Public Health Dental Hygiene

A public health dental hygienist is a practicing registered dental hygienist who may perform authorized dental hygiene procedures in a public health setting without the supervision or direction of a dentist. A public health dental hygienist must have at least 3 years of full-time clinical experience and must have received appropriate training as determined by the Board of Registration in Dentistry

According to Chapter 530, “a qualified registered dental hygienist who has a written collaborative agreement w/a licensed dentist or local or state agency or other institution where a dentist is available to provide the appropriate level of communication and consultation with the hygienist may practice in a public health setting including, but not be limited to, the following: residences of the homebound; schools; nursing homes and long-term care facilities; clinics, hospitals, medical facilities, community health centers and mobile and portable dental health programs licensed or certified by the department of public health; Head Start programs; and other facilities or programs deemed appropriate by the department of public health.”