64B5-16.006. Remediable Tasks Delegable to a Dental Hygienist

(1) By virtue of their training and licensure, dental hygienists are authorized to perform the following remediable tasks without additional training as defined in Chapter 64B5-16, F.A.C. under Direct supervision:

Gingival curettage.

(2) The following remediable tasks may be performed by a dental hygienist who has received training in these procedures in pre-licensure education or who has received formal training as defined by Rule 64B5-16.002, F.A.C., and who performs the tasks under Direct supervision:

(a) Fabricating temporary crowns or bridges intra-orally which shall not include any adjustment of occlusion to the appliance or existing dentition;

(b) Selecting and pre-sizing orthodontic bands, including the selection of the proper size band for a tooth to be banded which does not include or involve any adapting, contouring, trimming or cementing or otherwise modifying the band material such that it would constitute fitting the band;

(c) Selecting and pre-sizing archwires prescribed by the patient’s dentist so long as the dentist makes all final adjustments to bend, arch form determination, and symmetry prior to final placement;

(d) Selecting prescribed extra-oral appliances by pre-selection or pre-measurement which does not include final fit adjustment;

(e) Preparing a tooth surface by applying conditioning agents for orthodontic appliances by conditioning or placing of sealant materials which does not include placing brackets;

(f) Packing and removing retraction cord, so long as it does not contain vasoactive chemicals and is used solely for restorative dental procedures;

(g) Removing and re-cementing properly contoured and fitting loose bands that are not permanently attached to any appliance;

(h) Inserting or removing dressings from alveolar sockets in post-operative osteitis when the patient is uncomfortable due to the loss of a dressing from an alveolar socket in diagnosed cases of post-operative osteitis; and,

(i) Assist the dentist in the initiation of nitrous-oxide inhalation analgesia to a special needs or American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Category IV dental patients provided the patient has not been previously sedated and the Dental Hygienist is in full compliance with the requirements of paragraph 64B5-14.003(4)(a), F.A.C.

(3) The following remediable task may be performed by a dental hygienist who has received on-the-job training and who performs the task under Direct supervision: Changing of bleach pellets in the internal bleaching process of non-vital, endodontically treated teeth after the placement of a rubber dam. A dental hygienist may not make initial access preparations.

(4) Administration of Local Anesthesia:

(a) Notwithstanding Section 466.003(11), F.S., the administration of local anesthesia becomes a remediable and delegable task if a Florida licensed dental hygienist has been appropriately certified by the Board and has received a certificate from the Florida Department of Health authorizing the dental hygienist to administer local anesthesia in compliance with and pursuant to Section 466.017(5), F.S. Upon the issuance of the certificate, the hygienist will be referred to as a Certified Registered Dental Hygienist.

(b) Under Direct supervision, a CRDH may administer local anesthesia in accordance with the following:

1. The patient must be eighteen years of age or older,

2. The patient must not be sedated; and,

3. The CRDH may administer intraoral block and soft tissue infiltration anesthesia.

(c) A Registered Dental Hygienist may apply for certification as a Certified Registered Dental Hygienist after completion of the required education mandated by Section 466.017(5), F.S., and in accordance with Rule 64B5-14.003, F.A.C.

(5) By virtue of their training and licensure, dental hygienists are authorized to perform the following remediable tasks without additional training as defined in Chapter 64B5-16, F.A.C., under Indirect supervision:

Removal of excess remaining bonding adhesive or cement following orthodontic appliance removal with slow-speed rotary instrument, hand instrument or ultrasonic scalers.

(6) The following remediable tasks may be performed by a dental hygienist who has received training in these procedures in pre-licensure education or who has received formal training as defined by Rule 64B5-16.002, F.A.C., and who performs the tasks under Indirect supervision:

(a) Placing or removing rubber dams;

(b) Placing or removing matrices;

(c) Applying cavity liners, varnishes or bases;

(d) Securing or unsecuring an archwire by attaching or removing the fastening device;

(e) Marginating restorations with finishing burs, green stones, and/or burlew wheels with slow-speed rotary instruments which are not for the purpose of changing existing contours or occlusion;

(f) Cementing temporary crowns and bridges with temporary cement;

(g) Assist the dentist in the initiation of nitrous-oxide inhalation analgesia to American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Category I – III dental patients provided the Dental Hygienist is in full compliance with the requirements of paragraph 64B5-14.003(4)(a), F.A.C.; and,

(h) Using adjunctive oral cancer screening medical devices approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

(7) By virtue of their training and licensure, dental hygienists are authorized to perform the following remediable tasks without additional training as defined in Chapter 64B5-16, F.A.C. under General supervison:

(a) Removing calculus deposits, accretions and stains from exposed surfaces of the teeth and from the tooth surfaces within the gingival sulcus (prophylaxis);

(b) Placing and exposing dental and carpal radiographic film and sensors;

(c) Root Planing.

