Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 4715 | Dentists; Dental Hygienists
Section 4715.22 | Supervision of Licensed Dentist.

Effective: April 12, 2021
Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 276 - 133rd General Assembly
(A)(1) This section applies only when a licensed dental hygienist is not practicing in accordance with either of the following:
(a) A permit issued pursuant to section 4715.363 of the Revised Code authorizing practice under the oral health access supervision of a dentist;
(b) Section 4715.431 of the Revised Code.
(2) As used in this section, "health care facility" means either of the following:
(a) A hospital registered under section 3701.07 of the Revised Code;
(b) A home, as defined in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) A licensed dental hygienist shall practice under the supervision, order, control, and full responsibility of a dentist licensed under this chapter. A dental hygienist may practice in a dental office, public or private school, health care facility, dispensary, or public institution. Except as provided in divisions (C) to (E) of this section, a dental hygienist may not provide dental hygiene services to a patient when the supervising dentist is not physically present at the location where the dental hygienist is practicing.
(C) A dental hygienist may provide, for not more than fifteen consecutive business days, dental hygiene services to a patient when the supervising dentist is not physically present at the location where the services are provided if all of the following requirements are met:
(1) The dental hygienist has at least one year and a minimum of one thousand five hundred hours of experience in the practice of dental hygiene.
(2) The dental hygienist has successfully completed a course approved by the state dental board in the identification and prevention of potential medical emergencies.
(3) The dental hygienist does not perform, while the supervising dentist is absent from the location, procedures while the patient is anesthetized, definitive root planing, definitive subgingival curettage, or other procedures identified in rules the state dental board adopts.
(4) The supervising dentist has evaluated the dental hygienist's skills.
(5) The supervising dentist examined the patient not more than one year prior to the date the dental hygienist provides the dental hygiene services to the patient.
(6) The dental hygienist complies with written protocols or written standing orders that the supervising dentist establishes, including those established for emergencies.
(7) The supervising dentist completed and evaluated a medical and dental history of the patient not more than one year prior to the date the dental hygienist provides dental hygiene services to the patient and, except when the dental hygiene services are provided in a health care facility, the supervising dentist determines that the patient is in a medically stable condition.
(8) If the dental hygiene services are provided in a health care facility, a doctor of medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery licensed under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code or a registered nurse licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code is present in the health care facility when the services are provided.
(9) In advance of the appointment for dental hygiene services, the patient is notified that the supervising dentist will be absent from the location and that the dental hygienist cannot diagnose the patient's dental health care status.
(10) The dental hygienist is employed by, or under contract with, one of the following:
(a) The supervising dentist;
(b) A dentist licensed under this chapter who is one of the following:
(i) The employer of the supervising dentist;
(ii) A shareholder in a professional association formed under Chapter 1785. of the Revised Code of which the supervising dentist is a shareholder;
(iii) A member or manager of a limited liability company formed under Chapter 1705. or 1706. of the Revised Code of which the supervising dentist is a member or manager;
(iv) A shareholder in a corporation formed under division (B) of section 1701.03 of the Revised Code of which the supervising dentist is a shareholder;
(v) A partner or employee of a partnership or a limited liability partnership formed under Chapter 1775. or 1776. of the Revised Code of which the supervising dentist is a partner or employee.
(c) A government entity that employs the dental hygienist to provide dental hygiene services in a public school or in connection with other programs the government entity administers.
(D) A dental hygienist may provide dental hygiene services to a patient when the supervising dentist is not physically present at the location where the services are provided if the services are provided as part of a dental hygiene program that is approved by the state dental board and all of the following requirements are met:
(1) The program is operated through a school district board of education or the governing board of an educational service center; the board of health of a city or general health district or the authority having the duties of a board of health under section 3709.05 of the Revised Code; a national, state, district, or local dental association; or any other public or private entity recognized by the state dental board.
(2) The supervising dentist is employed by or a volunteer for, and the patients are referred by, the entity through which the program is operated.
(3)(a) Except as provided in division (D)(3)(b) of this section, the services are performed after examination and diagnosis by the dentist and in accordance with the dentist's written treatment plan.
(b) The requirement in division (D)(3)(a) of this section does not apply when the only services to be provided by the dental hygienist are the placement of pit and fissure sealants and the application of fluoride varnish.
(E) A dental hygienist may do any of the following when the supervising dentist is not physically present at the location where the services are provided, regardless of whether the dentist has examined the patient, if the dental hygienist is employed by, or under contract with, the supervising dentist or another person or government entity specified in division (C)(10)(b) or (c) of this section:
(1) Apply fluoride varnish;
(2) Apply desensitizing agents, excluding silver diamine fluoride;
(3) Apply disclosing solutions;
(4) Apply pit and fissure sealants;
(5) Recement temporary crowns or recement crowns with temporary cement;
(6) Conduct caries susceptibility testing;
(7) Provide instruction on oral hygiene home care, including the use of toothbrushes and dental floss;
(8) Discuss general nonmedical nutrition information for the purpose of maintaining good oral health.
As used in division (E)(8) of this section, "general nonmedical nutrition information" means information on the following: principles of good nutrition and food preparation, food to be included in the normal daily diet, the essential nutrients needed by the body, recommended amounts of the essential nutrients, the actions of nutrients on the body, the effects of deficiencies or excesses of nutrients, or food and supplements that are good sources of essential nutrients.
(F) No person shall do either of the following:
(1) Practice dental hygiene in a manner that is separate or otherwise independent from the dental practice of a supervising dentist;
(2) Establish or maintain an office or practice that is primarily devoted to the provision of dental hygiene services.
(G) The state dental board shall adopt rules under division (C) of section 4715.03 of the Revised Code identifying procedures a dental hygienist may not perform when practicing in the absence of the supervising dentist pursuant to division (C) or (D) of this section.
Last updated September 10, 2021 at 11:54 AM

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