Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Dentists, Dental Hygienists, and Dental Assistants (216-RICR-40-05-2)

Regulation Authority:

R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-31.1

Purpose and Reason:

Add two new license categories(mandated by statute); update requirements for consistency with current professional standards. Post-comment changes to the regulations include the following: 1. Added definitions for “digital scan” and “impression” to further clarify the change regarding digital impressions. 2. Allows dental assistants to perform digital scans with final inspection and approval of a dentist, in order to provide for rapid improvements in technology. 3. Confines taking conventional/physical impressions solely to dentists as part of their scope of service. 4. Removed the requirement to notarize applications. This mirrors the other dental professional applications and will allow for online applications in the future. 5. Change dental hygienist training hours to reflect current requirements: 20 didactic hours and 12 clinical hours. The language incorrectly identified the educational requirements for nitrous oxide training under the section on local anesthesia. 6. Change required hours to 15 didactic and 5 clinical hours. During Public Comment, it was brought to our attention that the initial recommendation to the board had been 15 didactic and 5 clinical hours – this was mistakenly left out of earlier drafts. 7. Clarifies that most current recommendations by the CDC regarding infection control will be followed, and expands training requirements to ensure that all levels of the CDC infection control standards are covered.