Bill > S2076

This bill establishes a new level of practice for dental professionals called a "dental hygiene practitioner," which is essentially an advanced dental hygienist. To become a dental hygiene practitioner, an individual must graduate from an accredited dental therapist education program, be licensed by the board of registration in dentistry (the "Board," which is the state's dental licensing body), and be authorized to provide a range of oral health care services, including preventive, evaluation, educational, palliative, therapeutic, and restorative care. Crucially, a dental hygiene practitioner must enter into a written "collaborative management agreement" with a supervising dentist or a government agency. This agreement outlines the specific procedures, responsibilities, and limitations of the practitioner, and allows them to provide services even when the supervising dentist is not on-site, as long as the dentist is available for consultation. The bill also specifies that a dental hygiene practitioner can perform nonsurgical extractions of certain teeth and dispense and administer specific medications like analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics, all under the terms of the collaborative agreement. A supervising dentist can oversee up to four dental hygiene practitioners simultaneously. The bill also mandates an evaluation process to assess the impact of these practitioners on patient safety, cost-effectiveness, and access to dental care within seven years of the law taking effect.