WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2024 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
Senate Bill 357
By Senators Takubo, Deeds, Woelfel, and Woodrum
[Introduced January 12, 2024; referred
to the Committee on Health and Human Resources]
A BILL to amend and reenact §30-4-11 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the scope of practice of a dental hygienist; and permitting a dental hygienist to perform tobacco cessation education.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
(1) Perform a complete prophylaxis, including the removal of any deposit, accretion or stain from supra and subgingival, the surface of a tooth or a restoration;
(2) Apply a medicinal agent to a tooth for a prophylactic purpose;
(3) Take a radiograph for interpretation by a dentist;
(4) Instruct a patient on proper oral hygiene practice;
(5) Place sealants on a patient's teeth without a prior examination by a licensed dentist: Provided, That for this subdivision, the dental hygienist has a public health practice permit issued by the board, and subject to a collaborative agreement with a supervising dentist and the patient is referred for a dental examination within six months of sealant application;
(6) Perform all delegated procedures of a dental hygienist specified by rule by the board; and
(7) Perform all delegated procedures of a dental assistant specified by rule by the board; and
(8) Perform tobacco cessation education to patients to improve overall dental health.