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Public Wants Dentists to Prove Practical Hand Skills Before Getting Licensed

New survey reveals strong public support for thorough dental licensing standards

BOSTON, Mass. (March 6, 2025) — The public is weighing in on a licensure debate happening in Massachusetts and across the nation. A new national survey reveals most Americans— including a strong majority of Massachusetts residents surveyed— oppose removing the hand skills test required by most states for dental professionals to be licensed. The poll, commissioned by the American Association of Dental Boards (AADB), shows strong public support for maintaining the highest standards in dental licensing. Legislation is pending in the state to change these standards.

The survey of 1,863 registered U.S. voters, fielded from December 30, 2024, to January 9, 2025, found that 82% of Americans agree hand skills examinations are necessary to assess a dentist’s ability to perform procedures safely. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.28 percentage points.

Two competing dental licensure compacts are currently under consideration in Massachusetts. The Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact, backed by the American Association of Dental Boards (AADB), has been introduced as HD3469 and SD2010 would maintain the high standards of a practical hand skills exam. In contrast, the Council of State Governments (CSG) compact, presented as SD738 would eliminate the hand skills exam requirement for a dental license. The CSG Compact, also referred to as the Dentist and Dental Hygienist (DDH) Compact, is being backed by a group of private investors who own corporate dental practices.

“We can’t compromise on public safety when it comes to dental care, which is why hand-skills exams are essential to make sure dentists can perform procedures safely,” said Dr. Mina Paul, Director of Dental Clinical Compliance/Operations for NeignborHealth and former President of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry. “All patients deserve to know their dentist has proven they can do the job through a system that maintains high standards, requires full disclosure of disciplinary issues, and gives state dental boards the information they need to protect the public.”

Massachusetts law requires that dentists and dental hygienists pass a two-pronged, intensive assessment of both knowledge via computer based examination and a clinical hand skills exam to show their ability to competently perform basic dental procedures, such as fillings and crowns. Passage of this exam protects the dental public from dentists and hygienists who lack the hand-eye coordination needed to treat patients safely. Each year, a small but important percentage of dentists and dental hygienists ultimately fail the hand skills exam, despite multiple re-takes of the exam.

Survey Results

The latest survey shows strong public opposition to change and support for maintaining high standards in dental licensing:

  • More than two-thirds agree that current licensing standards should not be reduced
  • Two-thirds oppose allowing dentists licensed under weaker standards in other states to practice in their state

Dr. Arthur Chen-Shu Jee, President of the AADB’s Board of Directors, noted the importance of these standards: “The latest poll results confirm patients want to know that their dentists and dental hygienists can actually perform procedures competently and safely. The hand skills test provides that assurance. As we consider changes to licensing, we must remember these vital exams directly impact patient safety and public trust in our profession.”

Who is AADB?
The American Association of Dental Boards (AADB) is an organization that supports maintaining high standards in dental licensing, including practical hand skills testing for dentists before they can be licensed.

Why are hand skills tests important?
Hand skills tests are essential to ensure dentists can perform procedures safely and competently, protecting patients from practitioners who lack the necessary hand-eye coordination to treat patients safely, according to AADB.

What dental licensing changes are being considered?
Two competing dental licensure compacts are under consideration – the AADB-backed Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact that maintains hand skills testing, and the CSG compact that would eliminate this requirement.

Who supports eliminating hand skills tests?
The Council of State Governments (CSG) compact, also referred to as the Dentist and Dental Hygienist (DDH) Compact, is backed by a group of private investors who own corporate dental practices.

What does Massachusetts law require for dental licensing?
Massachusetts law requires dentists and dental hygienists to pass both a computer-based knowledge examination and a clinical hand skills exam to demonstrate their ability to competently perform basic dental procedures.

What is the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact?
The Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact is an AADB-backed initiative that would maintain the high standards of practical hand skills examination for dental licensing.

Who is Dr. Arthur Chen-Shu Jee?
Dr. Arthur Chen-Shu Jee is the President of the AADB’s Board of Directors who emphasized that patients want assurance their dentists can perform procedures competently and safely.

What procedures do dentists need to demonstrate in hand skills tests?
Dentists must demonstrate their ability to competently perform basic dental procedures such as fillings and crowns as part of the clinical hand skills examination required for licensing.