2010 RDH Law Change

1. REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD OF DENTISTRY
   Two RDH’s on the KBD
   MaryAnn Burch, RDH was appointed on September 22, 2010.
   Mara Beth Womack, RDH was appointed on November 16, 2011.
2. COMMUNITY SERVICE
   A dental hygienist may provide the following procedures in a volunteer community health setting without the supervision of a dentist:
   (a) Dental health education;
   (b) Nutritional counseling;
   (c) Preparing a generalized oral screening with subsequent referral to a dentist;
   (d) Applying fluoride on patients;
   (e) Demonstration of oral hygiene technique; and
   (f) Sealants.
   “Volunteer community health setting” means a setting in which services are rendered at no charge to the patient or to third-party payors.
3. PUBLIC HEALTH DENTAL HYGIENIST CREATED
   A dental hygienist licensed by the board may practice as a public health hygienist and may provide dental hygiene services if:
   (a) The services are provided as part of a dental health program;
   (b) The program for which the hygienist works is operated through the Department for Public Health or a governing board of health; and
   (c) The hygienist performs only accepted standardized protocols which are contained within the scope of practice of dental hygiene and which are reviewed and approved by the Board of Dentistry and either the Department for Public Health or the dentist member of the governing board of health, as set out in administrative regulation.

2009 RDH Law Change

1. PRESCHOOL DENTAL SCREENINGS
   A dental hygienist may provide screening services in any setting without the supervision of a dentist if:
   (a) The screening is conducted to fulfill the requirements of KRS 156.160(1)(i); and
   (b) Patients are informed that the service being provided is a screening and that only a dentist is licensed to make a definitive diagnosis of the need for dental care.
2. GENERAL SUPERVISION PATIENT NOTIFICATION
   A patient is notified in advance of an appointment for dental hygiene services when the supervising dentist will be absent from the location. The patient shall be required to sign an informed consent form, prior to treatment by the hygienist, acknowledging the dentist’s absence. 
   [3 DAYS NO LONGER REQUIRED]