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:

article 4. west virginia dental practice act.

§30-4-11. Scope of practice for a dental hygienist.

The practice of dental hygiene includes the following:

(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.