During the 2017 VA General Assembly Session, legislation was passed that allows dental hygienists to provide further dental hygiene services (after conducting an initial oral assessment of a patient) following a written practice protocol developed and provided by the supervising dentist.  This practice is called “remote supervision.”  The goal of the legislation is to increase access to dental care, particularly for patients in rural and remote locations.  Nothing in the law or regulations prevents a dental hygienist from practicing dental hygiene under general supervision (remote supervision is unrelated to general supervision).  The VDA has gathered information on remote supervision for interested members the information is provided in a Guidance Document.