S-1037.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5870
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1995 Regular Session
By Senators Kohl, Prentice, Fairley, Moyer, Spanel, Quigley, C. Anderson, Franklin, Hochstatter and Rasmussen
Read first time 02/10/95. Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.
AN ACT Relating to the provision of services by dental hygienists; adding new sections to chapter 18.29 RCW; repealing RCW 18.29.050 and 18.29.056; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A dental hygienist licensed under this chapter may obtain and administer topical fluoride and preventive agents and injectable and topical local anesthetics, which are legend drugs pursuant to chapter 69.41 RCW. The secretary, after consultation with the board of pharmacy and the dental hygiene examining committee, shall adopt rules that authorize a dental hygienist to purchase and administer legend drugs and devices consistent with the provisions of this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) Any person licensed as a dental hygienist in this state may remove deposits and stains from the surfaces of the teeth, may apply topical and preventive prophylactic agents including sealants, may administer injectable anesthetic and apply topical anesthetic agents appropriate to dental hygiene services, may polish and smooth restorations, may perform root planing and soft tissue curettage, and other dental hygiene services not specifically excluded by law.
Dental hygienists shall not perform the following dental services or dental procedures:
(a) Any surgical removal of tissue of the oral cavity;
(b) Any prescription of drugs or medications requiring the written order or prescription of a licensed dentist or physician;
(c) Any diagnosis for dental treatment or dental treatment planning; or
(d) The taking of any impression of the teeth or jaw, or the relationships of the teeth or jaws, for the purpose of fabricating any intra-oral restoration, appliance, or prosthesis.
(2) Such licensed dental hygienists may perform services under this chapter either under the supervision of a dentist or unsupervised after obtaining an unsupervised practice endorsement from the secretary.
(3) To obtain an unsupervised practice endorsement, a hygienist must provide to the secretary satisfactory evidence of: (a) Having attained local anesthetic administration education in an accredited dental hygiene program or its equivalent; (b) having established emergency, health care provider referral, and patient record protocols; and (c) having practiced, including local anesthetic administration, for at least two years, under supervision of a licensed dentist.
(4) A dental hygienist licensed under this chapter shall be responsible for completing a dental hygiene assessment and dental hygiene treatment plan for each patient.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Dental hygienists practicing in unsupervised settings under RCW 18.29.056 prior to the effective date of this section shall be given an endorsement for unsupervised practice upon application to the secretary.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The secretary shall provide forms for application under section 3 of this act prior to the effective date of section 3 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
(1) RCW 18.29.050 and 1971 ex.s. c 235 s 1, 1969 c 47 s 4, & 1923 c 16 s 27; and
(2) RCW 18.29.056 and 1984 c 279 s 63.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Section 4 of this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1995.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 18.29 RCW.
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