What's happening
This bill allows dental hygienists to administer and monitor block anesthesia, in addition to infiltration anesthesia and nitrous oxide, under dentist supervision with appropriate certification.
Why it matters
Expands access to advanced pain management. By allowing dental hygienists to administer and monitor block anesthesia, patients can receive more complex dental procedures with improved pain control, potentially reducing wait times and improving comfort, especially in underserved or rural areas.
Enhances dental hygienist roles and professional development. The bill recognizes and utilizes the advanced training of dental hygienists, allowing them to perform a broader range of services. This could make the profession more attractive and provide greater job satisfaction and opportunities.
Maintains strong safety and oversight standards. All anesthesia administration must occur under the personal supervision of a dentist, with strict certification requirements and emergency preparedness training. This ensures patient safety while expanding the scope of care.
Potentially lowers costs and improves efficiency. With dental hygienists able to perform these anesthesia services, dental offices may operate more efficiently, allocating tasks based on training and certification, which could help lower costs and improve patient throughput.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Dental Anesthesia Rights
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow Hygienists Block Anesthesia
In Senate Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Patty Ritchie
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7732
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 11, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, HARRIS, THIELE, ORTIZ, ABINANTI -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to local block anesthesia
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 6605-b of the education law, as added by chapter 437 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
§ 6605-b. Dental hygiene restricted local infiltration and block anesthesia/nitrous oxide analgesia certificate. 1. A dental hygienist shall not administer or monitor nitrous oxide analgesia or local infiltration or block anesthesia in the practice of dental hygiene without a dental hygiene restricted local infiltration and block anesthesia/nitrous oxide analgesia certificate and except under the personal supervision of a dentist and in conjunction with the performance of dental hygiene procedures authorized by law and in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner. Personal supervision, for purposes of this section, means that the supervising dentist remains in the dental office where the local infiltration or block anesthesia or nitrous oxide analgesia services are being performed, personally authorizes and prescribes the use of local infiltration or block anesthesia or nitrous oxide analgesia for the patient and, before dismissal of the patient, personally examines the condition of the patient after the use of local infiltration or block anesthesia or nitrous oxide analgesia is completed. It is professional misconduct for a dentist to fail to provide the supervision required by this section, and any dentist found guilty of such misconduct under the procedures prescribed in section sixty-five hundred ten of this [title] article shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in section sixty-five hundred eleven of this [title] article.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11005-02-7
A. 7732 2
2. The commissioner shall promulgate regulations establishing standards and procedures for the issuance of such certificate. Such standards shall require completion of an educational program and/or course of training or experience sufficient to ensure that a dental hygienist is specifically trained in the administration and monitoring of nitrous oxide analgesia and local infiltration or block anesthesia, the possible effects of such use, and in the recognition of and response to possible emergency situations.
3. The fee for a dental hygiene restricted local infiltration and block anesthesia/nitrous oxide analgesia certificate shall be twentyfive dollars and shall be paid on a triennial basis upon renewal of such certificate. A certificate may be suspended or revoked in the same manner as a license to practice dental hygiene.
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 6606 of the education law, as amended by chapter 239 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
1. The practice of the profession of dental hygiene is defined as the performance of dental services which shall include removing calcareous deposits, accretions and stains from the exposed surfaces of the teeth which begin at the epithelial attachment and applying topical agents indicated for a complete dental prophylaxis, removing cement, placing or removing rubber dam, removing sutures, placing matrix band, providing patient education, applying topical medication, placing and exposing diagnostic dental X-ray films, performing topical fluoride applications and topical anesthetic applications, polishing teeth, taking medical history, charting caries, taking impressions for study casts, placing and removing temporary restorations, administering and monitoring nitrous oxide analgesia and administering and monitoring local infiltration and block anesthesia, subject to certification in accordance with section sixty-six hundred five-b of this article, and any other function in the definition of the practice of dentistry as may be delegated by a licensed dentist in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner. The practice of dental hygiene may be conducted in the office of any licensed dentist or in any appropriately equipped school or public institution but must be done either under the supervision of a licensed dentist or, in the case of a registered dental hygienist working for a hospital as defined in article twenty-eight of the public health law, pursuant to a collaborative arrangement with a licensed and registered dentist who has a formal relationship with the same hospital in accordance with regulations promulgated by the department in consultation with the department of health. Such collaborative arrangement shall not obviate or supersede any law or regulation which requires identified services to be performed under the personal supervision of a dentist. When dental hygiene services are provided pursuant to a collaborative agreement, such dental hygienist shall instruct individuals to visit a licensed dentist for comprehensive examination or treatment.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.