(A) Any person is considered to be practicing dental hygiene who engages in those clinical procedures primarily concerned with the performance of preventive dental services not constituting the practice of dentistry, including removing all hard and soft deposits and stains from the surfaces of human teeth, root planing, performing clinical examination of teeth and surrounding tissues, and charting of oral conditions for diagnosis by a dentist, and performing such other procedures as may be delegated by regulations of the board.
(B) In school settings, licensed dental hygienists may apply topical fluoride and may perform the application of sealants and oral prophylaxis under general supervision, with written permission of the student's parent or guardian.
(C) In hospitals, nursing homes, long term care facilities, rural and community clinics, health facilities operated by federal, state, county, or local governments, hospices, education institutions accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation that give instruction in dental hygiene, and in bona fide charitable institutions, licensed dental hygienists may apply topical fluoride and perform the application of sealants and oral prophylaxis under general supervision. Treatment may not occur in these settings unless medical emergency care is available within the facility.
(D) Licensed dental hygienists may provide oral hygiene instruction and counseling, perform oral screenings, and provide nutrition and dietary counseling without prior authorization.
(E) Upon certification by the board and when under the direct supervision of a practicing dentist, a licensed dental hygienist may administer local infiltration anesthesia.
(F) This section is not intended to establish independent dental hygiene practice.
(G) No person other than a licensed dentist or dental hygienist may use the title "dental hygienist", present themselves as being a dental hygienist, or perform oral prophylaxis. This does not preclude an expanded duty dental assistant from polishing restorations and supra-gingival tooth structure. Dental hygienists practicing under general supervision must maintain professional liability insurance.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 56-636.8; 1952 Code Section 56-553; 1942 Code Section 5200; 1932 Code Section 5200; 1922 (32) 844; 1968 (55) 2502; 1988 Act No. 439, Section 3; 1995 Act No. 106, Section 1; 1995 Act No. 110, Section 1; 2000 Act No. 298, Section 1.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 40 - Professions and Occupations
Chapter 15 - Dentists, Dental Hygienists, And Dental Technicians
Section 40-15-10. State Board of Dentistry created.
Section 40-15-20. Membership of board; appointment, terms, elections, vacancies, and removal.
Section 40-15-30. Meetings of Board; officers; quorum; minutes.
Section 40-15-60. Immunity of board members, officers, and employees for official acts; seal.
Section 40-15-70. "Practice of dentistry" defined.
Section 40-15-80. Practicing dental hygiene.
Section 40-15-82. Procedures prohibited from delegation to dental hygienists.
Section 40-15-83. Patient recordkeeping requirements; penalty.
Section 40-15-85. Definitions.
Section 40-15-90. "Dental technological work" defined.
Section 40-15-95. "Orthodontic technological work" defined.
Section 40-15-100. Unlawful to practice dentistry without license.
Section 40-15-105. Administration of certain anesthetic by dental hygienist or dental assistant.
Section 40-15-110. Exemptions from chapter.
Section 40-15-135. Certain dental services to be performed only by licensed dentist.
Section 40-15-150. Filing false affidavit or diploma; misrepresentation or concealment.
Section 40-15-170. Reregistration; effect of foreign revocations.
Section 40-15-175. Restricted instructor's licenses; limitations; renewal and revocation.
Section 40-15-176. Restricted dental auxiliary instructor's licenses.
Section 40-15-177. Restricted volunteer license for certain dentists and dental hygienists.
Section 40-15-185. Administration of oaths; subpoena power.
Section 40-15-190. Grounds for discipline of dentist, dental hygienist, or dental technician.
Section 40-15-200. Disciplinary action by board; judicial review.
Section 40-15-210. Appeal from suspension or revocation.
Section 40-15-220. License to practice specialty.
Section 40-15-240. Application for license to practice specialty.
Section 40-15-250. Examinations for licensing as specialists.
Section 40-15-260. Issuance, recording, and reregistration of license to practice speciality.
Section 40-15-265. Intern or resident authorized to provide treatment under supervision.
Section 40-15-270. Reciprocity for dentists and dental hygienists licensed in other states.
Section 40-15-275. License by credentials; requirements.
Section 40-15-280. "Prescription" defined; form and contents of prescription.
Section 40-15-310. Subwork authorizations for subcontractors.
Section 40-15-360. Pharmacists permitted to fill prescriptions of licensed dentists.
Section 40-15-370. Injunctions; Office of Attorney General as representative of board.
Section 40-15-380. Jurisdiction of Administrative Law Court to enjoin violators of chapter.
Section 40-15-400. Permits; applications; fees.
Section 40-15-410. Requirements for sedation permit.
Section 40-15-430. Presence of trained personnel required; recovery and discharge.