Tex. Occupations Code § 262.151
This is the official text of Tex. Occupations Code § 262.151, part of Texas’s Occupations Code — governs professional and occupational licensing.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§ 262.151. DELEGATION OF DUTIES BY DENTIST.
Official statutory text
(a) A licensed dentist may delegate orally or in writing a service, task, or procedure to a dental hygienist who is under the supervision and responsibility of the dentist, if:
(1) the dental hygienist is licensed to perform the service, task, or procedure;
(2) the supervising dentist examines the patient:
(A) at the time the service, task, or procedure is performed by the dental hygienist; or
(B) during the 12 calendar months preceding the date of performance of the service, task, or procedure by the dental hygienist; and
(3) the dental hygienist does not:
(A) diagnose a dental disease or ailment;
(B) prescribe a treatment or a regimen;
(C) prescribe, order, or dispense medication; or
(D) perform any procedure that is irreversible or involves the intentional cutting of soft or hard tissue by any means.
(b) A licensed dentist may delegate to a dental hygienist any act that a dentist may delegate to a dental assistant.
(c) A dentist is not required to be on the premises when the dental hygienist performs a delegated act.
(d) This chapter does not prevent a dentist from authorizing a dental hygienist employed by the dentist to:
(1) instruct and educate a patient in proper oral hygiene; or
(2) provide to a patient a medication ordered by the dentist.
(e) This chapter does not prevent a dental hygienist from incidentally removing cementum during root planing.
(1) the dental hygienist is licensed to perform the service, task, or procedure;
(2) the supervising dentist examines the patient:
(A) at the time the service, task, or procedure is performed by the dental hygienist; or
(B) during the 12 calendar months preceding the date of performance of the service, task, or procedure by the dental hygienist; and
(3) the dental hygienist does not:
(A) diagnose a dental disease or ailment;
(B) prescribe a treatment or a regimen;
(C) prescribe, order, or dispense medication; or
(D) perform any procedure that is irreversible or involves the intentional cutting of soft or hard tissue by any means.
(b) A licensed dentist may delegate to a dental hygienist any act that a dentist may delegate to a dental assistant.
(c) A dentist is not required to be on the premises when the dental hygienist performs a delegated act.
(d) This chapter does not prevent a dentist from authorizing a dental hygienist employed by the dentist to:
(1) instruct and educate a patient in proper oral hygiene; or
(2) provide to a patient a medication ordered by the dentist.
(e) This chapter does not prevent a dental hygienist from incidentally removing cementum during root planing.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Texas?
Find a Texas lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.