SCOPE OF PRACTICE: DENTISTRY - H.B. 4356 (H-1): COMMITTEE SUMMARY
sans-serif">House Bill 4356 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Barb Vander Veen
House Committee: Health Policy
Senate Committee: Health Policy
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Public Health Code to allow a dental hygienist or registered dental assistant to perform certain procedures under the direction or supervision of a dentist.
Under the Code, a dental hygienist may perform various procedures upon delegation of a dentist under Section 16215 of the Code and under the direct supervision of a dentist. (“Direct supervision” means that a dentist designates a patient of record upon whom the procedures are to be performed and describes the procedures to be performed; examines the patient both before prescribing the procedures and upon completing the procedures; and is physically present in the office at the time the procedures are performed. Section 16215 allows a licensee who holds a license other than a health profession subfield license to delegate to a licensed or unlicensed individual who is otherwise qualified by education, training, or experience the performance of selected acts, tasks and functions within the scope of practice of the licensee’s profession that will be performed under the licensee’s supervision.)
The bill would allow a dental hygienist, upon assignment by a dentist, to take an impression for orthodontic appliances, mouth guards, bite splints, and bleaching trays.
The bill also would allow a registered dental assistant, upon delegation by a dentist under Section 16215 of the Code and under the direct supervision of a dentist, to place, condense, and carve amalgam restorations; and take final impressions for indirect restorations.
In addition, upon delegation by a dentist under Section 16215 and under the general supervision of a dentist, a registered dental assistant could perform the following intra-oral dental procedures:
-- Performing pulp vitality testing.
-- Placing and removing matrices and wedges.
-- Applying cavity liners and bases.
-- Placing and packing nonepinephrine retraction cords.
-- Applying desensitizing agents.
-- Taking an impression for orthodontic appliances, mouth guards, bite splints, and bleaching trays.
-- Drying endodontic canals with absorbent points.
-- Etching and placing adhesives prior to placement of orthodontic brackets.
The provisions allowing dental hygienists to perform these procedures would be “in addition to” rules promulgated by the Department of Consumer and Industry Services.
(Under the bill, “general supervision” would mean that a dentist designated a patient of record upon whom the services were to be performed; and was physically present in the office at the time the procedures were performed.)
MCL 333.16611 - Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
- Fiscal Analyst: Maria TyszkiewiczS0304\s4356sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.