Turning Point for the 60-Year Gap in Local Anesthesia Education for Dental Hygienists: IDMA Announces New Curriculum

The International Dental Medical Association (IDMA; Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yuko Hasegawa) announces that it will begin offering a "Practical Curriculum on Local Anesthesia for Dental Hygienists" compliant with new guidelines from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, starting in May 2026.

■ Background

In recent years, as dental care has become more advanced and specialized, the role required of dental hygienists has changed significantly.

Particularly, the handling of local anesthesia in dental assistance is now emphasized to be practiced under proper education and safety management systems.

However, a long-standing "gap between the system and the field" has existed in this area.

The practice of dental assistance by dental hygienists was permitted under the direction of doctors and dentists when the Dental Hygienist Act was established in 1948.

Subsequently, even after an administrative interpretation was shown by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 1965, a misunderstanding that "dental hygienists cannot perform anesthesia" became widespread in the dental field for about 60 years due to the ambiguity of the interpretation and the lack of an educational system.

In response to this situation, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare established a review committee in 2024 and, on June 20, 2025, published new guidelines regarding infiltration anesthesia by dental hygienists.

This has clarified that it can be performed under a proper education and management system, marking a major turning point for the expansion of the role of dental hygienists.

Meanwhile, there is still a lack of systematic learning opportunities in the field, and the development of an educational program that allows for the comprehensive acquisition of knowledge, skills, and safety management is an urgent task.

■ Why IDMA is taking on this challenge

IDMA has been working to improve the safety management capabilities of dental professionals through education in dental anesthesia and emergency resuscitation.

This curriculum has been constructed based on the new guidelines from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, in collaboration with and under the guidance and advice of dentists and experts with a proven track record in this field.