22 Tex. Admin. Code § 115.2 - Permitted Duties
(a) In addition to
the duties that a dentist may delegate pursuant to the Dental Practice Act and
Board Rules, a Texas-licensed dental hygienist (hygienist) may perform the
following services and procedures in the dental office of his/her supervising
Texas-licensed dentist (dentist) or dentists who are legally engaged in the
practice of dentistry in this state or under the supervision of a supervising
dentist in an alternate setting:
(1) remove
accumulated matter, tartar, deposits, accretions, or stains, other than mottled
enamel stains, from the natural and restored surface of exposed human teeth and
restorations in the human mouth;
(2) smooth roughened root surfaces;
(3) polish exposed human teeth, restorations
in the human mouth, or roughened root surfaces;
(4) topically apply drugs to the surface
tissues of the human mouth or the exposed surface of human teeth;
(5) make dental x-rays;
(6) apply pit and fissure sealants;
and
(7) monitor patients receiving
nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation conscious sedation only after obtaining
approval from the board, and only under the direct supervision of a Texas
licensed dentist. The board will issue a nitrous oxide monitoring endorsement
after a hygienist provides proof of successful completion of a board approved
course, that includes examination, on the monitoring of the administration of
nitrous oxide.
(b) Dental
hygienists may use lasers in the practice of dental hygiene under the direct
supervision of a dentist, so long as they do not perform any procedure that is
irreversible or involves the intentional cutting of soft or hard tissue.
(1) Prior to using a laser for non-diagnostic
purposes, dental hygienists must complete no less than twelve hours of
in-person continuing education in laser utilization specific to the procedures
to be performed by the dental hygienist using the laser. Three of the twelve
required hours must include clinical simulation laser training similar to the
procedures to be performed by the dental hygienist. The continuing education
must be provided by an educational course provider recognized by the Board.
Dental hygienists must maintain documentation of the satisfactory completion of
the required continuing education courses.
(2) Use of lasers by dental hygienists must
be in accordance with the minimum standard of care and limited to the dental
hygienist's scope of practice.
(3)
A dentist who supervises a dental hygienist in the use of lasers must have
laser education and training sufficient to adequately supervise the dental
hygienist, including but not limited to meeting the continuing education
requirements required of dental hygienists in subsection (b)(1) of this
section. Pursuant to §258.003 of the Dental Practice Act, the delegating
dentist is responsible for all dental acts delegated to the dental hygienist,
including the use of lasers.
(4)
The dental hygienist must comply with the Dental Practice Act and Board Rules
in the use of lasers. The dental hygienist may be subject to disciplinary
action for any act that violates the Dental Practice Act or Board
Rules.
Notes
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