Sec. 10. (a) A licensed dental hygienist may practice dental hygiene in Indiana in the following:

(1) A dental office, clinical setting, or health facility where the dental hygienist is practicing under the direct supervision or prescriptive supervision of a licensed dentist.

(2) A dental school or dental hygiene school to teach and demonstrate the practice of dental hygiene if direct supervision by a licensed dentist is provided for training on providing local anesthetics by injection.

(3) The dental clinic of any public, parochial, or private school or other institution supported by public or private funds in which the licensee is employed by the state department of health or any county or city board of health or board of education or school trustee or parochial authority or the governing body of any private school where the dental hygienist is practicing under the direct or prescriptive supervision of a licensed dentist.

(4) The dental clinic of a bona fide hospital, sanitarium, or charitable institution duly established and being operated under the laws of Indiana in which the licensee is employed by the directors or governing board of such hospital, sanitarium, or institution. However, such practice must be under the direct or prescriptive supervision at all times of a licensed dentist who is a staff member of the hospital or sanitarium or a member of the governing board of the institution.

(5) A:

(A) fixed charitable dental care clinic;

(B) public health setting;

(C) correctional institution; or

(D) location other than one described in clauses (A) through (C);

that has been approved by the board and where the dental hygienist is under the direct or prescriptive supervision of a licensed dentist.

(6) Settings, other than a private dental practice, allowed under an access practice agreement that complies with the requirements under IC 25-13-3.

(b) A licensed dental hygienist may provide without supervision the following:

(1) Dental hygiene instruction and in-service training without restriction on location.

(2) Screening and referrals for any person in a public health setting.

(3) Dental hygiene services under an access practice agreement that complies with the requirements under IC 25-13-3.

(c) A dental hygienist may not use a laser to cut, ablate, or cauterize hard or soft tissue to provide treatment to a patient.

(d) The board may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 concerning subsection (a)(5)(D).

(e) If a dental hygienist practices under the prescriptive supervision of a licensed dentist, the dentist's written order must be recorded, signed, and dated in the patient's records.

Formerly: Acts 1945, c.90, s.10. As amended by Acts 1981, P.L.222, SEC.116; P.L.169-1985, SEC.42; P.L.155-1988, SEC.4; P.L.185-1991, SEC.4; P.L.2-1992, SEC.766; P.L.121-2007, SEC.3; P.L.134-2008, SEC.20; P.L.68-2014, SEC.2; P.L.140-2015, SEC.2; P.L.30-2018, SEC.1; P.L.10-2019, SEC.109.