Bill Text: AZ SB1004 | 2012 | Fiftieth Legislature 2nd Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Dental hygienists; local anesthetics
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2012-03-13 - Governor Signed [SB1004 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2012-SB1004-Introduced.html
PREFILED DEC 09 2011
|
REFERENCE TITLE: dental hygienists; local anesthetics |
|
State of Arizona Senate Fiftieth Legislature Second Regular Session 2012
|
|
SB 1004 |
|
|
|
Introduced by Senator Barto
|
AN ACT
Amending section 32-1281, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to dental hygienists.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 32-1281, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
32-1281. Practicing as dental hygienist; supervision requirements; definitions
A. A person is deemed to be practicing as a dental hygienist if the person does any of the acts or performs any of the operations included in the general practice of dental hygienists, dental hygiene and all related and associated duties.
B. Only a licensed dental hygienist or dentist may perform the following:
1. Prophylaxis.
2. Scaling.
3. Closed subgingival curettage.
4. Root planing.
5. Administering local anesthetics and nitrous oxide.
6. Placing of periodontal sutures as prescribed in subsection F of this section.
7. Examining the oral cavity and surrounding structures.
8. Periodontal examination.
9. Recording of clinical findings.
10. Compiling case histories.
C. A licensed dental hygienist may:
1. Expose and process dental radiographs.
2. Perform all functions authorized and deemed appropriate for dental assistants.
D. The board by rule shall prescribe the circumstances under which a licensed dental hygienist may:
1. Apply preventive and therapeutic agents, used in relation to dental hygiene procedures, to the hard and soft tissues.
2. Use emerging scientific technology and prescribe the necessary training, experience and supervision to operate newly developed scientific technology. A dentist who supervises a dental hygienist whose duties include the use of emerging scientific technology must have training on the use of the emerging technology that is equal to or greater than the training the dental hygienist is required to obtain.
3. Perform other procedures not specifically authorized by this section.
E. Except as provided in subsections F and H of this section, a dental hygienist shall practice under the general supervision of a dentist licensed pursuant to this chapter.
F. Dental hygienists shall practice under the direct supervision of a dentist licensed pursuant to this chapter when performing the following procedures and after completing a course of study recognized by the board:
1. Administering local anesthetics. A dental hygienist may administer local anesthetics to a patient of record under general supervision if all of the following are true:
(a) The patient is at least eighteen years of age.
(b) The patient has been examined by a dentist licensed pursuant to this chapter within the previous twelve months.
(c) There has been no change in the patient's medical history since the last examination. If there has been a change in the patient's medical history within that time, the dental hygienist must consult with the dentist before administering local anesthetics.
(d) The supervising dentist who performed the examination has cleared the patient for the administration of local anesthetics by a dental hygienist under general supervision and documented this clearance in the patient's record.
2. Administering nitrous oxide analgesia.
3. Placing an interrupted suture interdentally to secure soft tissue papillae that may have inadvertently become displaced during root planing or closed curettage procedures performed by the dental hygienist, except that a dental hygienist may not position and suture soft tissue flaps that are reflected for surgical access and treatment. This procedure applies only to a dental hygienist who is permitted to perform periodontal suturing on or before July 31, 2004.
G. A dental hygienist may perform dental hygiene procedures in the following settings:
1. On a patient of record of a dentist within that dentist's office.
2. Except as prescribed in section 32‑1289, in a health care facility, nursing home, public health agency or institution or public, private or charter school on patients who have been examined by a dentist within the previous year.
3. In a homebound setting on patients who have been examined by a dentist within the previous year.
H. A dental hygienist may provide dental hygiene services under an affiliated practice relationship with a dentist as prescribed in section 32‑1289.
I. For the purposes of this article:
1. "Direct supervision" means that the dentist is present in the office while the dental hygienist is treating a patient and is available for consultation regarding procedures that the dentist authorizes and for which the dentist is responsible.
2. "General supervision" means that the dentist is available for consultation, whether or not the dentist is in the dentist's office, over procedures that the dentist has authorized and for which the dentist remains responsible.
