Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.3763 Ratification Number:603 Act Number:517 Introducing Body:House Subject:To allow licensed dental hygienists and certified dental assistants employed within the public health system to perform duties under the direction and control of the State Director of Public Health Dentistry but out of his presence
(A517, R603, H3763)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 40-15-110, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO REGULATION OF DENTISTS, DENTAL HYGIENISTS, AND DENTAL TECHNICIANS, SO AS TO ALLOW LICENSED DENTAL HYGIENISTS AND CERTIFIED DENTAL ASSISTANTS EMPLOYED WITHIN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM TO PERFORM DUTIES UNDER THE DIRECTION AND CONTROL OF THE STATE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY BUT OUT OF HIS PRESENCE, TO ALLOW LICENSED DENTAL HYGIENISTS TO PERFORM DUTIES AUTHORIZED BY REGULATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF DENTISTRY AND TO REQUIRE A DIAGNOSIS BY A DENTIST BEFORE A HYGIENIST MAY APPLY DENTAL SEALANTS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Hygienists may provide education and primary
preventive care
SECTION 1. Section 40-15-110 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by an act of 1986 bearing Ratification Number 388, is further amended by adding at the end:
"Licensed dental hygienists employed within the public health system may provide education and primary preventive care which is reversible and noninvasive. Primary preventive care is defined as promotion and protection of health to avoid occurrence of disease through communitywide measures or improvements in lifestyle. These duties are to be performed under the direction and control of the State Director of Public Health Dentistry, but do not require that the director be present when education or care is provided. A diagnosis must be made by a licensed dentist before placement of dental sealants. At the time of a followup examination, a dentist must assure the sealant is intact. The Department of Health and Environmental Control, in conjunction with the State Board of Dentistry, shall develop a policy for sealant applications.
In addition to the duties authorized in the previous paragraph, licensed dental hygienists within the public health system may perform other duties authorized by regulations of the State Board of Dentistry with the advise of the State Director of Public Health Dentistry.
Certified dental assistants employed within the public health system may assist the public health hygienist or dentist in their duties performed outside of a dental clinic. These duties must be performed under the direction and control of the State Director of Public Health Dentistry, but do not require that the director be present when education or care is provided."
Study
SECTION 2. A study of sealant application and its effectiveness must be maintained and a report made by the second Tuesday in January, 1988, to the Senate Medical Affairs Committee, the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee, and the Board of Dentistry.
Provisions effective July 31, 1988
SECTION 3. The provisions of this act are effective until July 31, 1988, unless reauthorized by the General Assembly.
Time effective
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.