SUBCHAPTER 16Z - LIMITED SUPERVISION HYGIENISTS

 

21 NCAC 16Z .0101          ELIGIBILITY TO PRACTICE HYGIENE OUTSIDE DIRECT SUPERVISION

(a)  To be eligible to perform the clinical hygiene procedures set out in G.S. 90-221(a) without the direct supervision of a dentist, a dental hygienist shall:

(1)           maintain an active license to practice dental hygiene in this State;

(2)           have no prior disciplinary history in any state;

(3)           complete at least three years of experience in clinical dental hygiene or at least 2,000 hours of performing prophylaxis or periodontal debridement under the supervision of a dentist licensed in this State within the five calendar years immediately preceding initial approval to work without direct supervision;

(4)           maintain current CPR certification; and

(5)           complete at least six hours of Board approved continuing education in dental office medical emergencies, in addition to the minimum hours of continuing education required for license renewal. A list of Board-approved sponsors appears in 21 NCAC 16I .0202.

(b)  To retain eligibility to perform the clinical hygiene procedures set out in G.S. 90-221(a) without direct supervision of a dentist, a dental hygienist shall:

(1)           complete at least six hours of Board approved continuing education in dental office medical emergencies each year, in addition to the minimum hours of continuing education required for license renewal;

(2)           maintain current CPR certification;

(3)           comply with all provisions of the N.C. Dental Practice Act and all rules of the Dental Board applicable to dental hygienists; and

(4)           cooperate with all Board inspections of any facility at which the hygienist provides dental hygiene services without direct supervision of a dentist.

(c)  Nothing in this Rule shall be construed to permit a dental hygienist to administer local anesthetics as set out in G.S. 90-221(a) without the direct supervision of a North Carolina licensed dentist.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-221; 90-229; 90-233;

Eff. February 1, 2008;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2015;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 9, 2018;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2022.

 

21 NCAC 16Z .0102          RECORD KEEPING

(a)  A dentist who designates a dental hygienist employee as capable of providing clinical dental hygiene procedures without direct supervision of the dentist must keep and maintain the following records for at least ten years:

(1)           names of all hygienists who provide clinical dental hygiene procedures without direct supervision;

(2)           proof that each hygienist, at the time of initial approval, met the experience requirements set out in Rule .0101(a) of this Subchapter;

(3)           names and locations of all facilities at which each hygienist has provided clinical dental hygiene procedures without direct supervision;

(4)           work schedules reflecting all locations at which each hygienist is scheduled to provide clinical dental hygiene procedures without direct supervision in the next 30 days;

(5)           work schedules of all hygienists indirectly supervised by the dentist, with sufficient detail to demonstrate that a single dentist does not supervise more than two hygienists employed in clinical dental hygiene positions at any given time;

(6)           records reflecting the personal examination of the patient and the procedures directed by the dentist; and

(7)           proof that the dentist and hygienist complied with the requirements of G.S. 90-233(a1)(1) – (3).

(b)  The dentist shall produce all records required to be kept under this Rule to the Dental Board or its employees upon request and shall provide an annual report to the Board in compliance with G.S. 90-233(a4).

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-221; 90-233;

Eff. February 1, 2008;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 9, 2018.

 

21 NCAC 16Z .0103          INSPECTIONS

All locations at which a hygienist performs clinical dental hygiene procedures without direct supervision of a dentist shall be subject to random, unannounced inspection by the Dental Board or its agents for the purpose of determining if services are provided in compliance with the Center for Disease Control and OSHA standards for infection control and patient treatment.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-221; 90-233;

Eff. February 1, 2008;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 9, 2018.