MY VIEW What If OPAs Became the


Strength We Didn’t See Coming? Oral preventive assistants don’t have to threaten the hygiene profession. This article challenges dental professionals to lead the conversation now, shaping a collaborative model that strengthens the future of preventive care.


EDITOR’S NOTE: This article first appeared in RDH, an EndeavorB2B publication. It does not express MDA policy or opinion; however, the MDA is sharing it due to its positive perspective from a registered dental hygienist on an OPA. Learn more at RDHmag.com; view the article at rdhmag.com/career-profession/article/55344645/ what-if-opas-became-the-strength-we-didnt-see-coming.


by JOFFREE BUNLEANG, BSDH, RDH


to brace for impact. We hear oral preven- tative assistant (OPA) and immediately wonder: What happens to us? Our scope? Our future? But what if we flipped the lens entirely? What if this shift isn’t a threat, but an opening? What if OPAs are not the beginning of the end, but the beginning of a stronger, more sustainable hygiene model? Let’s explore what could happen if we chose possibility over fear.


W WHAT IF WE SUPPORTED OPAs


What if hygienists shaped this integration from day one? What if we stepped into the role of leaders who define how OPAs fit, what they learn, and how they operate under clinical oversight? Instead of watching from the sidelines, what if we took ownership of the preventive care lane and said:


• Yes, we need support. • Yes, we can increase access to care. • Yes, there is work OPAs can do that does not require a hygiene license.


What if supporting this did not mean losing anything and instead meant gaining band-


14 focus | SUMMER 2026 | ISSUE 2


henever something new enters the dental space, especially a role adjacent to ours, it’s easy for hygienists


width, sustainability, and a real opportunity to work at the top of our license every single day?


WHAT IF WE HELPED CREATE THE CRITERIA


What if hygienists were the ones building the standards? What if we guided:


• Competency checklists • Delegation protocols • Training requirements • Safety guidelines • Boundaries around what OPAs can and cannot do


What if instead of reacting to legislation, we helped shape it? What if our profession had the courage to say: If OPAs are coming, let us define the criteria so patient safety stays protected and the hygienist’s expertise stays respected. Imagine the impact if hygienists were leading, not chasing, these conversa- tions.


WHAT IF WE CONTINUED PUSHING FOR OUR OWN AUTONOMY


What if OPAs became the catalyst that pushed hygiene even further into clinical leadership? What if their presence sharp- ened the distinctions instead of blurring them? OPAs cannot diagnose. They cannot stage or grade. They cannot establish perio therapy plans. They cannot manage com- plex cases. So what if their support allowed hygienists to step more fully into what we are trained to do?


WHAT IF AUTONOMY DID NOT DIMINISH, BUT EXPANDED


Imagine a future where hygienists spend more time on:


• Perio diagnostics • Risk assessment • Laser therapy • High-level clinical judgment • Motivational interviewing • Comprehensive prevention models


And less time on tasks that do not require our license.


WHAT IF OPAS AND RDHS WORKED IN ALIGNMENT, NOT IN COMPETITION


What if we stopped seeing new roles as re- placement threats and instead viewed them as ecosystem enhancers? People working in healthcare has done this successfully for decades though partnerships between RNs and MAs, NPs and RNs, and physicians and PAs. What if dentistry finally caught up? What if this was how we reduced burnout, stabilized workflows, increased access to care, and elevated patient outcomes? What if OPAs and hygienists working together actu- ally strengthened the entire dental model?


WHAT IF THIS IS THE EVOLUTION OF HYGIENE & NOT THE EROSION


What if the story we tell about OPAs de- termines what they become? What if our leadership in this moment shapes the next decade of our profession? Because here is what I believe: I envision a future where hygienists and OPAs are collaborative, not competitive. OPAs can support preventive


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