Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill into law that specifies the examination requirements for dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia and updates the procedure for the state dental board’s investigations, according to a May 2 news release.
Here are three things to know about the law:
- The law allows dental hygienists, while under direct supervision of a dentist, to administer local anesthesia if they have completed an exam in local anesthesia given by a state or regional testing agency.
- Currently, hygienists are permitted to administer local anesthesia with direct supervision if they have completed an exam given by the Western Regional Examining Board, or an exam from another state that met the requirements of Arizona.
- The law also changes the procedures of the Arizona State Dental Board of Examiners when the board is investigating and making a decision about a complaint against a dental license. The update allows the dental board to hold a formal hearing if the information found during an investigation is enough to lead to the revocation or suspension of a license.
Read the full text of the law here.
