PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 658

PRINTER'S NO.  1110

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

602

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY PASHINSKI, YUDICHAK, BEYER, BRENNAN, BROOKS, CREIGHTON, DALEY, FABRIZIO, FLECK, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MUNDY, PETRI, READSHAW, SEIP, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, STERN, MARKOSEK, SANTONI, GOODMAN, PICKETT, HENNESSEY, PRESTON, BRIGGS, DeWEESE, SANTARSIERO, DePASQUALE, VULAKOVICH, FRANKEL, REICHLEY, GEORGE AND FREEMAN, FEBRUARY 24, 2009

  

  

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MARCH 17, 2009   

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.216, No.76), entitled "An

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act relating to dentistry; defining and providing for the

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licensing and registration of dentists and dental hygienists,

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and for the revocation and suspension of such licenses and

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registrations, subject to appeal, and for their

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reinstatement; defining the powers and duties of the State

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Dental Council and Examining Board and the Department of

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Public Instruction; providing penalties; and repealing

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existing laws," further defining "expanded function dental

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assistant"; further providing for the State Board of

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Dentistry; and providing for scope of practice of expanded

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function dental assistant.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  The definition of "expanded function dental

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assistant" in section 2 of the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.216, No.

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76), known as The Dental Law, added December 27, 1994 (P.L.1361,

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No.160), is amended to read:

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Section 2.  Definitions.--* * *

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"Expanded Function Dental Assistant" means an individual who

 


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holds a current valid certification under this act to perform

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reversible intraoral procedures authorized by this act under the

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direct supervision of a licensed dentist and under an assignment

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of duties by a dentist, as defined in section 11.8. [Such

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procedures include, but are not limited to, placing and removing

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rubber dams and matrices, placing and contouring amalgam and

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other restorative materials and other reversible procedures not

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designated by this act to be performed only by licensed dentists

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or dental hygienists. Expanded function dental assistants shall

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not perform the following procedures:

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(a)  Complete or limited examination, diagnosis and treatment

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planning.

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(b)  Surgical or cutting procedures of hard or soft tissue.

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(c)  Prescribing drugs, medicaments or work authorizations.

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(d)  Taking impressions other than for study models or

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diagnostic casts.

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(e)  Final inspection and approval of restorative and other

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treatment which affects occlusion and any necessary occlusal

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adjustments.

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(f)  Performing pulp capping, pulpotomy and other endodontic

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procedures.

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(g)  Placement and intraoral adjustments of fixed and

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removable prosthetic appliances.

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(h)  Administration of local anesthesia, parenteral or

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inhalational sedation or general anesthesia.

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Expanded function dental assistants shall perform under the

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direct supervision of a dentist. Direct supervision means that a

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dentist is in the dental office or treatment facility,

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personally diagnoses the condition to be treated, personally

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authorizes the procedure and remains in the dental office or

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treatment facility while the procedure is being performed by the

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expanded function dental assistant and, before dismissal of the

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patient, evaluates the work performed by the expanded function

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dental assistant.] In addition, an expanded function dental

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assistant may perform those procedures specified in section

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11.10 and other reversible procedures not designated by this act

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to be performed by licensed dentists or dental hygienists. For

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purposes of this definition, "direct supervision" shall mean

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that a dentist is in the dental office or treatment facility,

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personally diagnoses the condition to be treated, personally

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authorizes the procedure and remains in the dental office or

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treatment facility while the procedure is being performed and,

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before dismissal of the patient, personally evaluates the work

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performed.

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* * *

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Section 2.  Section 2.1(a) of the act, added December 20,

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1985 (P.L.513, No.118), is amended to read:

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Section 2.1.  State Board of Dentistry.--(a)  The State Board

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of Dentistry shall consist of the Secretary of Health, or his

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designee, the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection in

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the Office of the Attorney General, or his designee, the

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Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs and [ten] 

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twelve additional members, who shall be appointed by the

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Governor with the advice and consent of a majority of the

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members elected to the Senate. Two members shall represent the

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public at large. [Seven] Eight members shall have been licensed

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and engaged in the actual practice of dentistry in this

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Commonwealth during a period of not less than ten years

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immediately preceding their appointment. One member shall be a

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dental hygienist licensed to practice dental hygiene in this

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Commonwealth and shall have been engaged in the practice of

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dental hygiene for a period of at least three years immediately

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preceding appointment. One member shall be an expanded function

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dental assistant.

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* * *

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Section 3.  The act is amended by adding a section to read:

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Section 11.10.  Scope of Practice for Expanded Function

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Dental Assistant.--(a)  An expanded function dental assistant

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may perform the following procedures:

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(1)  Placing and contouring amalgam and other restorative

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materials.

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(2)  Perform coronal polishing.

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(3)  Perform fluoride treatments, including fluoride varnish.

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(4)  Take impressions of teeth for athletic appliances.

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(b)  An expanded function dental assistant may not perform

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the following procedures:

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(1)  Complete or limited examination, diagnosis and treatment

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planning.

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(2)  Surgical or cutting procedures of hard or soft tissue.

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(3)  Prescribing drugs, medicaments or work authorizations.

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(4)  Taking impressions other than for study models,

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diagnostic casts or athletic appliances.

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(5)  Final inspection and approval of restorative and other

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treatment which affects occlusion and any necessary occlusal

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adjustments.

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(6)  Pulp capping, pulpotomy and other endodontic procedures.

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(7) Placement and intraoral adjustments of fixed and

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removable prosthetic appliances.

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(8)  Administration of local anesthesia, parenteral or

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inhalational sedation or general anesthesia.

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(9)  The removal of calcareous deposits and accumulated

<--

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accretion from the surfaces of the teeth above and below the gum

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line.

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Section 4.  The State Board of Dentistry shall promulgate

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regulations to implement this act within 18 months of the

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effective date of this section.

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Section 5.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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