West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 5 - Dentistry, WV Board of › Title 5 - LEGISLATIVE RULE WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF DENTISTRY › Series 5-13 - Expanded Duties of Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants › Section 5-13-7 - Public Health Practice of Dental Hygienists

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
7.1. A dental hygienist may engage in public
				health practice rendering all services provided in subsection 6.1.7.b. of this
				rule allowed under general supervision and as provided in this section:
7.1.1. The dental hygienist shall submit an
				application to the Board for Public Health Practice and pay a fee as set forth
				in the Board's rule. Fees Established by the Board, 5CSR3.
7.1.2. The dental hygienist shall have two
				years and three thousand hours of clinical dental hygiene experience.
7.1.3. The dental hygienist shall, in
				addition to the number of hours required for dental hygiene licensure, complete
				six hours of continuing education during each continuing education cycle which
				shall include three hours in medical emergencies and three hours in general
				public health content.
7.1.4. The
				dental hygienist and supervising dentist shall submit an annual report to the
				Board of services rendered.
7.1.5.
				The dental hygienist, in cooperation with the supervising dentist, shall have a
				written plan for referral, recording conditions that should be called to the
				attention of the dentist.
7.1.6. A
				licensed dentist may not supervise more than four dental hygienists engaged in
				public health practice.
7.1.7.
				Facilities used for oral prophylaxis, sealant placement, or both, shall have
				adequate lighting, suction and isolation of teeth.
7.1.8. The dental hygienist may engage in
				public health practice, consistent with conditions outlined above, in the
				following settings; hospitals, schools, correctional facilities, jails,
				community clinics, long term care facilities, nursing homes, home health
				agencies, group homes, state institutions under the Department of Health and
				Human Resources, public health facilities, homebound settings and accredited
				dental hygiene education programs.
7.1.9. All applications and reporting forms
				shall be provided by the Board.
7.1.10. The following procedures may be
				performed by a dental hygienist with no supervision of a licensed dentist:
7.1.10.a. Dental health education;
7.1.10.b. Nutritional counseling;
7.1.10.c. Preparing a generalized oral
				screening with subsequent referral to a dentist;
7.1.10.d. Applying flouride;
7.1.10.e. Charting existing restorations and
				missing teeth;
7.1.10.f. Recording
				medical and dental histories;
7.1.10.g. Recording periodontal findings;
				and
7.1.10.h. Complete dental
				prophylaxis, which may include supra- and subgingival scaling of teeth and
				polishing of coronal and/or exposed surfaces of teeth. The dental hygienist and
				a licensed dentist shall attempt to reach a collaborative agreement regarding
				such treatment. If an agreement cannot be reached then the dental hygienist
				shall have a written order from a licensed dentist prescribing such
				treatment.
7.1.11. A
				person shall not do any of the following:
7.1.11.3. Practice dental hygiene in a manner
				that is separate or otherwise independent from a supervising dentist;
7.1.11.b. Establish or maintain an office or
				practice that is primarily devoted to the provision of dental hygiene
				services;
7.1.11.c. Administer
				local anesthesia under public health practice permit; or
7.1.11.d. Use dental lasers under public
				health practice permit.