H.B. 1951 Summary

• Clarifies requirements for licensed dental hygienists to practice under general supervision of a licensed dentist, addressing implementation confusion from Act 83 (2017)

• Requires dental hygienists practicing under general supervision to have completed one year of dental hygiene practice with minimum 1,500 hours of experience

• Requires dental hygienists to complete at least four hours of board-approved medical emergency coursework and maintain certifications including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, basic life support, and hepatitis B immunization

• Requires supervising dentists to have written emergency protocols, file attestation with board, conduct patient examinations within prior 12 months, provide written treatment orders, limit employment to maximum three generally supervised dental hygienists, and not exceed 15 consecutive days absence from the office

• Prohibits dental hygienists from performing irreversible procedures or administering intra-oral block anesthesia under general supervision; requires patient written consent to treatment in dentist's temporary absence

• Effective July 1, 2018