(8) The following remediable tasks may be performed by a dental hygienist who has received training in these procedures in pre-licensure education or who has received formal training as defined by Rule 64B5-16.002, F.A.C., and who performs the tasks under General supervision:

(a) Polishing restorations which is not for the purpose of changing the existing contour of the tooth and only with the following instruments used with appropriate polishing materials – burnishers, slow-speed hand pieces, rubber cups, and bristle brushes;

(b) Polishing clinical crowns of the teeth which is not for the purpose of changing the existing contour of the teeth and only with the following instruments used with appropriate polishing materials – slow-speed hand pieces, bristle brushes, rubber cups, porte polishers and air-abrasive polishers;

(c) Applying of topical fluorides that are approved by the American Dental Association or the Food and Drug Administration, including the use of fluoride varnishes and silver diamine fluoride. These procedures may also be performed as provided in subsection (10) of this rule.

(d) Removing excess cement from dental restorations and appliances with non-mechanical hand instruments or ultrasonic scalers only;

(e) Placing periodontal or surgical dressings;

(f) Removing periodontal or surgical dressings;

(g) Removing sutures;

(h) Using appropriate implements to assess and chart suspected findings of the oral cavity;

(i) Applying sealants;

(j) Placing or removing prescribed pre-treatment separators; and,

(k) Insert and/or perform minor adjustments to sports mouth guards and custom fluoride trays.

(l) Placing subgingival resorbable chlorhexidine, doxycycline hyclate, or minocycline hydrochloride.

(m) Apply bleaching solution, activate light source, monitor and remove in-office bleaching materials.

(n) Taking impressions for study casts which are not being made for the purpose of fabricating any intra-oral appliances, restorations or orthodontic appliances;

(o) Taking impressions to be used for creating opposing models or the fabrication of bleaching stents and surgical stents to be used for the purpose of providing palatal coverage as well as impressions used for fabrication of topical fluoride trays for home application;

(p) Taking of impressions for and delivery of at-home bleaching trays;

(q) Taking impressions for passive appliances, occlusal guards, space maintainers and protective mouth guards;

(9) The following remediable tasks may be performed by a dental hygienist who has received training in these procedures in pre-licensure education or on-the-job training and who performs the tasks under General supervision:

(a) Fabricating temporary crowns and bridges in a laboratory;

(b) Applying topical anesthetics and anti-inflammatory agents which are not applied by aerosol or jet spray;

(c) Taking or recording patients’ blood pressure rate, pulse rate, respiration rate, case history and oral temperature;

(d) Retracting lips, cheeks and tongue;

(e) Irrigating and evacuating debris not to include endodontic irrigation;

(f) Placing and removing cotton rolls;

(g) Placing or removing temporary restorations with non-mechanical hand instruments only; and,

(h) Obtaining bacteriological cytological (plaque) specimens, which do not involve cutting of the tissue and which do not include taking endodontic cultures, to be examined under a microscope for educational purposes.

(10) By virtue of their training and licensure, dental hygienists are authorized to perform the following remediable tasks without additional training as defined in Chapter 64B5-16, F.A.C., without supervision:

(a) Provide educational programs, faculty or staff training programs, and authorized fluoride rinse programs;

(b) Apply fluoride varnishes, and silver diamine fluoride, instruct patients in oral hygiene care and supervising patient oral hygiene care and other services which do not involve diagnosis or treatment of dental conditions.

(c) Perform the remediable tasks specified in Sections 466.023(3), 466.0235, and 466.024(2), F.S., as long as all provisions of the respective statute are met.

(d) Follow a standing order for medical clearance determined by a dentist licensed under chapter 466, F.S., or a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 when performing remediable tasks specified in section 466.024(2)(f), F.S., as long as all provisions of the respective statute are met.

(11) The following remediable tasks may be performed by a dental hygienists who has received training in these procedures in pre-licensure education or who has received formal training as defined by Rule 64B5-16.002, F.A.C., and who performs the tasks without supervision:

(a) Perform the remediable tasks specified in Sections 466.023(3), 466.0235, and 466.024(2), F.S., as long as all provisions of the respective statute are met;

(b) Screening of a patient, including state or federally mandated screenings, to determine an individual’s need to be seen by a dentist for a diagnosis;

(c) Assessment of a patient, a limited clinical inspection that is performed to identify possible signs of oral or systemic disease, malformation, or injury, and the potential need for referral for diagnosis and treatment to a licensed practitioner.

(d) All CRDH must follow the procedure for reporting adverse incidents outlined in subsection 64B5-14.006(4), F.A.C.

(12) This rule shall be reviewed, and if necessary, repealed, modified, or renewed through the rulemaking process five years from the effective date.

Rulemaking Authority 466.004(4), 466.017(6), 466.023, 466.024 FS. Law Implemented 466.017(6), 466.023, 466.024 FS. History–New 1-18-89, Amended 11-16-89, 3-25-90, 9-5-91, 2-1-93, Formerly 21G-16.006, Amended 3-30-94, Formerly 61F5-16.006, Amended 1-9-95, 6-12-97, Formerly 59Q-16.006, Amended 1-25-98, 9-9-98, 3-25-99, 4-24-00, 9-27-01, 7-13-05, 2-14-06, 3-24-08, 7-20-09, 10-17-10, 8-5-12, 6-28-17, 8-29-17, 2-27-18, 12-9-18, 3-25-20, 3-30-21, 9-12-22, 6-3-24.