legislation

Tennessee Dental Hygienists’ Association

Legislative News
TDHA's CE Bill Passed  Beginning January 2010 only 50% of CEs earned can be web based (online) courses for dental hygienists.

Definition of a Registered Dental Hygienists
SB 1287 & HB 1287 - PASSED
Legislation passed this year (2011) with a unanimous vote in the State House of Representatives and in the State Senate updating the definition of a Registered Dental Hygienist from the current definition was written in the 1980's.
Please email Senator Steve Southland (sen.steve.southerland@capitol.tn.gov), Senator Jim Tracy (sen.jim.tracy@capitol.tn.gov ) and Representative John DeBerry(rep.john.deberry@capitol.tn.gov) thanking them for sponsoring our bill (SB 1287 and HB 1287).   The following is the new definition: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-5-108, relative to dental hygienists. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-5-108(c), is amended by deleting the subsection in its entirety and by substituting instead the following: (c) (1) A dental hygienist is an individual who has graduated from a dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and is licensed under this chapter to practice dental hygiene. (2) The practice of dental hygiene means the performance of preventive, educational, and therapeutic services including the removal of all hard and soft deposits and the stain from the human teeth to the depth of the gingival sulcus, polishing natural and restored surfaces of teeth, performing clinical examination of teeth and surrounding tissues for diagnosis by the dentist, and performing other procedures that may be delegated by the dentist, under the supervision of a licensed dentist. (3) No person shall practice dental hygiene in a manner that is separate or independent from a supervising dentist, or establish or maintain an office or a practice that is primarily devoted to the provision of dental hygiene services. (4) A dental hygienist shall perform, under direct supervision only, root planing, subgingival curettage, administering nitrous oxide, and local anesthesia. - 2 - 00309677 (5) Under general supervision a dental hygienist may provide to patients, for not more than fifteen (15) consecutive business days, all other dental hygiene services not otherwise limited to direct supervision by this chapter or rules adopted by the board, if all of the following requirements are met: (A) The dental hygienist has at least one (1) year, full-time, or an equivalent amount of experience practicing dental hygiene; (B) The dental hygienist complies with written protocols for emergencies that the supervising dentist establishes;
Donate to the TDHA PAC - Hygienists for Progress  What can you do to help the legislative process? Do you have a personal or professional relationship with any legislators? If not, develop one!   Find out who your Representative is: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/house/members/hmembers.htm
TDHA is always striving to better the dental hygiene profession. Many times this is done through the legislative process, which takes many dollars. If you would like to make a donation to the TDHA legislative process please send your check made out to TDHA to:
TDHA  P.O. Box 60128 Nashville, TN 37206 (615)777-TDHA  Fax (615)254-1186
Please specify that your donation is for TDHA legislature.
TDHA Lobbyist
Our lobbyist works very hard for our entire profession and has been instrumental in the passing of several bills in recent years which have improved the quality of our profession. They are always glad to hear from you!
TDHA Lobbyist Mike Bivens, Bivens & Associates mebivens@comcast.net

Contact TDHA
P.O. Box 22870
Nashville, TN 37202
(615)777-TDHA
Fax (615)254-1186
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