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Senate updates dental practice rules to expand hygienist duties under supervision
Summary
Senate Bill 19-26 passed third reading after amendments that allow dental hygienists, under specified supervision, to apply certain topical agents and perform defined procedures and adds training for silver diamine fluoride placement; sponsors said the changes align statute with current practice.
Senate Bill 19-26, which adjusts the dental hygienist scope of practice, passed on third and final consideration following committee amendments and sponsor explanations.
Chairman Crow described amendment language that "rewrites the bill and allows a dental hygienist under direct supervision of the dentist to perform certain procedures prior to a dentist seeing a new existing patient," and enumerated allowed topical agents and procedures including silver diamine fluoride and sealants. The amendment also adds a training requirement for placement of silver diamine fluoride and sets supervision rules distinguishing new and existing patients.
Senator Massey, thanking dental hygienists and dentist associations, said the amendments "update their practice act to what is currently taking place in dental offices." The amendments were adopted on the floor and the bill passed on third reading with an aye vote of 32 and 1 nay.
Next steps: The enacted changes would be implemented by the Board of Dentistry and the board's rulemaking on training and supervision requirements.
