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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
dental hygienists; scope of practice
Purpose
Expands the general scope of practice for dental hygienists. Permits a dental hygienist to supervise dental assistants.
Background
Current statute authorizes dental hygienists to practice under the general supervision of a licensed dentist who is available for consultation, whether the dentist is or is not in the office, over procedures that the dentist authorizes and for which the dentist maintains responsibility. Dental hygienists are authorized to perform certain procedures: 1) on a patient of record of a dentist within that dentist's office; and 2) in a healthcare facility, long-term care facility, public health agency or institution, public or private school or homebound setting on patients who have been examined by a dentist within the previous year.
Licensed dental hygienists are authorized to enter into affiliated practice agreements with licensed dentists for the delivery of dental hygiene services if certain criteria are met. An affiliated practice agreement must be in writing and include: 1) an identification of the affiliated practice settings in which the dental hygienist must deliver services; 2) an identification of provided services and any procedures and standing orders the dental hygienist must follow including circumstances when a patient may be seen by the dental hygienist. A contract for dental hygiene services with licensees that have entered into an affiliated practice relationship may be entered into only by: 1) a healthcare organization or facility; 2) a long-term care facility; 3) a public health agency or institution; 4) a public or private school authority; 5) a government-sponsored program; 6) a private nonprofit or charitable organization; or 7) a social service organization or program (A.R.S. § 32-1289.01).
Currently, dental assistants are permitted to expose radiographs for dental diagnostic purposes and to polish the natural and restored surfaces of teeth while under the general supervision of a licensed dentist, if the dental assistant has passed an examination approved by the Board of Dental Examiners (A.R.S. § 32-1291).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows a dental hygienist to practice under the general supervision of a licensed allopathic or osteopathic physician in an inpatient hospital setting.
2. Authorizes a dental hygienist to supervise dental assistants, including dental assistants who are certified to expose radiographs for dental diagnostic purposes and polish the natural and restored surfaces of the teeth under the general supervision of a dentist.
4. Allows a dental assistant under the direct supervision of an affiliated practice dental hygienist to expose radiographs for dental diagnostic purposes and polish the natural and restored surfaces of the teeth.
5. Expands the definition of general supervision, with respect to inpatient hospital settings, to include specified licensed physicians who are available for consultation, regardless of whether the physician is physically present at the hospital.
6. Makes technical and conforming changes.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
HHS 1/24/19 DP 9-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/11/19 60-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 11, 2019
CRS/AG/kja