Part II. Practice of Dental Hygiene
18VAC60-25-40. Scope of practice.
A. The following duties of a dentist shall not be delegated to a dental hygienist:
1. Final diagnosis and treatment planning;
2. Performing surgical or cutting procedures on hard or soft tissue, except as may be permitted by subdivisions C 1 and D 1 of this section;
3. Prescribing or parenterally administering drugs or medicaments, except a dental hygienist who meets the requirements of 18VAC60-25-100 C 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. Administration of deep sedation or general anesthesia and moderate sedation;
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.
B. 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.
C. 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 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 and gingival 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 subsection B of this section and those restricted to indirect supervision in subsection C of this section.
D. The following duties may only be delegated under the direction and direct supervision of a dentist to a dental assistant II:
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.
E. A dental hygienist employed by the Virginia Department of Health may provide educational and preventative dental care under remote supervision, as defined in § 54.1-2722 E of the Code of Virginia, of a dentist employed by the Virginia Department of Health and in accordance with the Protocol adopted by Virginia Department of Health (VDH) for Dental Hygienists to Practice in an Expanded Capacity under Remote Supervision by Public Health Dentists, May 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
F. A dental hygienist employed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) may provide educational and preventative dental care under remote supervision, as defined in § 54.1-2722 E of the Code of Virginia, of a dentist employed by DBHDS and in accordance with the Protocol for Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) Dental Hygienists to Practice in an Expanded Capacity under Remote Supervision by DBHDS Dentists, May 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2722 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; Volume 37, Issue 18, eff. May 25, 2021; Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024.
18VAC60-25-50. (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.
18VAC60-25-60. Delegation of services to a dental hygienist.
A. Dental hygienists shall engage in respective duties only while in the employment of a licensed dentist or governmental agency or when volunteering services.
B. Delegation of duties to a dental hygienist practicing under remote supervision shall be in accordance with the provisions of § 54.1-2722 F of the Code of Virginia. However, delegation of duties to a public health dental hygienist practicing under remote supervision shall be in accordance with the provisions of § 54.1-2722 E of the Code of Virginia.
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.
18VAC60-25-70. Delegation of services to a dental assistant.
Duties delegated to a dental assistant under general supervision shall be under the direction of the dental hygienist who supervises the implementation of the dentist's orders by examining the patient, observing the services rendered by an assistant, and being available for consultation on patient care.
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.
18VAC60-25-80. Radiation certification.
No dental hygienist shall permit a person not otherwise licensed by this board to place or expose dental radiographs 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.
18VAC60-25-90. (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.
18VAC60-25-100. Administration of controlled substances.
A. A licensed dental hygienist may:
1. Administer topical oral fluoride varnish under an oral or written order or a standing protocol issued by a dentist or a doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine pursuant to subsection V of § 54.1-3408 of the Code of Virginia;
2. Administer topical Schedule VI drugs, including topical oral fluorides, topical oral anesthetics, and topical and directly applied antimicrobial agents for treatment of periodontal pocket lesions pursuant to subsection J of § 54.1-3408 of the Code of Virginia; and
3. If qualified in accordance with subsection B or C of this section, administer Schedule VI nitrous oxide/inhalation analgesia and, to persons 18 years of age or older, Schedule VI local anesthesia parenterally under the indirect supervision of a dentist.
B. To administer only nitrous oxide/inhalation analgesia, a dental hygienist shall:
1. Successfully complete a didactic and clinical course leading to certification in administration of nitrous oxide offered by a CODA accredited dental or dental hygiene program, which includes didactic and clinical instruction in the following topics:
a. Patient physical and psychological assessment;
b. Medical history evaluation;
c. Equipment and techniques used for administration of nitrous oxide;
d. Neurophysiology of nitrous oxide administration;
e. Pharmacology of nitrous oxide;
f. Recordkeeping, medical, and legal aspects of nitrous oxide;
g. Adjunctive uses of nitrous oxide for dental patients; and
h. Clinical experiences in administering nitrous oxide, including training with live patients.
2. Successfully complete an examination with a minimum score of 75% in the administration of nitrous oxide/inhalation analgesia given by the accredited program.
C. To administer local anesthesia parenterally to patients 18 years of age or older, a dental hygienist shall:
1. Successfully complete a didactic and clinical course leading to certification in administration of local anesthesia that is offered by a CODA accredited dental or dental hygiene program, which includes didactic and clinical instruction in the following topics:
a. Patient physical and psychological assessment;
b. Medical history evaluation and recordkeeping;
c. Neurophysiology of local anesthesia;
d. Pharmacology of local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors;
e. Anatomical considerations for local anesthesia;
f. Techniques for maxillary infiltration and block anesthesia;
g. Techniques for mandibular infiltration and block anesthesia;
h. Local and systemic anesthetic complications;
i. Management of medical emergencies; and
j. Clinical experiences in administering local anesthesia injections on patients.
2. Successfully complete an examination with a minimum score of 75% in the parenteral administration of local anesthesia given by the accredited program.
D. A dental hygienist who holds a certificate or credential issued by the licensing board of another jurisdiction of the United States that authorizes the administration of nitrous oxide/inhalation analgesia or local anesthesia may be authorized for such administration in Virginia if:
1. The qualifications on which the credential or certificate was issued were substantially equivalent in hours of instruction and course content to those set forth in subsections B and C of this section; or
2. If the certificate or credential issued by another jurisdiction was not substantially equivalent, the hygienist can document experience in such administration for at least 24 of the past 48 months preceding application for licensure in Virginia.
E. A dentist who provides direction for the administration of nitrous oxide/inhalation analgesia or local anesthesia shall ensure that the dental hygienist has met the qualifications for such administration as set forth in this section.
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 35, Issue 25, eff. September 4, 2019; Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024.