HB5948 Summary

• Reduces required additional coursework for public health dental hygienists from 72 clock hours to at least 42 clock hours in structured courses approved by the Department in advanced areas specific to public health dentistry.

• Allows supervising dentists to instruct public health hygienists to complete remaining approved treatment services prior to an oral examination by the dentist, if needed, provided services are completed within 30 days of the first appointment and documented in patient records.

• Expands the definition of "public health dental hygienist" to include other areas of study as determined by the Department beyond the specifically listed courses.

• Permits a dentist to supervise up to 2 public health dental hygienists under public health supervision agreements in addition to the existing limit of 4 dental hygienists per dentist.

• Updates reference language regarding training program requirements, changing "course work" to "structured courses" and requiring certificates of completion be maintained at the dental office and made available to the Department upon request.