Part IV. Direction and Delegation of Duties
18VAC60-21-110. Utilization of dental hygienists and dental assistants II.
A dentist may utilize up to a total of four dental hygienists or dental assistants II in any combination practicing under direction at one and the same time. In addition, a dentist may permit, through issuance of written orders for services, additional dental hygienists to practice under general supervision in a free clinic or a public health program, or on a voluntary basis.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 5, eff. December 2, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 4, eff. November 16, 2016; Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024.
18VAC60-21-120. Requirements for direction and general supervision.
A. In all instances and on the basis of diagnosis, a licensed dentist assumes ultimate responsibility for determining with the patient or the patient's representative the specific treatment the patient will receive, which aspects of treatment will be delegated to qualified personnel, and the direction required for such treatment, in accordance with this chapter and the Code of Virginia.
B. Dental hygienists acting within the scope of a license issued by the board under § 54.1-2722 or 54.1-2725 of the Code of Virginia who teach dental hygiene in a CODA accredited program are exempt from this section.
C. Duties delegated to a dental hygienist under indirect supervision shall only be performed when the dentist is present in the facility and examines the patient during the time services are being provided.
D. Duties that are delegated to a dental hygienist under general supervision shall only be performed if the following requirements are met:
1. The treatment to be provided shall be ordered by a dentist licensed in Virginia and shall be entered in writing in the record. The services noted on the original order shall be rendered within a specific time period, not to exceed 10 months from the date the dentist last performed a periodic examination of the patient. Upon expiration of the order, the dentist shall have examined the patient before writing a new order for treatment under general supervision.
2. The patient or a responsible adult shall be informed prior to the appointment that a dentist may not be present, that only topical oral anesthetics can be administered to manage pain, and that only those services prescribed by the dentist will be provided.
3. Written basic emergency procedures shall be established and in place, and the hygienist shall be capable of implementing those procedures.
E. An order for treatment under general supervision shall not preclude the use of another level of supervision when, in the professional judgment of the dentist, such level of supervision is necessary to meet the individual needs of the patient.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 5, eff. December 2, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024.
18VAC60-21-130. Nondelegable duties; dentists.
Only licensed dentists shall perform the following duties:
1. Final diagnosis and treatment planning;
2. Performing surgical or cutting procedures on hard or soft tissue except a dental hygienist performing gingival curettage as provided in 18VAC60-21-140;
3. Prescribing or parenterally administering drugs or medicaments, except a dental hygienist, who meets the requirements of 18VAC60-25-100, may parenterally administer Schedule VI local anesthesia to patients 18 years of age or older;
4. Authorization of work orders for any appliance or prosthetic device or restoration that is to be inserted into a patient's mouth;
5. Operation of high speed rotary instruments in the mouth;
6. Administering and monitoring moderate sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthetics except as provided for in § 54.1-2701 of the Code and Part VII (18VAC60-21-260 et seq.) of this chapter;
7. Condensing, contouring, or adjusting any final, fixed, or removable prosthodontic appliance or restoration in the mouth with the exception of packing and carving amalgam and placing and shaping composite resins by dental assistants II with advanced training as specified in 18VAC60-30-120;
8. Final positioning and attachment of orthodontic bonds and bands; and
9. Final adjustment and fitting of crowns and bridges in preparation for final cementation.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2709.5 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 5, eff. December 2, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 35, Issue 5, eff. November 28, 2018.
18VAC60-21-140. Delegation to dental hygienists.
A. The following duties shall only be delegated to dental hygienists under direction and may only be performed under indirect supervision:
1. Scaling, root planing, or gingival curettage of natural and restored teeth using hand instruments, slow-speed rotary instruments, ultrasonic devices, and nonsurgical lasers, with any sedation or anesthesia administered.
2. Performing an initial examination of teeth and surrounding tissues, including the charting of carious lesions, periodontal pockets, or other abnormal conditions for assisting the dentist in the diagnosis.
3. Administering nitrous oxide or local anesthesia by dental hygienists qualified in accordance with the requirements of 18VAC60-25-100.
B. The following duties shall only be delegated to dental hygienists and may be performed under indirect supervision or may be delegated by written order in accordance with §§ 54.1-2722 D and 54.1-3408 J of the Code of Virginia to be performed under general supervision:
1. Scaling, root planing, or gingival curettage of natural and restored teeth using hand instruments, slow-speed rotary instruments, ultrasonic devices, and nonsurgical lasers with or without topical oral anesthetics.
2. Polishing of natural and restored teeth using air polishers.
3. Performing a clinical examination of teeth and surrounding tissues, including the charting of carious lesions, periodontal pockets, or other abnormal conditions, for further evaluation and diagnosis by the dentist.
4. Subgingival irrigation or subgingival application of topical Schedule VI medicinal agents pursuant to § 54.1-3408 J of the Code of Virginia.
5. Duties appropriate to the education and experience of the dental hygienist and the practice of the supervising dentist, with the exception of those listed as nondelegable in 18VAC60-21-130, those restricted to indirect supervision in subsection A of this section, and those restricted to delegation to dental assistants II in 18VAC60-21-150.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 5, eff. December 2, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 4, eff. November 16, 2016; Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024.
18VAC60-21-150. Delegation to dental assistants II.
The following duties may only be delegated under the direction and direct supervision of a dentist to a dental assistant II who has completed the coursework, corresponding module of laboratory training, corresponding module of clinical experience, and examinations specified in 18VAC60-30-120:
1. Performing pulp capping procedures;
2. Packing and carving of amalgam restorations;
3. Placing and shaping composite resin restorations with a slow speed handpiece;
4. Taking final impressions;
5. Use of a non-epinephrine retraction cord; and
6. Final cementation of crowns and bridges after adjustment and fitting by the dentist.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 5, eff. December 2, 2015.
18VAC60-21-160. Delegation to dental assistants I and II.
Duties appropriate to the training and experience of the dental assistant and the practice of the supervising dentist may be delegated to a dental assistant I or II under indirect supervision, with the exception of those listed as nondelegable in 18VAC60-21-130, those that may only be delegated to dental hygienists as listed in 18VAC60-21-140, and those that may only be delegated to a dental assistant II as listed in 18VAC60-21-150.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 5, eff. December 2, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024.
18VAC60-21-170. Radiation certification.
No dentist shall permit a person not otherwise licensed by the board to place or expose dental radiograph film unless the person has one of the following: (i) satisfactory completion of a radiation safety course and examination given by an institution that maintains a program in dental assisting, dental hygiene, or dentistry accredited by CODA; (ii) certification by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists; or (iii) satisfactory completion of the Radiation Health and Safety Review Course provided by the Dental Assisting National Board or its affiliate and passage of the Radiation Health and Safety Exam given by the Dental Assisting National Board. Any certificate issued pursuant to satisfying the requirements of this section shall be posted in plain view of the patient.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 5, eff. December 2, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024.
18VAC60-21-180. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 5, eff. December 2, 2015; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024.