Bill > SB1926

This bill expands the scope of practice for dental hygienists in Tennessee, allowing them to perform certain tasks before a dentist sees a patient, such as taking diagnostic X-rays, assessing oral health, cleaning teeth, and applying fluoride, under varying levels of dentist supervision. It also grants dental hygienists the authority to prescribe specific non-controlled substances like fluoride agents, topical anesthetics, silver diamine fluoride, curodont, sealants, and desiccation therapy, provided these do not require federal drug enforcement agency licensing. The bill mandates that the Board of Dentistry will establish rules for the necessary education and training for dental hygienists to exercise this prescriptive authority, including a specific training course for applying silver diamine fluoride.