§ 32-1276.03 — Practice of dental therapy; authorized procedures; supervision requirements; restrictions

Arizona § 32-1276.03

• Jurisdiction: Arizona
• Title 32: Arizona Revised Statutes
• Ch. 11: DENTISTRY
• Art. 3.: Licensing and Regulation of Dental Therapists

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A. A person is deemed to be a practicing dental therapist if the person does any of the acts or performs any operations included in the general practice of dental therapists or dental therapy or any related and associated duties.

B. Either under the direct supervision of a dentist or pursuant to a written collaborative practice agreement, a licensed dental therapist may do any of the following:

1. Perform oral evaluations and assessments of dental disease and formulate individualized treatment plans.

2. Perform comprehensive charting of the oral cavity.

3. Provide oral health instruction and disease prevention education, including motivational interviewing, nutritional counseling and dietary analysis.

4. Expose and process dental radiographic images.

5. Perform dental prophylaxis, scaling, root planing and polishing procedures.

6. Dispense and administer oral and topical nonnarcotic analgesics and anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medications as prescribed by a licensed health care provider.

7. Apply topical preventive and prophylactic agents, including fluoride varnishes, antimicrobial agents, silver diamine fluoride and pit and fissure sealants.

8. Perform pulp vitality testing.

9. Apply desensitizing medicaments or resins.

10. Fabricate athletic mouth guards and soft occlusal guards.

11. Change periodontal dressings.

12. Administer nitrous oxide analgesics and local anesthetics.

13. Perform simple extraction of erupted primary teeth.

14. Perform nonsurgical extractions of periodontally diseased permanent teeth that exhibit plus three or grade three mobility and that are not impacted, fractured, unerupted or in need of sectioning for removal.

15. Perform emergency palliative treatments of dental pain that is related to care or a service described in this section.

16. Prepare and place direct restorations in primary and permanent teeth.

17. Fabricate and place single-tooth temporary crowns.

18. Prepare and place preformed crowns on primary teeth.

19. Perform indirect and direct pulp capping on permanent teeth.

20. Perform indirect pulp capping on primary teeth.

21. Perform suturing and suture removal.

22. Provide minor adjustments and repairs on removable prostheses.

23. Place and remove space maintainers.

24. Perform all functions of a dental assistant and expanded function dental assistant.

25. Perform other related services and functions that are authorized by the supervising dentist within the dental therapist's scope of practice and for which the dental therapist is trained.

26. Provide referrals.

27. Perform any other duties of a dental therapist that are authorized by the board by rule.

C. A dental therapist may not:

1. Dispense or administer a narcotic drug.

2. Independently bill for services to any individual or third-party payor.

D. A person may not claim to be a dental therapist unless that person is licensed as a dental therapist under this article.