2016 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 59. Professions and Occupations
§59-328.3. Definitions.

As used in the State Dental Act, the following words, phrases, or terms, unless the context otherwise indicates, shall have the following meanings:

1. "Accredited dental college" means an institution whose dental educational program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association;

2. "Accredited dental hygiene program" means a dental hygiene educational program which is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association;

3. "Accredited dental assisting program" means a dental assisting program which is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association;

4. "Board" means the Board of Dentistry;

5. "Certified dental assistant" means a dental assistant who has earned and maintains current certified dental assistant certification from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB);

6. "Coronal polishing means a procedure limited to the removal of plaque and stain from exposed tooth surfaces, utilizing a slow speed hand piece with a rubber cup or brush and polishing agent and is not prophylaxis. To be considered prophylaxis, examination for calculus and scaling must be done by a hygienist or dentist;

7. "Dentistry" means the practice of dentistry in all of its branches;

8. "Dentist" means a graduate of an accredited dental college who has been issued a license by the Board to practice dentistry as defined in Section 328.19 of this title;

9. "Dental ambulatory surgical center (DASC)" means a facility that operates exclusively for the purpose of furnishing outpatient surgical services to patients. A DASC shall have the same privileges and requirements as a dental office and additionally must be an accredited facility by the appropriate entity;

10. "Dental office" means an establishment owned and operated by a dentist for the practice of dentistry, which may be composed of reception rooms, business offices, private offices, laboratories, and dental operating rooms where dental operations are performed;

11. "Dental hygienist" means an individual who has fulfilled the educational requirements and is a graduate of an accredited dental hygiene program and who has passed an examination and has been issued a license by the Board and who is authorized to practice dental hygiene as hereinafter defined;

12. "Dental assistant or oral maxillofacial surgery assistant" means an individual working for a dentist, under the dentist's direct supervision or direct visual supervision, and performing duties in the dental office or a treatment facility, including the limited treatment of patients in accordance with the provisions of the State Dental Act. A dental assistant or oral maxillofacial surgery assistant may assist a dentist with the patient; provided, this shall be done only under the direct supervision or direct visual supervision and control of the dentist and only in accordance with the educational requirements and rules promulgated by the Board;

13. "Dental laboratory" means a location, whether in a dental office or not, where a dentist or a dental laboratory technician performs dental laboratory technology;

14. "Dental laboratory technician" means an individual whose name is duly filed in the official records of the Board, which authorizes the technician, upon the laboratory prescription of a dentist, to perform dental laboratory technology, which services must be rendered only to the prescribing dentist and not to the public;

15. "Dental laboratory technology" means using materials and mechanical devices for the construction, reproduction or repair of dental restorations, appliances or other devices to be worn in a human mouth;

16. "Dental specialty" means a specialized practice of a branch of dentistry, recognized and defined by the American Dental Association and the Board whose specialty program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA);

17. "Direct supervision" means the supervisory dentist is in the dental office or treatment facility and, during the appointment, personally examines the patient, diagnoses any conditions to be treated, and authorizes the procedures to be performed by a dental hygienist, dental assistant, or oral maxillofacial surgery assistant. The supervising dentist is continuously on site and physically present in the dental office or treatment facility while the procedures are being performed and, before dismissal of the patient, evaluates the results of the dental treatment;

18. "Direct visual supervision" means the supervisory dentist has direct ongoing visual oversight which shall be maintained at all times during any procedure authorized to be performed by a dental assistant or an oral maxillofacial surgery assistant;

19. "Fellowship" means a program designed for post-residency graduates to gain knowledge and experience in a specialized field;

20. "General supervision" means the supervisory dentist has diagnosed any conditions to be treated within the past thirteen (13) months, has personally authorized the procedures to be performed by a dental hygienist, and will evaluate the results of the dental treatment within a reasonable time as determined by the nature of the procedures performed, the needs of the patient, and the professional judgment of the supervisory dentist. General supervision may only be used to supervise a hygienist and may not be used to supervise an oral maxillofacial surgery assistant or dental assistant;

21. "Indirect supervision" means the supervisory dentist is in the dental office or treatment facility and has personally diagnosed any conditions to be treated, authorizes the procedures to be performed by a dental hygienist, remains in the dental office or treatment facility while the procedures are being performed, and will evaluate the results of the dental treatment within a reasonable time as determined by the nature of the procedures performed, the needs of the patient, and the professional judgment of the supervisory dentist. Indirect supervision may not be used for an oral maxillofacial surgery assistant or a dental assistant;

22. "Investigations" means an investigation proceeding, authorized under Sections 328.15A and 328.43a of this title, to investigate alleged violations of the State Dental Act or the rules of the Board;

23. "Mobile dental unit means a motor vehicle or trailer that contains dental equipment and is used to provide dental services;

24. "Laboratory prescription" means a written description, dated and signed by a dentist, of dental laboratory technology to be performed by a dental laboratory technician;

25. "Prophylaxis" means the removal of any and all calcareous deposits, stains, accretions or concretions from the supragingival and subgingival surfaces of human teeth, utilizing instrumentation by scaler or periodontal curette on the crown and root surfaces of human teeth including rotary or power driven instruments. This procedure may only be performed by a dentist or dental hygienist;

26. "Out-of-state dental hygienist" means a graduate of an accredited dental hygienist program who holds a license to practice dental hygiene in another state but who is not licensed to practice dental hygiene in this state;

27. "Out-of-state dentist" means a graduate of an accredited dental college who holds a license to practice dentistry in another state but who is not licensed to practice dentistry in this state;

28. "Patient" or "patient of record" means an individual who has given a medical history and has been examined and accepted by a dentist for dental care;

29. "Residencies" are programs designed for advanced clinical and didactic training in general dentistry or other specialties or other specialists at the post-doctoral level recognized by the American Dental Association or the Board;

30. "Supervision" means direct supervision, direct visual supervision, indirect supervision or general supervision; and

31. "Treatment facility" means:

a.a federal, tribal, state or local public health facility,

b.a federal qualified health care facility (FQHC),

c.a private health facility,

d.a group home or residential care facility serving the elderly, handicapped or juveniles,

e.a hospital or dental ambulatory surgery center (DASC),

f.a nursing home,

g.a penal institution operated by or under contract with the federal or state government,

h.a public or private school,

i.a patient of record's private residence,

j.a mobile dental unit,

k.a dental college, dental program, dental hygiene program or dental assisting program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, or

l.such other places as are authorized by the rules of the Board.

Added by Laws 1970, c. 173, § 3, eff. July 1, 1970. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 377, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1998; Laws 1999, c. 280, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2003, c. 172, § 1, emerg. eff. May 5, 2003; Laws 2005, c. 377, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2005; Laws 2006, c. 106, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2006; Laws 2013, c. 405, § 2, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2015, c. 229, § 2, eff. July 1, 2015. .

NOTE: Laws 2006, c. 21, § 1 repealed by Laws 2007, c. 1, § 44, emerg. eff. Feb. 22, 2007.