I believe that laser use should be a permitted task of dental hygienists in the Commonwealth of PA. Dental hygienists in a many other states may use lasers in the practice of dental hygiene under the direct and indirect supervision of a dentist, so long as they do not perform any procedure that is irreversible or involves the deliberate cutting of soft or hard tissue. Low laser therapy can help in: • Laser Bacterial Reduction, to reduce the bacteria around normal healthy sulcus to prevent toxins • Laser Assisted Periodontal Therapy used together with scaling and root planing to aid in the reduction of deeper periodontal pockets by creating an environment that allows healthy tissue to form • Treatment of herpetic lesions and/or apthous ulcers Laser decontamination by dental hygienists has been reported to achieve decontamination of pathogenic bioburden improving the health of patients. I ask that consideration be made to investigate increasing and allowing the scope of practice to include laser therapy.

I am writing to support laser use by dental hygienists in the State of PA Dental hygienists in many states are using FDA approved low level lasers under indirect and direct supervision of a dentist for intrasulcular debridement, in scaling and root planing procedures, aphthous ulcer removal, and pit and fissure sealant after completing a laser proficiency course. Low-level lasers do not cause temperature elevation within the tissue and therefore do not cut or ablate the tissue. Current evidence suggests that, as an adjunct to conventional periodontal therapy, appropriate laser therapy may provide an additional benefit in clinical improvement in probing depth and clinical attachment level compared with traditional forms of periodontal therapy in the treatment of moderate to severe chronic and aggressive forms of periodontitis. I ask that consideration be made to investigate increasing and allowing the scope of practice to include laser therapy.