21 NCAC 16W .0104        DENTAL ACCESS SHORTAGE AREAS

(a)  Public health hygienists who are practicing under Rule .0101(a) of this Section and who perform procedures in public schools, nursing homes, rest homes, long-term care facilities, and rural and community clinics provided through federal, State, county, or local governments in areas identified by the Office of Rural Health in the Department of Health and Human Services as dental access shortage areas may:

(1)           perform clinical hygiene procedures as described in G.S. 90-221 under the direction of a dentist based on a written standing order, rather than an in-person evaluation by the dentist as set forth in Rule .0101(c) of this Section; and

(2)           supervise a Dental Assistant who assists the public health hygienists in the procedures described in Subparagraph (a)(1) of this Rule. For purposes of this Rule, Dental Assistant means any person classified as a Dental Assistant II or permitted to perform functions of a Dental Assistant II pursuant to 21 NCAC 16H .0104(a) or (b).

(b)  Public health hygienists working under supervision of a dentist in accordance with G.S. 90-233(a) and providing services at facilities identified in Paragraph (a) of this Rule who are performing services pursuant to a written standing order from the dentist must complete the procedures ordered within 270 days.

(c)  Dentists providing services at facilities pursuant to Paragraph (a) of this Rule are providing public health services and may supervise more than two public health hygienists at the same time who are performing dental hygiene functions.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-223; 90-233(a); 90-233(b);

Eff. February 1, 2020.