(a) (1) A dental hygienist in alternative practice may provide services to a patient without obtaining written verification that the patient has been examined by a dentist or physician and surgeon licensed to practice in this state.

(2) If the dental hygienist in alternative practice provides services to a patient 18 months or more after the first date that the person provides services to a patient, the person shall obtain written verification that the patient has been examined by a dentist or physician and surgeon licensed to practice in this state. The verification shall include a prescription for dental hygiene services as described in subdivision (b).

Terms Used In California Business and Professions Code 1931

  • board: means any entity listed in Section 101, the entities referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600, the State Bar, the Department of Real Estate, and any other state agency that issues a license, certificate, or registration authorizing a person to engage in a business or profession. See California Business and Professions Code 31
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • license: means license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Section 1000 or 3600. See California Business and Professions Code 23.7
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Business and Professions Code 21
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs, unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Business and Professions Code 15

(b) A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice may provide dental hygiene services for a patient who presents to the registered dental hygienist in alternative practice a written prescription for dental hygiene services issued by a dentist or physician and surgeon licensed to practice in this state. The prescription shall be valid for a time period based on the dentist’s or physician and surgeon’s professional judgment, but not to exceed two years from the date it was issued.

(c) (1) The dental hygiene board may seek to obtain an injunction against any registered dental hygienist in alternative practice who provides services pursuant to this section, if the dental hygiene board has reasonable cause to believe that the services are being provided to a patient who has not received a prescription for those services from a dentist or physician and surgeon licensed to practice in this state.

(2) Providing services pursuant to this section without obtaining a prescription in accordance with subdivision (b) shall constitute unprofessional conduct on the part of the registered dental hygienist in alternative practice, and reason for the dental hygiene board to revoke or suspend the license of the registered dental hygienist in alternative practice pursuant to Section 1947.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 456, Sec. 25. (SB 786) Effective January 1, 2020.)

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