Dental Hygiene Renewal 2013-2015
 
Hygiene License renewals for 2013-2015 will be open to those renewing hygienists in mid July of 2013.  If you have questions please contact the Board office at (971) 673-3200. 

Dental Hygienists are important members of the dental health care team who work with dentists in the delivery of dental care to patients. Hygienists use their knowledge and clinical skills to provide dental hygiene care for patients. They use their interpersonal skills to motivate and instruct patients on methods to prevent oral disease and to maintain oral health. In Oregon, most Dental Hygienists work under the general supervision of a licensed dentist*. "General Supervision" means that the dentist has authorized the procedures to be performed for a patient but does not require that a dentist is present when the procedures are performed. Also, the authorized procedures may be performed at a place other than the usual place of practice of the dentist. The statute regulating Dental Hygiene is ORS 680.010 through 680.205 and the administrative rules are generally found in OAR 818, Division 35. Licensing and renewal information is found in OAR 818, Division 21.
 
*The exception to this statement is a Dental Hygienist who holds a Limited Access Permit which allows the Dental Hygienist to provide dental hygiene services without the supervision of a dentist in certain settings for patients who may not be able to otherwise access dental care services. See the section on Expanded Practice Permits, ORS 680.200 and OAR 818-035-0065 and 818-035-0100 for more information.
*The exception would also include a dental hygienist that determines the need for and appropriateness of sealants or fluoride and applies sealant or fluoride at locations and for persons described in ORS 680.205 (1)

In the dental office, the dentist and the dental hygienist work together to meet the oral health needs of patients. Dental Hygienists may perform all of the services that dental assistants are allowed to perform. For example, Dental Hygienists may provide the following services in the dental office:

• Screen and assess oral health conditions,
• Review the health history,
• Record dental charting, including probings for periodontal condition;
• Take and develop dental radiographs (x-rays);
• Remove calculus and plaque (hard and soft deposits) from all surfaces of the teeth;
• Apply sealants and fluorides;
• Make impressions of patients´ teeth for study casts (models of teeth used by dentists to evaluate patient treatment needs);
• Place and remove periodontal dressings;
• Prescribe, administer and dispense fluoride, fluoride varnish, antimicrobial solutions or resorbable antimicrobial agents; and
• Teach patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health (e.g., tooth brushing, flossing and nutritional counseling). 

Upon successful completion of an appropriate course of instruction, and submission of the appropriate documentation to the Board, a Dental Hygienist in Oregon may also:

• Administer local anesthesia;
• Administer nitrous oxide* under the indirect supervision of a licensed dentist. (Indirect supervision means the dentist has authorized the procedure and remains on the premises while the procedure is being performed.)

*There are additional rules that apply regarding obtaining a nitrous oxide permit, for administration of nitrous oxide, and additional continuing education requirements. See OAR 818-026-0040.

Upon successful completion of an appropriate course of instruction, and submission of the appropriate documentation to the Board, a Dental Hygienist under the indirect supervision of a licensed dentist in Oregon may:

• Place and finish a direct alloy or direct composite restoration;
• The patient must have given informed consent for the placement of the restoration by the Restorative Function Endorsement Dental Hygienist;
• Final restorations must be checked by the supervising dentist and documented in the chart before the patient is released.

 
See OAR 818-035-0072

Independent Practice
Expanded Practice Permit:
 
