ARM 24.138.407. FUNCTIONS FOR DENTAL HYGIENISTS

(1) Allowable functions for the dental hygienist practicing under the supervision of a licensed dentist shall include dental procedures as allowed by Title 37, chapter 4, MCA, and board rule, and subject to (2) below, in which: (a) the hygienist was instructed and qualified to perform in a school of dental hygiene accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or its successor; or (b) the hygienist was instructed and trained by a licensed dentist; or (c) the hygienist was instructed and trained in a board acceptable continuing education course; or (d) the hygienist is functioning in the capacity of a dental auxiliary as allowed by board rule. (2) A dental hygienist will be allowed to perform the following dental auxiliary functions, under general supervision, including, but not limited to: (a) making radiographic exposures, as prescribed by the supervising dentist; (b) taking impressions for study or working casts; (c) removing sutures and dressings; (d) applying topical anesthetic agents; (e) providing oral health instruction; (f) applying topical fluoride agents; (g) removing excess cement from coronal surfaces; (h) placing and removing rubber dams; (i) placing and removing matrices; (j) collecting patient data; (k) polishing amalgam restorations; (l) placing pit and fissure sealants; and (m) coronal polishing. (3) A dental hygienist shall not be allowed to perform the following: (a) diagnosis and treatment planning as per 37-4-401, MCA; (b) cutting hard or soft tissue (except root planing and soft tissue curettage) or extracting teeth; (c) prescribing any drug except fluoride agents, topical oral anesthetic agents, and nonsystemic oral antimicrobials, under the general supervision of a licensed dentist or under public health supervision with a limited access permit, as per 37-4-401, MCA; (d) administering or dispensing any drugs, without the prior authorization and direct supervision of the supervising dentist. This does not pertain to local anesthetic agents administered by a licensed dental hygienist qualified to administer the agents, topical agents, fluoride agents, topical oral anesthetic agents, nonsystemic oral antimicrobials, or sulcular medicaments; (e) placing, carving or condensing any permanent restorations; (f) taking final impressions of the involved arch for crowns, bridges, implant prosthesis, partial or complete dentures; (g) bonding or cementing orthodontic brackets, or orthodontic appliances that would provide activation upon cementation; (h) bonding or cementing any fixed prosthesis, including veneers, except for provisional. (4) The assignment of tasks and procedures to a dental hygienist shall not relieve the dentist from liability for all treatment rendered the patient. (5) It shall be the responsibility of the employing dentist to verify that a dental hygienist's qualifications are in compliance with the statutes and rules of the Board of Dentistry.