Illinois dentists can now play a bigger role in distributing COVID-19 vaccines.

State regulators have issued an emergency order that will allow dentist offices to administer the vaccine after completion of a one-hour training program. Dentist organizations say they routinely provide injections as part of their practice and are well-qualified to administer the vaccine.

How much of a role they will play, though, still depends on whether the state can increase its scarce supply of doses.