South Carolina General Assembly
107th Session, 1987-1988

Bill 1167

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               1167
Ratification Number:       550
Act Number                 493
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Dental hygienist and assistants-practice
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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A493, R550, S1167)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 40-15-110, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY, SO AS TO DEFINE PRIMARY PREVENTATIVE CARE AND EDUCATION, TO ALLOW LICENSED DENTAL HYGIENISTS AND CERTIFIED DENTAL ASSISTANTS TO PERFORM SERVICES UNDER THE DIRECTION AND CONTROL OF THE STATE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY AND OTHER DUTIES AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE BOARD OF DENTISTRY, AND TO PROVIDE THAT IF A LICENSED DENTIST IS AVAILABLE HE MUST MAKE AN EXAMINATION AND DIAGNOSIS BEFORE A SEALANT IS PLACED ON A TOOTH.

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

Dental hygienist and assistants-practice by

SECTION 1. The last three paragraphs of Section 40-15-110 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Licensed dental hygienists employed within the public health system may provide education and primary preventive care which is reversible and noninvasive. Primary preventive care and education are defined as promotion and protection of health to avoid occurrence of disease through communitywide and individual measures or improvements in lifestyle. These services 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 authorized services are provided. If a licensed dentist is available, an examination and diagnosis must be made by him before a sealant is placed on a tooth.

Certified dental assistants employed within the public health system may assist in public health program activities as authorized by the State Director of Public Health Dentistry. 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 authorized duties are performed.

Licensed dental hygienists and certified dental assistants within the public health system may perform other duties authorized by regulations of the State Board of Dentistry."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.