Section 08.32.110. Scope of practice of dental hygienists.

   (a) The role of the dental hygienist is to assist members of the dental profession in providing oral health care to the public. A person licensed to practice the profession of dental hygiene in the state may,
        (1) under the general supervision of a licensed dentist,
             (A) perform preliminary charting and triage to formulate a dental hygiene assessment and dental hygiene treatment plan;
             (B) remove calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from the exposed surfaces of the teeth beginning at the epithelial attachment by scaling and polishing techniques;
             (C) remove marginal overhangs;
             (D) use local periodontal therapeutic agents;
             (E) perform nonsurgical periodontal therapy;
             (F) perform other dental operations and services delegated by a licensed dentist if the dental operations and services are not prohibited by (c) of this section;
             (G) if certified by the board, administer local anesthetic agents; and
        (2) if certified by the board and under the direct or indirect supervision of a licensed dentist, administer and monitor nitrous oxide-oxygen conscious sedation.
   (b) The board shall specify by regulation those additional functions that may be performed by a licensed dental hygienist only upon successful completion of a formal course of instruction approved by the board.  The board shall adopt regulations specifying the education requirements, evaluation procedures, and degree of supervision required for each function.
   (c) This section does not authorize delegation of
        (1) dental diagnosis, comprehensive treatment planning, and writing prescriptions for drugs; writing authorizations for restorative, prosthetic, or orthodontic appliances;
        (2) operative or surgical procedures on hard or soft tissues; or
        (3) other procedures that require the professional competence and skill of a dentist.
   (d)  [Repealed, Sec. 8 ch 111 SLA 2008].  
   (e) This section does not prohibit a licensed dental hygienist
        (1) with an endorsement issued under AS 08.32.085 from performing the activities authorized under AS 08.32.085;
        (2) who has entered into a collaborative agreement approved by the board under AS 08.32.115 from performing the activities authorized under the collaborative agreement; or
        (3) from performing a dental operation, procedure, or service a dentist may delegate to a dental assistant under AS 08.36.346.

Authorities

8.36.315; 8.36.346

Notes

Implemented As

12 AAC 28.310
12 AAC 28.320
12 AAC 28.330
12 AAC 28.340
12 AAC 28.350
12 AAC 28.360
12 AAC 28.720
12 AAC 28.920

References

12 AAC 28.956
AS 8.36.315 .315">Sec. 08.36.315. Grounds for discipline, suspension, or revocation of license.
AS 8.36.346 .346">Sec. 08.36.346. Delegation to dental assistants.

History

(Sec. 3 ch 78 SLA 1953; am Sec. 6 ch 36 SLA 1969; am Sec. 9 ch 59 SLA 1978; am Sec. 11, 12 ch 100 SLA 1984; am Sec. 1 ch 83 SLA 1995; am Sec. 2, 3 ch 24 SLA 2001; am Sec. 2, 3, 8 ch 111 SLA 2008; am Sec. 5 ch 58 SLA 2010; am Sec. 9 - 11 ch 53 SLA 2012)