Virginia Administrative Code
Title 18 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING
Agency 60 - BOARD OF DENTISTRY
Chapter 21 - REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY
Part IV - Direction and Delegation of Duties
Section 18VAC60-21-140 - Delegation to dental hygienists

Universal Citation: 8 VA Admin Code 60-21-140

Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024

A. The following duties shall only be delegated to dental hygienists under direction and may only be performed under indirect supervision:

1. Scaling, root planing, or gingival curettage of natural and restored teeth using hand instruments, slow-speed rotary instruments, ultrasonic devices, and nonsurgical lasers, with any sedation or anesthesia administered.

2. Performing an initial examination of teeth and surrounding tissues, including the charting of carious lesions, periodontal pockets, or other abnormal conditions for assisting the dentist in the diagnosis.

3. Administering nitrous oxide or local anesthesia by dental hygienists qualified in accordance with the requirements of 18VAC60-25-100.

B. The following duties shall only be delegated to dental hygienists and may be performed under indirect supervision or may be delegated by written order in accordance with §§ 54.1-2722D and 54.1-3408J of the Code of Virginia to be performed under general supervision:

1. Scaling, root planing, or gingival curettage of natural and restored teeth using hand instruments, slow-speed rotary instruments, ultrasonic devices, and nonsurgical lasers with or without topical oral anesthetics.

2. Polishing of natural and restored teeth using air polishers.

3. Performing a clinical examination of teeth and surrounding tissues, including the charting of carious lesions, periodontal pockets, or other abnormal conditions, for further evaluation and diagnosis by the dentist.

4. Subgingival irrigation or subgingival application of topical Schedule VI medicinal agents pursuant to § 54.1-3408J of the Code of Virginia.

5. Duties appropriate to the education and experience of the dental hygienist and the practice of the supervising dentist, with the exception of those listed as nondelegable in 18VAC60-21-130, those restricted to indirect supervision in subsection A of this section, and those restricted to delegation to dental assistants II in 18VAC60-21-150.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Virginia may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.