Our findings provide evidence that, in both 1970 and 1982, restrictions on the use of dental auxiliaries raised the price of several dental procedures and the average price of a dental visit…These price increases imposed substantial losses on consumers and on the US economy. Our estimated loss to consumers exceeds $1 billion for 1970 and is approximately $700 million for 1982. We estimate that the loss to the US economy was more than $500 million in 1970, and more than $300 million in 1982….Based on the results of this and previous studies, we conclude that relaxation of restrictions on the number of hygienists that a dentist may employ would benefit consumers by providing the same quality of service at a lower price…We therefore recommend that states that restrict the number of hygienists per dentist give serious consideration to relaxing those restrictions. Because our study does not examine restrictions on independent practice by dental auxiliaries, we reach no conclusions on the costs or benefits of such restrictions.
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