4715.23 Practice limitations. - Ohio Statutes

4715.23 Practice limitations.

The practice of a dental hygienist shall consist of those prophylactic, preventive, and other procedures that licensed dentists are authorized by this chapter and rules of the dental board to assign only to licensed dental hygienists or to qualified personnel under section 4715.39 of the Revised Code. Licensed dentists may assign to dental hygienists intraoral tasks that do not require the professional competence or skill of the licensed dentist and that are authorized by board rule. Such performance of intraoral tasks by dental hygienists shall be under supervision and full responsibility of the licensed dentist, and at no time shall more than three dental hygienists be practicing clinical hygiene under the supervision of the same dentist. The foregoing shall not be construed as authorizing the assignment of diagnosis, treatment planning and prescription (including prescriptions for drugs and medicaments or authorizations for restorative, prosthodontic, or orthodontic appliances); or, except when done in conjunction with the removal of calcarious deposits, dental cement, or accretions on the crowns and roots of teeth, surgical procedures on hard and soft tissues within the oral cavity or any other intraoral procedure that contributes to or results in an irremediable alteration of the oral anatomy; or the making of final impressions from which casts are made to construct any dental restoration. The state dental board shall issue rules defining the procedures that may be performed by licensed dental hygienists engaged in school health activities or employed by public agencies.

Effective Date: 10-29-2003