(a)In addition to the duties that a dentist may delegate
pursuant to the Dental Practice Act and Board Rules, a Texas-licensed
dental hygienist (hygienist) may perform the following services and
procedures in the dental office of his/her supervising Texas-licensed
dentist (dentist) or dentists who are legally engaged in the practice
of dentistry in this state or under the supervision of a supervising
dentist in an alternate setting:
(1)remove accumulated matter, tartar, deposits, accretions,
or stains, other than mottled enamel stains, from the natural and
restored surface of exposed human teeth and restorations in the human
mouth;
(2)smooth roughened root surfaces;
(3)polish exposed human teeth, restorations in the
human mouth, or roughened root surfaces;
(4)topically apply drugs to the surface tissues of
the human mouth or the exposed surface of human teeth;
(5)make dental x-rays; [and]
(6)apply pit and fissure sealants; and [.
]
[(A)dental hygienists who graduated
from a dental or dental hygiene school accredited by the Commission
on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association after December
31, 1980 may do so without obtaining a certificate from the SBDE;]
[(B)dental hygienists who graduated
from a dental or dental hygiene school accredited by the Commission
on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association before
December 31, 1980, must obtain certification from the SBDE to apply
sealants. Certification to apply pit and fissure sealants in Texas
may be obtained by submitting a written request to the SBDE accompanied
by proof of course completion.]
(7)monitor patients receiving nitrous oxide/oxygen
inhalation conscious sedation only after obtaining approval from
the board, and only under the direct supervision of a Texas licensed
dentist. The board will issue a nitrous oxide monitoring endorsement
after a hygienist provides proof of successful completion of a board
approved course, that includes examination, on the monitoring of the
administration of nitrous oxide. [obtaining certification
issued by the State Board of Dental Examiners and only under the direct
supervision of a Texas licensed dentist. Certification may be obtained
by successful completion of a board-approved course, that includes
examination, on the monitoring of the administration of nitrous oxide.]
(b)Dental hygienists may use lasers in the practice
of dental hygiene under the direct supervision of a dentist, so long
as they do not perform any procedure that is irreversible or involves
the intentional cutting of soft or hard tissue.
(1)Prior to using a laser for non-diagnostic purposes,
dental hygienists must complete no less than twelve hours of in-person
continuing education in laser utilization specific to the procedures
to be performed by the dental hygienist using the laser. Three of
the twelve required hours must include clinical simulation laser training
similar to the procedures to be performed by the dental hygienist.
The continuing education must be provided by an educational course
provider recognized by the Board. Dental hygienists must maintain
documentation of the satisfactory completion of the required continuing
education courses.
(2)Use of lasers by dental hygienists must be in accordance
with the minimum standard of care and limited to the dental hygienist's
scope of practice.
(3)A dentist who supervises a dental hygienist in
the use of lasers must have laser education and training sufficient
to adequately supervise the dental hygienist, including but not limited
to meeting the continuing education requirements required of dental
hygienists in subsection (b)(1) of this section. Pursuant to §258.003
of the Dental Practice Act, the delegating dentist is responsible
for all dental acts delegated to the dental hygienist, including the
use of lasers.
(4)The dental hygienist must comply with the Dental
Practice Act and Board Rules in the use of lasers. The dental hygienist
may be subject to disciplinary action for any act that violates the
Dental Practice Act or Board Rules.
The agency certifies that legal counsel has
reviewed the proposal and found it to be within the state agency's
legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office
of the Secretary of State on December 9, 2022
TRD-202204909 Lauren
Studdard
General Counsel
State Board of Dental Examiners
Earliest possible date of adoption: January 22, 2023
For further information, please call: (512) 305-8910
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