2006 Code of Virginia § 54.1-2722 - License; application; qualifications; practice of dental hygiene

54.1-2722. License; application; qualifications; practice of dental hygiene.

A. No person shall practice dental hygiene unless he possesses a current,active, and valid license from the Board of Dentistry. The licensee shallhave the right to practice dental hygiene in the Commonwealth for the periodof his license as set by the Board, under the direction of any licenseddentist.

B. An application for such license shall be made to the Board in writing, andshall be accompanied by satisfactory proof that the applicant (i) is of goodmoral character, (ii) is a graduate of an accredited dental hygiene programoffered by an accredited institution of higher education, (iii) has passedthe dental hygiene examination given by the Joint Commission on DentalExaminations, and (iv) has successfully completed a clinical examinationacceptable to the Board.

C. The Board may grant a license to practice dental hygiene to an applicantlicensed to practice in another jurisdiction if he (i) meets the requirementsof subsection B of this section; (ii) holds a current, unrestricted licenseto practice dental hygiene in another jurisdiction in the United States;(iii) has not committed any act that would constitute grounds for denial asset forth in 54.1-2706; and (iv) meets other qualifications as determinedin regulations promulgated by the Board.

D. A licensed dental hygienist may, under the direction or generalsupervision of a licensed dentist and subject to the regulations of theBoard, perform services that are educational, diagnostic, therapeutic, orpreventive. These services shall not include the establishment of a finaldiagnosis or treatment plan for a dental patient.

A dentist may also authorize a dental hygienist under his direction toadminister Schedule VI nitrous oxide and oxygen inhalation analgesia and, topersons 18 years of age or older, Schedule VI local anesthesia. In itsregulations, the Board of Dentistry shall establish the education andtraining requirements for dental hygienists to administer such controlledsubstances under a dentist's direction.

For the purposes of this section, "general supervision" means that adentist has evaluated the patient and prescribed authorized services to beprovided by a dental hygienist; however, the dentist need not be present inthe facility while the authorized services are being provided.

The Board shall provide for an inactive license for those dental hygienistswho hold a current, unrestricted license to practice in the Commonwealth atthe time of application for an inactive license and who do not wish topractice in Virginia. The Board shall promulgate such regulations as may benecessary to carry out the provisions of this section, including requirementsfor remedial education to activate a license.

(1950, pp. 983-985, 54-200.2, 54-200.4, 54-200.7 through 54-200.9,54-200.11; 1968, c. 604; 1970, c. 639; 1972, cc. 805, 824; 1973, c. 391;1975, c. 479; 1976, c. 327; 1986, c. 178; 1988, c. 765; 1990, c. 441; 1997,c. 855; 2002, c. 170; 2005, cc. 505, 587; 2006, c. 858.)