reported that: "Phenazopyridine hydrochloride is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals."3

    This information was not explicitly disclosed to consumers, putting millions of women who take OTC medications for UTIs at risk.

    Click here to read the full article on DentistryIQ.

    Got questions? This dental AI platform has answers

    The Association for Dental Safety (ADS) recently launched Ask ADS, their new AI-powered platform designed for dental professionals. This digital assistant can provide accurate, up-to-date answers to questions about dental infection prevention, occupational health, and patient safety.

    As AI further embeds itself in our everyday lives, it is becoming increasingly reliable and accurate. Like other new healthcare-focused digital tools, Ask ADS has been trained on evidence-based resources to ensure its information is factually correct.

    Michelle Lee, CPC, executive director at ADS, stressed the importance of this in a recent press release. She said: "Ask ADS represents a major step forward in how dental professionals access the information they need to keep their patients and practices safe. We're leveraging the latest AI technology and the highest-quality evidence-based content to ensure users get immediate, reliable answers."4

    Ask ADS has multilingual support and is currently free to access for dental professionals. Later, it will be a paid service for ADS-exclusive members.

    If you are interested in learning more about this resource, click here.

    References

    1. Open letter opposing Sections 77-79 of Nevada SB495 that creates an alternative pathway to licensure without CODA accredited education. American Dental Hygienists' Association. May 5, 2025. https://www.adha.org/newsroom/letter-objecting-to-nevada-sb495/

    2. ADHA statement on failed Nevada healthcare bill containing harmful dental hygiene provisions. American Dental Hygienists' Association. June 3, 2025. https://www.adha.org/newsroom/announcement-sb-495-fails-to-pass/

    3. Butkovic S. Possible cancer risk linked to common OTC drug. DentistryIQ. May 23, 2025. https://www.dentistryiq.com/dentistry/research-and-news/news/55292532/possible-cancer-risk-linked-to-common-otc-drug

    4. ADS launches "Ask ADS": an AI-powered resource for dental infection prevention and safety. Association for Dental Safety. June 5, 2025.

    About the Author

    Sarah Butkovic, MA, BA

    Sarah Butkovic, MA, BA, is an Associate Editor at Endeavor Business Media, where she works on creating and editing engaging and informative content for today's leading online dentistry publications. She holds a Master's English Language and Literature from Loyola University Chicago and is passionate about producing high-quality content that educates, inspires, and connects with readers.