Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024
A. A
licensed dental hygienist may:
1. Administer
topical oral fluoride varnish under an oral or written order or a standing
protocol issued by a dentist or a doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine
pursuant to subsection V of §
54.1-3408
of the Code;
2. Administer topical
Schedule VI drugs, including topical oral fluorides, topical oral anesthetics,
and topical and directly applied antimicrobial agents for treatment of
periodontal pocket lesions pursuant to subsection J of §
54.1-3408
of the Code; and
3. If qualified in
accordance with subsection B or C of this section, administer Schedule VI
nitrous oxide/inhalation analgesia and, to persons 18 years of age or older,
Schedule VI local anesthesia parenterally under the indirect supervision of a
dentist.
B. To
administer only nitrous oxide/inhalation analgesia, a dental hygienist shall:
1. Successfully complete a didactic and
clinical course leading to certification in administration of nitrous oxide
offered by a CODA accredited dental or dental hygiene program, which includes a
minimum of eight hours in didactic and clinical instruction in the following
topics:
a. Patient physical and psychological
assessment;
b. Medical history
evaluation;
c. Equipment and
techniques used for administration of nitrous oxide;
d. Neurophysiology of nitrous oxide
administration;
e. Pharmacology of
nitrous oxide;
f. Recordkeeping,
medical, and legal aspects of nitrous oxide;
g. Adjunctive uses of nitrous oxide for
dental patients; and
h. Clinical
experiences in administering nitrous oxide, including training with live
patients.
2.
Successfully complete an examination with a minimum score of 75% in the
administration of nitrous oxide/inhalation analgesia given by the accredited
program.
C. To
administer local anesthesia parenterally to patients 18 years of age or older,
a dental hygienist shall:
1. Successfully
complete a didactic and clinical course leading to certification in
administration of local anesthesia that is offered by a CODA accredited dental
or dental hygiene program, which includes a minimum of 28 didactic and clinical
hours in the following topics:
a. Patient
physical and psychological assessment;
b. Medical history evaluation and
recordkeeping;
c. Neurophysiology
of local anesthesia;
d.
Pharmacology of local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors;
e. Anatomical considerations for local
anesthesia;
f. Techniques for
maxillary infiltration and block anesthesia;
g. Techniques for mandibular infiltration and
block anesthesia;
h. Local and
systemic anesthetic complications;
i. Management of medical emergencies;
and
j. Clinical experiences in
administering local anesthesia injections on patients.
2. Successfully complete an examination with
a minimum score of 75% in the parenteral administration of local anesthesia
given by the accredited program.
D. A dental hygienist who holds a certificate
or credential issued by the licensing board of another jurisdiction of the
United States that authorizes the administration of nitrous oxide/inhalation
analgesia or local anesthesia may be authorized for such administration in
Virginia if:
1. The qualifications on which
the credential or certificate was issued were substantially equivalent in hours
of instruction and course content to those set forth in subsections B and C of
this section; or
2. If the
certificate or credential issued by another jurisdiction was not substantially
equivalent, the hygienist can document experience in such administration for at
least 24 of the past 48 months preceding application for licensure in
Virginia.
E. A dentist
who provides direction for the administration of nitrous oxide/inhalation
analgesia or local anesthesia shall ensure that the dental hygienist has met
the qualifications for such administration as set forth in this
section.
Statutory Authority: §
54.1-2400
of the Code of Virginia.
