ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session
	Senate: HHS DP 8-0-0-0 │3^rd Read 27-0-3-0

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SB 1112 : dental hygienists; scope of practice

Sponsor: Senator Barto, LD 15

Committee on Health & Human Services

Overview

Modifies the scope of practice for dental hygienists to include dental hygiene diagnosis, dental hygiene treatment and the prescribing, administering and dispensing of fluoride supplements and topically applied antimicrobial agents.

History

An individual is deemed to be practicing as a dental hygienist if they do any of the specified acts or perform any of the operations included in the general practice of dental hygienists, dental hygiene and all related and associated duties (A.R.S. § 32-1281).  

A licensed dentist and licensed dental hygienist may enter into an affiliated practice relationship to deliver dental hygiene services. A dental hygienists must satisfy specific requirements to be eligible to enter into an affiliated practice relationship with a dentist. Specifically, a dental hygienist must be actively engaged in dental hygiene practice for at least 500 hours in each of the two years preceding the affiliated practice relationship. An affiliated practice agreement between a dental hygienist and a dentist must be in writing and identify:

1) The affiliated practice settings which the dental hygienist may deliver services;

2) The services to be provided and any procedures and standing orders that the dental hygienist must follow, including circumstances of when a patient may be seen by the dental hygienist;

3) The conditions under which the dental hygienist may administer local anesthesia and provide root planning; and

4) Circumstances under which the affiliated practice dental hygienist must consult with the affiliated practice dentist before initiating further treatment on patients who have not been seen by a dentist within 12 months after initial treatment by the affiliated practice dental hygienist (A.R.S. § 32-1289.01).

A sunrise application was submitted November 1, 2021, requesting an expansion of the scope of practice for dental hygienists to add dental hygiene diagnosis, dental hygiene treatment planning and limited prescriptive authority for fluorides and topically applied antimicrobial agents.

Provisions

1. Expands the scope of practice for dental hygienists to include:

a) Establishing a dental hygiene diagnosis and formulating a dental hygiene treatment plan; and

b) Prescribing, administering and dispensing of fluoride supplements, topically applied fluorides and nonsystemic oral antimicrobial agents that are not controlled substances or do not require a license by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. (Sec. 1)

2. Adds that an affiliated practice agreement between a dental hygienist and a dentist must identify protocols for prescribing, administering and dispensing fluoride supplements, topically applied fluorides and nonsystemic oral antimicrobial agents. (Sec. 2)

3. Defines dental hygiene diagnosis and dental hygiene treatment plan. (Sec. 1)

4. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3)

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8.                   SB 1112

9. Initials AG/JB        Page 0 Health & Human Services

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