Bill Text: AZ SB1124 | 2025 | Fifty-seventh Legislature 1st Regular | Engrossed
Bill Title: Dental board; oral preventive assistants
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2025-03-03 - Assigned to House RULES Committee [SB1124 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2025-SB1124-Engrossed.html
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Senate Engrossed
dental board; oral preventive assistants |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session 2025
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SENATE BILL 1124 |
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AN ACT
Amending title 32, chapter 11, article 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 32-1291.02; relating to the state board of dental examiners.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 32, chapter 11, article 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 32-1291.02, to read:
32-1291.02. Oral preventive assistants; qualifications; scope of practice; supervision; definition
A. In order to practice as an oral
preventive assistant, a dental assistant shall complete a board-approved
oral preventive assistant training course that includes at least one hundred twenty
hours of didactic and clinical instruction with patients hundred
twenty hours of didactic and clinical instruction with patients and
that is provided by a qualifying institution. Before taking an oral
preventive assistant training course, a dental assistant must meet all of the following:
1. Hold a current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
2. Hold a board-approved certification for both coronal polishing and radiography.
3. Either:
(a) Hold a current national board certification in dental assisting.
(b) Have successfully completed a dental assisting educational program accredited by a state or national organization that accredits dental programs.
3. Either:
(a) Hold a current national board certification in
dental assisting.
(b) Have successfully completed a dental assisting
educational program accredited by a state or national organization that
accredits dental programs.
B. The scope of practice for an oral
preventive assistant is limited to removing plaque,plaque,
calculus and stains, with scalers or sonic or ultrasonic scaling devices, on patients
who have first received a periodontal evaluation by a dentist or dental
hygienist. An
Oral preventive assistant may practice only on periodontally healthy
patients or patients with localized mild gingivitis. An oral preventive assistant may
not use any air polishing technology or device or practice on patients who have
been treated for periodontal disease, have generalized recession, are medically
compromised or are under sedation.
C. An oral preventive assistant who provides coronal calculus removal services pursuant to this section shall both:
1. Inform each patient and document in the patient's clinical record that the patient's care was not provided by a licensed dental provider.
2. Prominently post the oral preventive assistant's certificate of completion of an approved course of instruction at the location where the coronal calculus removal services are performed.
D. An oral preventive assistant may practice in this state only under the direct supervision of a dentist or dental hygienist. A dentist may supervise not more than three oral preventive assistants at the same time. A dental hygienist may supervise not more than one oral preventive assistant at any time. A dentist or dental hygienist who allows an oral preventive assistant to perform coronal calculus removal services in violation of this section commits an act of unprofessional conduct.
E. For the purposes of this section,
"qualifying institution" means an institution of higher education,
including a community college, that providesviolation
of this section commits an act of unprofessional conduct.
E. For the purposes of this section,
"qualifying institution" means an institution of higher education,
including a community college, that provides a dental or dental
hygiene program that is accredited by the commission on dental accreditation,
or its successor.
assistant may
not use any air polishing technology or devices or practice on patients who
have been treated for periodontal disease, have generalized recession, are medically
compromised or are under sedation.
C. A
oral preventive assistant who provides coronal calculus removal services
pursuant to this section shall both:
1. Inform
each patient and document in the patient's clinical record that the patient's
care was not provided by a licensed dental provider.
2. Prominently
post the oral preventive assistant's certificate of completion of an approved
course of instruction at the location where the coronal calculus removal
services are performed.
[C.D. An
oral preventive assistant may practice in this state only under the direct
supervision of a dentist or dental hygienist.
A dentist may supervise onlynot more than
three or
fewer
oral preventive assistants at anythe same
time.taking
and recording periodontal probe readings, documenting areas of periodontal concern and performing supragingival scaling and polishing on patients who have first received a periodontal
evaluation by a dentist or dental hygienist. An
Oral preventive assistant may practice only on periodontally healthy patients
or patients with reversible gingivitis.
C. An
oral preventive assistant may practice in this state only under the direct
supervision of a dentist. A dentist may supervise only three or fewer oral
preventive assistants at any time.A dental hygienist may supervise not more than one
oral preventive assistant at any time. A dentist or dental hygienist who
allows an oral preventive assistant to perform coronal calculus removal
services in violation of this section commits an act of unprofessional conduct.
Sec. 2. Oral preventive assistants; complaints; report; delayed repeal
A. The state board of dental examiners in coordination with a statewide association representing dentists in this state shall collect data regarding the number of oral preventive assistants who are practicing in this state, the location of their practice and the number of complaints that are filed against dentists pertaining to oral preventive assistants. On or before January 1, 2029, the state board of dental examiners shall report this information to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state.
B. This
section is repealed from and after June 30, 2029.<<Sec. 2. Oral
preventive assistants; complaints; report; delayed repeal
A. The
state board of dental examiners in coordination with a statewide association
representing dentists in this state shall collect data regarding the number of
oral preventive assistants who are practicing in this state, the location of
their practice and the number of complaints that are filed against dentists
pertaining to oral preventive assistants. On or before January 1, 2028, the
state board of dental examiners shall report this information to the governor,
the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representative and
shall provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state.
