1. The holder of a license or renewal certificate to practice dental therapy may practice only in the settings provided in subsection 3, under the authorization of a dentist meeting the requirements of subsection 4 and in accordance with a written practice agreement signed by the dental therapist and the authorizing dentist. A dental therapist may provide only the services that are within his or her scope of practice, the scope of practice of the dentist, are authorized by the dentist, and are provided according to written protocols or standing orders established by the authorizing dentist. A dental therapist may not provide any services that are outside the scope of practice of the authorizing dentist. A dental therapist shall provide such services only under the direct supervision of the authorizing dentist until such time as the dental therapist has obtained the following hours of clinical practice as a dental therapist:
(a) Not less than 500 hours, if the dental therapist has a license to practice dental therapy issued pursuant to the laws of another state or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia;
(b) Not less than 1,000 hours, if the dental therapist has practiced dental hygiene pursuant to the laws of this State, another state or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, for 5 years or more; or
(c) Not less than 1,500 hours, if paragraphs (a) and (b) are not applicable.
2. A dental therapist may provide services to a patient who has not first seen a dentist for an examination if the authorizing dentist has given the dental therapist written authorization and standing protocols for the services and reviews the patient records as provided by the written practice agreement. The standing protocols may require the authorizing dentist to personally examine patients either face-to-face or by the use of electronic means.
3. The holder of a license or renewal certificate to practice dental therapy may practice only in the following settings:
(a) A hospital, as defined in NRS 449.012.
(b) A rural health clinic, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1395x(aa)(2).
(c) A health facility or agency, other than a hospital, that is reimbursed as a federally qualified health center as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1395x(aa)(4) or that has been determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to meet the requirements to receive funding under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. § 254b, as amended.
(d) A federally qualified health center, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1395x(aa)(4), that is licensed as a health facility or agency by the Department of Health and Human Services.
(e) An outpatient health program or facility operated by a tribe or tribal organization under subchapter I of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, 25 U.S.C. §§ 5321 to 5332, inclusive, as amended, or by an urban Indian organization receiving funds under Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, 25 U.S.C. §§ 1651 to 1660h, inclusive, as amended.
(f) A school-based health center as defined in NRS 41.495.
(g) Any other clinic or practice setting, including, without limitation, a mobile dental unit, in which at least 50 percent of the total patient base of the dental therapist will consist of patients who:
(1) Are enrolled in a health care program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services;
(2) Have a medical disability or chronic condition that creates a significant barrier to receiving dental care; or
(3) Do not have dental health coverage through a public health care program or private insurance and have a household income which is less than 200 percent of the federally designated level signifying poverty as provided in the most recent federal poverty guidelines published in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
4. The holder of a license or renewal certificate to practice dental therapy may practice only under the authorization of a dentist who:
(a) Holds an active license to practice dentistry in this State;
(b) Maintains a location from which to practice dentistry; and
(c) Actively practices dentistry in this State by treating patients.
(Added to NRS by 2019, 3199, effective January 1, 2020)