Oregon has set a new precedent for the role dentistry plays in the health care system by becoming the first state in the United States to allow dentists to administer vaccines to patients. Although there are two other states, Minnesota and Illinois, that have laws allowing dentists to give flu shots, Oregon dentists can give any vaccine that a primary care doctor can give.  

The new bill increases the access to care for patients and allows them to receive life-saving vaccines from licensed physicians that they already know and trust. The bill will likely go into effect in early 2020 after the Oregon Board of Dentistry approves the rules to implement the new law.

The law comes at the end of the largest measles outbreak in the country since the disease was said to be eliminated in 2000. Oregon is suffering from unprecedentedly low vaccination rates. The bill passed quickly through legislation and government officials are hopeful that this could bridge a gap for the health care community.  

There will be some hurdles to cross, however. For example, dentists will not have the entire vaccine history of the patients. They will have to communicate with the primary health care provider or be able to gain access to their records. It is one of the many issues that they are hoping to figure out before the 2020 deadline.  

One vaccine rate that legislator hopes to improve with this new bill is the vaccine for HPV. It is a leading cause of oral cancer as well as cervical cancer. They are also hoping that flu vaccine rates will improve along with vaccines for countless other viruses that are not being administered at the rate that they should be.  

The ease of care will be a great advantage for those who do not like to visit the doctor. If you are in for routine dental cleaning in the fall, just as the flu season begins, you will be able to get your flu shot at the same time. This simple convenience helps to prevent the spread of disease and covers gaps in care that will make it easier to stay healthy.  

Dentists are already equipped to give vaccinations because they are trained to give injections. They provide shots into the mouth on an almost daily basis and have extensive training in biology, anatomy, and microbiology. Dentists also have specialized training in autoimmune response and will be provided extra training before providing additional vaccinations.

The bill has also begun to shape the classroom. Dental students are learning to screen patients for diabetes and other diseases that can affect oral health. Likewise, physician assistants are learning from the dental population how to administer oral exams, since gum disease can influence heart health, among other side effects.