A licensed dentist must prescribe all services and treatment provided to a patient. General supervision shall not preclude the use of direct supervision when in the professional judgment of the dentist such supervision is necessary to meet the individual needs of the patient. Subsequent examination and monitoring of the patient, including definitive diagnosis and treatment planning, is the responsibility of the dentist and shall be carried out in a reasonable period of time in accordance with the professional judgment of the dentist based upon the individual needs of the patient.
Under the general or public health supervision of a dentist, a dental hygienist may provide assessment, screening, or data collection for the preparation of preliminary written records for evaluation by a licensed dentist. A dentist is not required to examine a patient prior to the provision of these dental hygiene services. Note: Licensed dental hygienists may provide educational services without the supervision of a licensed dentist.
Definitions
Effective December 21, 2022, the Board adopted changes to the definitions for supervision in dental offices. The portions of the definitions, which are underlined below, are new.
“Direct supervision” means that the dentist is present in the treatment facility, but it is not required that the dentist be physically present in the treatment room, or the dentist is not present in the treatment facility but is able to appear using live video upon request with a response time similar to what would be expected if the dentist were present in the treatment facility.
“General supervision of a dental assistant” means that a dentist has examined the patient and has delegated the services to be provided by a registered dental assistant, which are limited to all extraoral duties, dental radiography, intraoral suctioning, and use of a curing light and intraoral camera. The dentist need not be present in the facility while these services are being provided. If a dentist will not be present, the following requirements shall be met:
1. Patients or their legal guardians must be informed prior to the appointment that no dentist will be present and therefore no examination will be conducted at that appointment.
2. The dental assistant must consent to the arrangement.
3. Basic emergency procedures must be established and in place, and the dental assistant must be capable of implementing these procedures.
4. The treatment to be provided must be prior-prescribed by a licensed dentist and must be entered in writing in the patient record.
“General supervision of a dental hygienist” means that a dentist has examined the patient and has prescribed authorized services to be provided by a dental hygienist. The dentist need not be present in the facility while these services are being provided. If a dentist will not be present, the following requirements shall be met:
1. Patients or their legal guardians must be informed prior to the appointment that no dentist will be present and therefore no examination will be conducted at that appointment.
2. The hygienist must consent to the arrangement.
3. Basic emergency procedures must be established and in place and the hygienist must be capable of implementing these procedures.
4. The treatment to be provided must be prior prescribed by a licensed dentist and must be entered in writing in the patient record.
“Observational supervision” for expanded functions, is for training purposes only and means the dentist is physically present in the treatment room to oversee and direct all services being provided as part of clinical training.
"Personal supervision” means a licensee or registrant is physically present in the room to oversee and instruct all services of the dental assistant trainee as delegated by a licensed dentist.
“Public health supervision” means all of the following:
1. The dentist authorizes and delegates the services provided by a registered dental assistant to a patient in a public health setting, with the exception that services may be rendered without the patient’s first being examined by a licensed dentist;
2. The dentist is not required to provide future dental treatment to patients served under public health supervision;
3. The dentist and the registered dental assistant have entered into a written supervision agreement that details the responsibilities of each licensee/registrant, as specified in IAC 650--Chapters 10 and 20; and
4. The registered dental assistant has an active Iowa registration and a minimum of one year of clinical practice experience.
Updated: 11/18/2022