(1) An expanded practice dental hygienist may render all services within the scope of practice of dental hygiene, as defined in ORS 679.010, without the supervision of a dentist and as authorized by the expanded practice dental hygienist permit to:
      (a) Patients or residents of the following facilities or programs who, due to age, infirmity or disability, are unable to receive regular dental hygiene treatment:
      (A) Nursing homes as defined in ORS 678.710;
      (B) Adult foster homes as defined in ORS 443.705;
      (C) Residential care facilities as defined in ORS 443.400;
      (D) Adult congregate living facilities as defined in ORS 441.525;
      (E) Mental health residential programs administered by the Oregon Health Authority;
      (F) Facilities for mentally ill persons, as those terms are defined in ORS 426.005;
(G) Facilities for persons with developmental disabilities, as those terms are defined in ORS 427.005;
(H) Local correctional facilities and juvenile detention facilities as those terms are defined in    ORS 169.005, regional correctional facilities as defined in ORS 169.620, youth correction facilities as defined in ORS 420.005, youth care centers as defined in ORS 420.855, and Department of Corrections institutions as defined in ORS 421.005; or
      (I) Public and nonprofit community health clinics.
      (b) Adults who are homebound.
(c) Students or enrollees of nursery schools and day care programs and their siblings under 18 years of age, Job Corps and similar employment training facilities, primary and secondary schools, including private schools and public charter schools, and persons entitled to benefits under the Women, Infants and Children Program.
(d) Patients in hospitals, medical clinics, medical offices or offices operated or staffed by nurse practitioners, physician assistants or midwives.
      (e) Patients whose income is less than the federal poverty level.
(f) Other populations that the Oregon Board of Dentistry determines are underserved or lack access to dental hygiene services.
(2) At least once each calendar year, an expanded practice dental hygienist shall refer each patient or resident to a dentist who is available to treat the patient or resident.
(3) An expanded practice dental hygienist may render the services described in paragraphs (a) to (d) of this subsection to the patients described in subsection (1) of this section if the expanded practice dental hygienist has entered into an agreement in a format approved by the board with a dentist licensed under ORS chapter 679. The agreement must set forth the agreed-upon scope of the dental hygienist’s practice with regard to:
      (a) Administering local anesthesia;
      (b) Administering temporary restorations without excavation;
(c) Prescribing prophylactic antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs specified in the agreement; and
      (d) Overall dental risk assessment and referral parameters.
(4) This section does not authorize an expanded practice dental hygienist to administer nitrous oxide except under the indirect supervision of a dentist licensed under ORS chapter 679.
(5) An expanded practice dental hygienist may assess the need for and appropriateness of sealants, apply sealants and write prescriptions for all applications of fluoride in which fluoride is applied or supplied to patients.
(6) An expanded practice dental hygienist must also procure all other permits or certificates required by the board under ORS 679.250.
 

Dental Hygienists May Not:

1. Diagnose and treatment plan other than for hygiene services;
2. Cut hard or soft tissue with the exception of root planing;
3. Extract any tooth;
4. Fit or adjust any correctional or prosthetic appliance except as provided by OAR 818-035-0040(1)(c);
5. Prescribe, administer or dispense any drug, other than fluoride, fluoride varnish, antimicrobial solutions for mouth rinsing or resorbable antimicrobial agents;
6. Administer or dispense an drugs except as provided by OAR 818-035-0030, OAR 818-035-0040, OAR 818-026-0060(11) and OAR 818-026-0070(11);
7. Place, condense, carve or cement permanent restorations or operatively prepare teeth except as provided in OAR 818-035-0072;
8. Irrigate or medicate canals; try in cones, or ream, file or fill canals;
9. Use the behavior management techniques of Hand Over Mouth (HOM) or Hand Over Mouth Airway Restriction (HOMAR) on any patient.

What Education/Training Does a Dental Hygienist Have?
Dental Hygienists have earned either an associate or bachelor’s degree from an approved Dental Hygiene program. Dental Hygiene programs are offered at community colleges, technical colleges, dental schools or universities and must be accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.
 
Foreign trained graduates of dental hygiene programs may apply for the dental hygiene licensure examination, providing the applicant meets the Board´s requirements, by rule, as will reasonably assure that an applicants training and education are sufficient for licensure.

Dental Hygienists choosing to work in Oregon must first obtain a license issued by the Board of Dentistry. For information about the requirements for licensure, please refer to the general information and instruction sheet below. Application can be found under 'Forms and Brochures' link on the left hand side of our home page.

• General Information and Instruction Sheet

 
Other sites regarding Dental Hygiene:

• www.adha.org
• www.odha.org