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West Suburban Dental Hygienists’ Society |
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Legislation |
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Understanding General Supervision
As you are probably aware, the
General Supervision act for dental hygienists was recently passed. What you
may not know is that there are restrictions and procedures that must be
followed to comply with the dental practice act.
“General
supervision” means supervision of a
dental hygienist requiring that the patient be a patient of record, that the
dentist examine the patient in accordance with section 18 prior to treatment
by the dental hygienist, and that the dentist authorize the procedures which
are being carried out by a notation in the patient’s record, but not
requiring that a dentist be present when the authorized procedures are being
carried performed.
“Patient of Record” means a
patient whom the patient’s most recent dentist has obtained a relevant
medical and dental history and on whom the dentist has performed an
examination and evaluated the condition to be treated.
Services that may be performed under General Supervision when employed or engaged in the office of
a dentist are: all oral prophylactic procedures, exposure and processing of
X-Ray films, the application to surfaces of the teeth or gums of
desensitizing agents, agents for prevention of dental caries or periodontal
disease and services that may be performed by a dental assistant (pursuant to
section 17). This is provided that the dentist has examined the patient
within one year of the provision of dental hygiene services, the dentist has
approved by a notation in the patient’s record and the patient has been
notified that the dentist will be out of the office during the provision of
services. A dental hygienist may NOT provide local
anesthetic under general supervision.
If a patient of record is unable to travel to a dental office because of illness, infirmity, or
imprisonment, a dental hygienist may perform the above procedures provided
that the patient is located in a long-term care facility licensed by the
State of Illinois, a mental health or developmental disability facility, or a
State or Federal prison. The dentist will personally examine and
diagnose the patient prior to services being performed which shall be
contained in an order to the hygienist and noted in the patient’s record.
This order must be implemented within 120 days and an updated medical history
with observation of oral conditions must be performed by the hygienist prior
procedures. Kimberly
Benkert, WSDHS Legislative Chair |
