South Carolina General Assembly
106th Session, 1985-1986

Bill 3763


                    Current Status

Bill Number:               3763
Ratification Number:       603
Act Number:                517
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   To allow licensed dental hygienists and
                           certified dental assistants employed within
                           the public health system to perform duties
                           under the direction and control of the State
                           Director of Public Health Dentistry but out of
                           his presence
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A517, R603, H3763)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 40-15-110, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO REGULATION OF DENTISTS, DENTAL HYGIENISTS, AND DENTAL TECHNICIANS, SO AS TO ALLOW LICENSED DENTAL HYGIENISTS AND CERTIFIED DENTAL ASSISTANTS EMPLOYED WITHIN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM TO PERFORM DUTIES UNDER THE DIRECTION AND CONTROL OF THE STATE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY BUT OUT OF HIS PRESENCE, TO ALLOW LICENSED DENTAL HYGIENISTS TO PERFORM DUTIES AUTHORIZED BY REGULATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF DENTISTRY AND TO REQUIRE A DIAGNOSIS BY A DENTIST BEFORE A HYGIENIST MAY APPLY DENTAL SEALANTS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Hygienists may provide education and primary

preventive care

SECTION 1. Section 40-15-110 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by an act of 1986 bearing Ratification Number 388, is further amended by adding at the end:

"Licensed dental hygienists employed within the public health system may provide education and primary preventive care which is reversible and noninvasive. Primary preventive care is defined as promotion and protection of health to avoid occurrence of disease through communitywide measures or improvements in lifestyle. These duties are to be performed under the direction and control of the State Director of Public Health Dentistry, but do not require that the director be present when education or care is provided. A diagnosis must be made by a licensed dentist before placement of dental sealants. At the time of a followup examination, a dentist must assure the sealant is intact. The Department of Health and Environmental Control, in conjunction with the State Board of Dentistry, shall develop a policy for sealant applications.

In addition to the duties authorized in the previous paragraph, licensed dental hygienists within the public health system may perform other duties authorized by regulations of the State Board of Dentistry with the advise of the State Director of Public Health Dentistry.

Certified dental assistants employed within the public health system may assist the public health hygienist or dentist in their duties performed outside of a dental clinic. These duties must be performed under the direction and control of the State Director of Public Health Dentistry, but do not require that the director be present when education or care is provided."

Study

SECTION 2. A study of sealant application and its effectiveness must be maintained and a report made by the second Tuesday in January, 1988, to the Senate Medical Affairs Committee, the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee, and the Board of Dentistry.

Provisions effective July 31, 1988

SECTION 3. The provisions of this act are effective until July 31, 1988, unless reauthorized by the General Assembly.

Time effective

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.