4310. FUNCTIONS OF DENTAL HYGIENISTS

4310 FUNCTIONS OF DENTAL HYGIENISTS 4310.1 In accordance with § 102(4) of the Act, D.C. Official Code § 3-1201.02(4), a dental hygienist may perform the following functions under the general supervision of a licensed dentist, in his or her office or any public school or institution rendering dental services: (a) A preliminary dental examination; a complete prophylaxis, including the removal of any deposits, diseased crevicular tissue, accretion, or stain from the surface of a tooth or a restoration; the polishing of a tooth or a restoration; (b) The charting of cavities during preliminary examination, prophylaxis, or polishing; (c) The application of a medicinal agent to a tooth for a prophylactic purpose and the application of therapeutic agents; (d) The taking of a dental X-ray; (e) The instruction of individuals or groups of individuals in oral health care; (f) The application of pit and fissure sealants; and (g) The performing of a screening to identify indications of oral abnormalities. 4310.2 In addition to the functions listed in § 4310.1, a dental hygienist may perform the following functions under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist, as authorized by § 102(4)(A)(vi) of the Act, D.C. Official Code § 3-1201.2 (4)(A)(vi) (2001): (a) Monitoring of nitrous oxide; (b) Administration of local anesthesia with board identified criteria and authorization; (c) Administration of nitrous oxide with board identified criteria and authorization; (d) Placement of periodontal dressings; (e) Placement of temporary restorations; (f) Removal of temporary restorations; (g) Removal of periodontal dressings; (h) Removal of sutures; (i) Taking of study cast impressions; (j) Placement and removal of rubber dams; and (k) Bleaching. 4310.3 A dental hygienist shall not perform the following functions: (a) Placement of sutures; (b) Application of cavity liners and bases; (c) Placement of amalgam restorations; (d) Carving amalgam restorations; (e) Finishing amalgam restorations; (f) Placement and finishing of composite resin/silicate restorations; and (g) Placement and removal of matrices; and (h) Any function that is defined as the practice of dentistry under the Act unless specifically authorized under this subchapter. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 36 DCR 787, 794 (January 27, 1989); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 50 DCR 9240, 9241 (October 31, 2003); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 51 DCR 5011 (May 14, 2004); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 9545 (October 5, 2007).