Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 59-328.34

– Delegation of duties to dental hygienist – Authorization of

advanced procedures.

A. A dental hygienist may practice dental hygiene under the

supervision of a dentist in a dental office or treatment facility.

A dentist may employ not more than the equivalent of three full-time

dental hygienists for each dentist actively practicing in the same

dental office. Employing the equivalent of three dental hygienists

shall mean the employment or any combination of full- or part-time

dental hygienists not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) hours per

week per dentist.

B. 1. A dentist may delegate to a dental hygienist the

following procedures:

a. the duties and expanded duties authorized for dental

assistants by the State Dental Act or the rules of the

Board of Dentistry,

b. health history assessment pertaining to dental

hygiene,

c. dental hygiene examination and the charting of intra-

oral and extra-oral conditions, which include

periodontal charting, dental charting and classifying

occlusion,

d. dental hygiene assessment and treatment planning for

procedures authorized by the supervisory dentist,

e. prophylaxis, which 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 paragraph shall not be

construed to prohibit the use of a prophy/polishing

cup or brush on the crowns of human teeth by a dental

assistant who holds a current expanded duty permit for

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations Page 249

coronal polishing and topical fluoride issued by the

Board,

f. periodontal scaling and root planing,

g. dental hygiene nutritional and dietary evaluation,

h. placement of subgingival prescription drugs for

prevention and treatment of periodontal disease,

i. soft tissue curettage,

j. placement of temporary fillings,

k. removal of overhanging margins,

l. dental implant maintenance,

m. removal of periodontal packs,

n. polishing of amalgam restorations, and

o. other procedures authorized by the Board.

2. The procedures specified in subparagraphs b through o of

paragraph 1 of this subsection may be performed only by a dentist or

a dental hygienist.

3. Except as provided in subsections C and D of this section,

the procedures specified in paragraph 1 of this subsection may be

performed by a dental hygienist only on a patient of record and only

under the supervision of a dentist. The advanced procedures of

administration of nitrous oxide, administration of local anesthesia,

neuromodulator administration, therapeutic use of lasers, and

phlebotomy and venipuncture shall be performed only under the direct

or indirect supervision of a dentist. The level of supervision,

whether direct, indirect, or general, for the advanced procedure of

elder care and public health pursuant to Section 7 of this act shall

be at the discretion of the supervisory dentist. Authorization for

general supervision shall be limited to a maximum of thirteen (13)

months following an examination by the supervisory dentist of a

patient of record.

C. 1. A dentist may authorize procedures to be performed by a

dental hygienist, without complying with the provisions of paragraph

3 of subsection B of this section, if:

a. the dental hygienist has at least two (2) years’

experience in the practice of dental hygiene,

b. the authorization to perform the procedures is in

writing and signed by the dentist, and

c. the procedures are performed during an initial visit

to a person in a treatment facility, or pursuant to

Section 7 of this act.

2. The person upon whom the procedures are performed must be

referred to a dentist after completion of the procedures performed

pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subsection.
. the authorization to perform the procedures is in

writing and signed by the dentist, and

c. the procedures are performed during an initial visit

to a person in a treatment facility, or pursuant to

Section 7 of this act.

2. The person upon whom the procedures are performed must be

referred to a dentist after completion of the procedures performed

pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subsection.

3. A dental hygienist shall not perform a second set of

procedures on a person pursuant to this subsection until the person

has been examined and accepted for dental care by a dentist.

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4. The treatment facility in which any procedure is performed

by a dental hygienist pursuant to this subsection shall note each

such procedure in the medical records of the person upon whom the

procedure was performed and list the dentist that authorized the

hygienist to perform the procedures signed by the hygienist.

D. A treatment facility may employ dental hygienists whose

services shall be limited to the examination of teeth and the

teaching of dental hygiene or as otherwise authorized by the Board.

E. The Board is authorized to prescribe, by rule, the

educational requirements for advanced procedures that may be

performed by a dental hygienist upon receipt of the advanced

procedures designated on his or her license. The advanced

procedures shall include the administration of local anesthesia, the

administration of nitrous oxide analgesia, neuromodulator

administration, therapeutic use of lasers, phlebotomy and

venipuncture, and elder care and public health pursuant to Section 7

of this act.

F. A dental hygienist shall not own or operate an independent

practice of dental hygiene.

G. Nothing in the State Dental Act shall be construed to

prohibit a dentist from performing any of the procedures that may be

performed by a dental hygienist.

H. Nothing in the State Dental Act shall be construed to allow

a dental assistant to work under the supervision of a dental

hygienist while acting under direct, indirect or general

supervision, except as provided by Section 7 of this act.