HB2259 Summary

• Allows dental hygienists to work in nonprofit organizations and public health settings, expanding employment beyond traditional dental offices and public agencies.

• Permits dental hygienists with remote supervision and collaborative agreements with dentists to provide dental hygiene examinations and screening without prior patient examination by a dentist, with referral to a dentist required within 12 months.

• Establishes requirements for independent dental hygienist practice: minimum 2,400 hours in past 18 months or 3,000 career hours, collaborative agreement with licensed dentist, documented infection control and medical emergency training, and current CPR certification.

• Limits collaborating dentists to agreements with no more than 4 dental hygienists unless otherwise authorized by the Board, and requires written collaborative agreements signed by dentist, hygienist, and facility with annual review.

• Specifies authorized dental hygiene services including screening, charting, scaling and root planing, fluoride application, sealants, radiographs, and local anesthesia administration; requires patient consent form stating services do not substitute for dental examination.