Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 59-328.3

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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 or class” means a

dental assisting program which is accredited by the Commission on

Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association or a class

approved by the Board of Dentistry;

4. “Advanced procedure” means a dental procedure for which a

dental hygienist has received special training in a course of study

approved by the Board;

5. “Board” means the Board of Dentistry;

6. “Certified dental assistant” means a dental assistant who

has earned and maintains current certified dental assistant

certification from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB);

7. “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 prophy/polishing cup or brush and polishing

agent and is not prophylaxis. To be considered prophylaxis,

examination for calculus and scaling must be done by a dental

hygienist or dentist;

8. “Deep sedation” means a drug-induced depression of

consciousness during which patients cannot be easily aroused but

respond purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation. The

ability to independently maintain ventilator function may be

impaired. Patients may require assistance in maintaining a patent

airway, and spontaneous ventilation may be inadequate.

Cardiovascular function is usually maintained;

9. “Dentistry” means the practice of dentistry in all of its

branches;

10. “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;

11. “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;

12. “Dental appliance” means a dental appliance, prosthetic

denture, bridge, restoration, or other device made for an individual

patient for a purpose listed in Section 328.19 of this title;

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13. “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;

14. “Dental hygiene” means the science and practice of the

promotion of oral health and prevention and treatment of oral

disease through the provision of educational, therapeutic, clinical,

and preventive services;

15. “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 defined in this section;

16. “Dental 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 may assist a dentist with the patient; provided, this
in this section;

16. “Dental 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 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;

17. “Dental laboratory” means a location, whether in a dental

office or not, where a dentist or a dental laboratory technician

performs dental laboratory technology;

18. “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;

19. “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;

20. “Dental specialty” means a specialized practice of a branch

of dentistry, recognized by the Board, where the dental college and

specialty program are accredited by the Commission on Dental

Accreditation (CODA), or a dental specialty recognized by the Board,

requiring a minimum number of hours of approved education and

training and/or recognition by a nationally recognized association

or accreditation board;

21. “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 or dental assistant. The supervising dentist is

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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;

22. “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;

23. “Expanded duty” means a dental procedure for which a dental

assistant has received special training in a course of study

approved by the Board;

24. “Fellowship” means a program designed for post-residency

graduates to gain knowledge and experience in a specialized field;

25. “General anesthesia” means a drug-induced loss of

consciousness during which patients are not arousable, even by

painful stimulation. The ability to independently maintain

ventilator function is often impaired. Patients often require

assistance in maintaining a patent airway, and positive pressure

ventilation may be required because of depressed spontaneous

ventilation or drug-induced depression of neuromuscular function.

Cardiovascular function may be impaired;

26. “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 dental hygienist and may

not be used to supervise a dental assistant except as provided by

Section 328.58 of this title;

27. “Indirect supervision” means the supervisory dentist is in
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 dental hygienist and may

not be used to supervise a dental assistant except as provided by

Section 328.58 of this title;

27. “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 a dental assistant;

28. “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;

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29. “Laboratory prescription” means a written description,

dated and signed by a dentist, of dental laboratory technology to be

performed by a dental laboratory technician;

30. “Minimal sedation” means a minimally depressed level of

consciousness, produced by a pharmacological method, that retains

the patient’s ability to independently and continuously maintain an

airway and respond normally to tactile stimulation and verbal

command. Although cognitive function and coordination may be

modestly impaired, ventilator and cardiovascular functions are

unaffected;

31. “Mobile dental anesthesia provider” means a licensed and

anesthesia-permitted dentist, physician or Certified Registered

Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) that has a mobile dental unit and provides

anesthesia in dental offices and facilities in the state;

32. “Mobile dental clinic” means a permitted motor vehicle or

trailer utilized as a dental clinic, and/or that contains dental

equipment and is used to provide dental services to patients on-site

and shall not include a mobile dental anesthesia provider. A mobile

dental clinic shall also mean and include a volunteer mobile dental

facility that is directly affiliated with a church or religious

organization as defined by Section 501(c)(3) or 501(d) of the United

States Internal Revenue Code, the church or religious organization

with which it is affiliated is clearly indicated on the exterior of

the volunteer mobile dental facility, and such facility does not

receive any form of payment either directly or indirectly for work

provided to patients other than donations through the affiliated

church or religious organization; provided, that the volunteer

mobile dental facility shall be exempt from any registration fee

required under the State Dental Act;

33. “Moderate sedation” means a drug-induced depression of

consciousness during which patients respond purposefully to verbal

commands, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation.

No interventions are required to maintain a patent airway, and

spontaneous ventilation is adequate. Cardiovascular function is

usually maintained;

34. “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;

35. “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;

36. “Residencies” are programs designed for advanced clinical
odontal 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;

35. “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;

36. “Residencies” are programs designed for advanced clinical

and didactic training in general dentistry or other specialties or

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other specialists at the post-doctoral level recognized by the

Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) or the Board;

37. “Supervision” means direct supervision, direct visual

supervision, indirect supervision or general supervision;

38. “Teledentistry” means the remote delivery of dental patient

care via telecommunications and other technology for the exchange of

clinical information and images for dental consultation, preliminary

treatment planning and patient monitoring; and

39. “Treatment facility” means:

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

facility,

b. a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC),

c. a private health facility,

d. a group home or residential care facility serving the

elderly, disabled 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 clinic,

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 Board.