Alaska hygienists wanting to apply for an Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner Permit through the State of Alaska may now do so online. (Click here for the application!). Read below for the full text of the statute and the regulations from the Board of Dental Examiners.
The state statute now reads:
Sec. 08.32.125. Advanced practice permits.
(a) The board may issue an advanced practice permit to a licensed dental hygienist with a minimum of 4,000 documented hours of clinical experience. A licensed dental hygienist holding an advanced practice permit may
(1) promote oral health and provide disease prevention education and oral systemic health education;
(2) remove calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from the surfaces of the teeth beginning at the epithelial attachment by scaling and polishing techniques;
(3) apply topical preventive or prophylactic agents, including silver diamine fluoride, fluoride varnishes, and pit and fissure sealants;
(4) remove marginal overhangs;
(5) perform preliminary charting and triage to formulate a dental hygiene assessment and dental hygiene treatment plan;
(6) expose and develop radiographs;
(7) use local periodontal therapeutic agents;
(8) perform nonsurgical periodontal therapy;
(9) screen for oral cancer;
(10) if certified by the board, administer local anesthetic agents;
(11) prescribe (A) fluoride that is applied or provided to a patient; and (B) chlorhexidine or a similar antibacterial rinse; and
(12) delegate dental operations and services to a dental assistant as provided in AS 08.36.346.
(b) A licensed dental hygienist holding an advanced practice permit may provide the services described in (a) of this section to a patient who is unable to access dental treatment because of age, infirmity, or disability and is
(1) a resident in a senior center, including a hospital, long-term care facility, adult foster home, residential care facility, or adult congregate living facility;
(2) a resident in a health care facility, including a mental health residential program or facility for individuals with developmental or other disabilities;
(3) held in a local correctional facility for juveniles or adults;
(4) enrolled in a nursery school, day care program, vocational training facility, primary school, secondary school, private school, or public charter school;
(5) entitled to benefits under 42 U.S.C. 1786 (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children);
(6) homebound; or
(7) a resident of a dental health professional shortage area designated under 42 U.S.C. 254e.
(c) A licensed dental hygienist holding an advanced practice permit may provide the services described in (a) of this section to a patient described in (b) of this section without
(1) the physical presence, authorization, or supervision of a licensed dentist;
(2) a licensed dentist's examination of the patient.
(d) A licensed dental hygienist who provides services under an advanced practice permit shall maintain professional liability insurance and provide the patient, or the parent or legal guardian of the patient, with
(1) a written notice that the treatment provided will be limited to services permitted under (a) of this section;
(2) a written recommendation that the patient be examined by a licensed dentist for comprehensive oral health care services; and
(3) assistance in obtaining a referral to a licensed dentist for further dental planning and treatment, including a written description of methods for obtaining a referral and a list of licensed dentists in the patient's community or other resources for finding a licensed dentist.
(e) An advanced practice permit is valid until the expiration of the dental hygienist's license to practice. A licensed dental hygienist may renew an advanced practice permit at the time of license renewal under AS 08.32.071.
The Board of Dental Examiners has posted the following regulations:
12 AAC 28.936. ADVANCED PRACTICE PERMITS.
(a) The board may issue an advanced practice permit to a dental hygienist with a license in good standing under AS 08.32 and who has a minimum of 4,000 hours of clinical experience. The permit is subject to all the requirements of AS 08.32.125 and this section.
The applicant must submit
(1) a completed, notarized application on the form provided by the department; the form must include the name and license number of the applicant and the name and location of the applicant’s hygiene practice facility or business;
(2) the applicable fees required under 12 AAC 02.190;
(3) an affidavit stating that the applicant has a minimum of 4,000 hours of clinical experience during the five years preceding the date of application;
(4) a copy of the applicant’s current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques that meets the requirements of 12 AAC 28.920;
(5) a copy of the applicant’s current professional liability policy or declaration page that includes the policy number and expiration date; and
(6) evidence of completing at least four contact hours of continuing education course work covering one or more of the subject areas listed in (e) of this section.
(b) A dental hygienist holding an advanced practice permit shall
(1) maintain dental charts and other records when treating the dental hygienist’s own patients of record and notify the board of the location where these records are to be secured;
(2) maintain a current, valid mailing address on file with the board at all times;
(3) refer patients who have been assessed by the dental hygienist to a licensed dentist for treatment or planning that is outside of the dental hygienist’s scope of practice;
(4) only provide the services described in AS 08.32.125(a) to a patient who is unable to access dental treatments because of age, infirmity, or disability and in the locations described in AS 08.32.125(b); and
(5) document in the patient’s chart the name of the licensed dentist to whom the patient is referred.
(c) A dental hygienist holding an advanced practice permit issued under AS 08.32.125 may delegate to a dental assistant who meets the requirements of AS 08.36.342 and has a current permit issued by the board under 12 AAC 28.810
(1) the exposure and development of radiographs under indirect supervision;
(2) the application of topical preventive agents under indirect or direct supervision;
(3) the placement of pit and fissure sealants under direct supervision; and
(4) the coronal polishing of teeth under direct supervision.
(d) The board may not issue an advanced practice permit if, during the five years immediately preceding the date of application, the applicant is the subject of adverse disciplinary action under AS 08.32, AS 08.36, or this chapter, or a similar provision of another jurisdiction.
(e) In addition to the continuing education requirements in 12 AAC 28.400 – 12 AAC 28.420, a dental hygienist who wishes to practice under an advanced practice permit must complete an additional four contact hours of continuing education each biennial licensing period in one or more of the following subject areas:
(1) medical emergencies;
(2) pediatric and other special health care needs;
(3) pharmacology;
(4) oral pathology;
(5) public health, or other eleemosynary facility, relating to, or supporting charity;
(6) patient management;
(7) general medicine and physical diagnosis.
(f) In this section,
(1) "direct supervision" means the hygienist is in the facility, personally diagnoses the condition to be treated, personally authorizes the procedure, and before dismissal of the patient evaluates the performance of the dental assistant;
(2) "indirect supervision" means the hygienist is in the facility, authorizes the procedures, and remains in the facility while the procedures are being performed by the dental assistant.