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 of
Virginia;
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 of
Virginia; 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
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 didactic and clinical instruction 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.
