(a) “Dental hygienist” means one who is especially educated and trained in the science and art of maintaining the dental health of the individual or community through prophylactic or preventive measures applied to the teeth and adjacent structures.

     (c) “Board” means the state board of dentistry established by IC 25-14-1.

     (d) “Proprietor dentist” means a licensed dentist who is the owner and operator of the dental office in which the licensed dentist practices the profession of dentistry and who employs at least one (1) licensed dentist or dental hygienist to supplement the licensed dentist’s operation and conduct of the licensed dentist’s dental office.

     (e) “Employer dentist” means a proprietor dentist who employs at least one (1) dental hygienist to supplement the proprietor dentist’s dental service to the proprietor dentist’s clientele.

     (f) “Referral” means a recommendation that a patient seek further dental care from a licensed dentist, but not a specific dentist.

     (g) “Screening” means to identify and assess the health of the hard or soft tissues of the human oral cavity.

     (h) “Public health setting” means a location, including a mobile health care vehicle, where the public is invited for health care, information, and services by a program sponsored or endorsed by a governmental entity or charitable organization.

     (i) “Direct supervision” means that a licensed dentist is physically present in the facility when patient care is provided by the dental hygienist.

     (j) “Prescriptive supervision” means that a licensed dentist is not required to be physically present in the facility when patient care is provided by the dental hygienist if:

(1) the dental hygienist has completed, with at least an average of twenty (20) hours per week, at least two (2) years of active practice as a dental hygienist under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist;

(2) a licensed dentist:

(A) has:

(i) in a dental office setting, provided the patient with a comprehensive or periodic oral examination and any appropriate care in the previous seven (7) months;

(ii) issued a written or electronic order for the specific care to be provided that is valid for not more than ninety (90) days and provided in a dental office; and

(iii) notified the patient that the licensed dentist will not be present when the dental hygienist is providing the patient care; or

(B) has:

(i) in a setting other than a dental office, provided the patient with a comprehensive or periodic oral examination; and

(ii) issued to the patient, on the same day the licensed dentist provided the patient with a comprehensive or periodic oral examination, a written order for the specific care to be provided that is valid for not more than ninety (90) days; and

(3) the patient has provided a current medical history.

Nothing in subdivision (2)(A)(i) or (2)(B)(i) prohibits a dental hygienist from providing patient care before the licensed dentist provides the comprehensive or periodic oral examination if the licensed dentist provides the comprehensive or periodic oral examination on the same day that the dental hygienist has provided the patient care.

     (k) “Licensed dentist” refers to a dentist licensed under IC 25-14.

Formerly: Acts 1945, c.90, s.2; Acts 1971, P.L.371, SEC.1. As amended by Acts 1981, P.L.222, SEC.109; P.L.185-1991, SEC.1; P.L.24-1999, SEC.7; P.L.134-2008, SEC.19; P.L.68-2014, SEC.1; P.L.140-2015, SEC.1; P.L.155-2016, SEC.1; P.L.35-2020, SEC.1.