New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 13 - LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY › Chapter 30 - NEW JERSEY BOARD OF DENTISTRY › Subchapter 1A - DENTAL HYGIENISTS › Section 13:30-1A.4 - Scope of practice of licensed dental hygienist under general supervision

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) Dental office or dental clinic. A licensed dental hygienist practicing under the general supervision of a licensed dentist in a dental office or a dental clinic may:
1. Perform a complete prophylaxis including the removal of all hard and soft deposits from all surfaces of human natural and restored teeth to the epithelial attachments and the polishing of natural and restored teeth;
2. Perform root planing;
3. Provide prophylactic and preventive measures such as the application of fluorides and pit and fissure sealants and other recognized topical agents for the prevention of oral disease or discomfort;
4. Place intrasulcular therapeutic medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration, as directed by a dentist;
5. Assess soft and hard tissue of the head, neck, and oral cavity and note deformities, defects, and abnormalities therein;
6. Fabricate mouth guard appliances;
7. Remove excess cement from crowns or other restorations and orthodontic appliances;
8. Remove sutures;
9. Place and remove periodontal dressings and other surgical dressings;
10. Trial size (pre-select) orthodontic bands, wires, stainless steel crowns, and temporary crowns intra-orally or on diagnostic models;
11. Make radiographic exposures as permitted by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to
26:2D-24
et seq.;
12. Provide oral health education including dietary analysis and clinical instruction in order to promote dental health;
13. Apply topical anesthetic agents;
14. Take and record vital signs;
15. Retract patient's cheek, tongue, or other tissue parts during a dental procedure;
16. Remove such debris as is normally created in the course of treatment during or after dental procedures by vacuum devices, compressed air, mouthwashes, and water;
17. Take dental photographs including the use of intraoral cameras;
18. Select shades of prosthetic appliances;
19. Apply hot or cold packs pursuant to the direction of a licensed dentist;
20. Assess whether there is carious activity by the use of detecting agents and carious detection instruments. Such instruments shall not include lasers that are capable of altering, cutting, burning, or damaging hard or soft tissue;
21. Etch teeth in preparation for sealants and desensitizing agents;
22. Use a curing light for the application of sealants;
23. Isolate the operative field for the placement of sealants, including the placement and removal of rubber dams;
24. Take alginate impressions for diagnostic casts, bleaching trays, and athletic mouth guards;
25. Take impressions for orthodontic appliances;
26. Place orthodontic separators. The supervising licensed dentist shall review the placement to ensure proper placement of the orthodontic separators;
27. Remove bands and brackets without the use of rotary instruments;
28. Remove primary adhesive, without the use of rotary instruments, after debanding and/or debonding; and
29. Perform emergency treatment to provide immediate relief from an offending appliance, such as clip a protruding arch wire or remove a loose bracket.