Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 150-5-.07 - Administration of Local Anesthetic by Dental Hygienist

(1) A dental hygienist, under the direct supervision of a Georgia licensed dentist, may administer local anesthesia for hygiene purposes, including intraoral block anesthesia, soft tissue infiltration anesthesia, or both, to a non-sedated patient that requires local anesthesia for pain management and who is 18 years of age or older if the following criteria are met.

(2) Educational and Practical Experience Requirements:

(a) Graduate of an approved curriculum program.

1. Dental hygiene anesthesia courses or programs required for dental hygienists licensed in Georgia to qualify to administer local anesthesia:

(i) Shall be taught using lecture and laboratory/clinical formats by a dental education program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (ADA) or its successor agency, a similar organization approved by the United States Department of Education, or the Board.

(ii) The requirements shall include, at a minimum, sixty (60) hours of coursework comprised of thirty (30) didactic hours, fifteen (15) laboratory hours, and fifteen (15) clinical hours which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(I) Theory of pain control;

(II) Selection-of-pain-control modalities;

(III) Anatomy;

(IV) Neurophysiology;

(V) Pharmacology of local anesthetics;

(VI) Pharmacology of vasoconstrictors;

(VII) Psychological aspects of pain control;

(VIII) Systemic complications;

(IX) Techniques of maxillary anesthesia;

(X) Techniques of mandibular anesthesia;

(XI) Infection control;

(XII) Safety Injection practices; and

(XIII) Medical emergencies involving local anesthesia.

(iii) Laboratory and clinical instruction shall be provided with a faculty to student ratio of no greater than 1:5 under the direct supervision of a dentist licensed in this state.

(iv) Courses must be taught to a minimum score of eighty percent (80%) in the parenteral administration of local anesthesia, and successful students shall be awarded a certificate of completion.

(3) Continuing Education: Dental hygienists administering local anesthesia pursuant to this rule, must complete two (2) hours of approved continuing education per biennium, which shall include a review of local anesthetic techniques, contraindications, systemic complications, medical emergencies related to local anesthesia, and a general overview of dental office emergencies. These hours may be used as part of the twenty-two (22) hours of continuing education required each biennium.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 150-5-.07

O.C.G.A. §§ 43-11-1, 43-11-7, 43-11-9, 43-11-73.1, 43-11-74.

Original Rule entitled "Administration of Local Anesthetic by Dental Hygienist" adopted. F. May 12, 2023; eff. June 1, 2023.