W. Va. Code R. § 5-13-5

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 5-13-5 - Expanded duties of Dental Hygienists

5.1. Expanded duties of dental hygienists. In addition to and including those duties set forth in subsection 4.1 of this rule, the following duties and/or intraoral tasks may be assigned by a licensed dentist to a dental hygienist in the licensed dentist's employment:

5.1.1. Supra - and subgingival scaling of teeth;

5.1.2. Polishing of coronal and/or exposed surfaces of teeth;

5.1.3. Dental health education;

5.1.4. Nutritional counseling;

5.1.5. Recording periodontal findings;

5.1.6. Scaling excessive cement from the surfaces of teeth and restorations;

5.1.7. Performing screenings and diagnostic tests of teeth and surrounding tissues and recording findings for interpretation by a supervising dentist (including such procedures as restorative chartings, caries activity test, cytology smears, salivary analysis and smears, vitality test, etc.);

5.1.8. Placing of subgingival medicaments, fibers, chips, etc.;

5.1.9. Finishing and polishing restorations with a slow speed hand piece;

5.1.10. Debridement and/or root planing of teeth;

5.1.11. Applying bleaching agents;

5.1.12. Placing periodontal dressings with a final evaluation by the supervising dentist;

5.1.13. Administration of infiltration and block anesthesia after successful completion of a board-approved course and of a regional board examination and under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist;

5.1.13.a. A hygienist shall apply for a certificate from the Board for the administration of infiltration and block anesthesia using a form prescribed by the Board and pay a fee as set forth in the Board's rule. Fees Established by the Board, 5CSR3; and

5.1.14. Use of a laser, provided the wavelength is limited to no higher than 1064 nanometers, for laser bacterial reduction, laser assisted periodontal therapy, other non-surgical periodontal therapeutic treatments, photobiomodulation (adjunctive low level laser therapy) and treatment of herpetic lesions and aphthous ulcers after successful completion of a board-approved course and under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist.

5.1.14.a. A hygienist shall apply for a certificate from the Board to provide non-surgical periodontal treatment with the use of a laser using a form prescribed by the Board. The application fee shall be equal to the local anesthesia application fee as set forth in the Board's rule. Fees Established by the Board, 5CSR3.

W. Va. Code R. § 5-13-5