(a) “Under the practice of supervised dental hygiene” a person
(1) under direct supervision:
(A) Removes granulation and degenerated tissue from the gingival wall of the periodontal pocket through the process of gingival curettage. Such curettage may include the incidental removal of live epithelial tissue and is to be performed under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist; or
(B) Administers local anesthetic under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist pursuant to regulations of the Board which include minimum education requirements and procedures for such administration.
(2) under indirect supervision:
(A) Removes deposits, accretions, and stains by scaling with hand, ultrasonic, or other devices from all surfaces of the tooth and smoothes and polishes natural and restored tooth surfaces, including root planning;
(B) Provides preventive measures including, the application of fluorides, sealants, and other recognized topical agents for the prevention of oral disease;
(C) Gathers and assembles information, including:
(i) Fact-finding and patient history;
(ii) Radiographic and X-ray survey for the purpose of assessing and diagnosing dental hygiene-related conditions for treatment planning for dental hygiene services as described in this section and identifying dental abnormalities for immediate referral to a dentist;
(iii) Preparation of study casts;
(iv) Oral inspection; and
(v) Dental and periodontal charting;
(D) Administers a topical anesthetic to a patient in the course of providing dental care;
(E) Performs dental hygiene assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, and dental hygiene treatment planning for dental hygiene services as described in this section and identifies dental abnormalities for immediate referral to a dentist; or
(F) Administers fluoride, fluoride varnish, and antimicrobial solutions for mouth rinsing.
(b) License Requirements. Every person who desires to practice dental hygiene in this Territory shall file with the Board an application for a license on a form provided by the Board, verified by the oath of the applicant, and accompanied by a reasonable fee as established by the regulations of the Board. Every applicant for a license to practice dental hygiene:
(1) Must be of good professional character and eighteen years of age or older; and
(2) Shall have graduated from a school of dental hygiene that, at the time of the applicant’s graduation, was accredited by the American Dental Association;
(3) Shall submit to the Board proof of having successfully passed the following:
(A) An examination administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations;
(B) An examination designed to test the applicant’s clinical skills and knowledge, which shall be administered by a regional testing agency composed of at least four states as determined by the Board; and
(C) A jurisprudence examination, approved by the Board, designed to test the applicant’s knowledge of the provisions of this subchapter and the regulations of the Board.
(c) The Board may issue a license to practice dental hygiene, by credentials, without a practical or clinical examination to an applicant who is duly licensed by a clinical examination as a dental hygienist under the laws of a state or territory of the United States when:
(1) The applicant’s license is active and all dental hygienist licenses that individual possesses have been in good standing for two consecutive years prior to application;
(2) The applicant’s credentials show that no dental board actions have been taken during the two years prior to application; that no proceedings are pending in any states in which the applicant has had a license in the two years prior to application;
(3) A review of public records, the National Practitioners Data Bank or other nationally recognized data resources that record actions against a dentist in the United States, does not reveal any activities or un-acquitted criminal charges or un-dismissed civil claims that could reasonably be construed to constitute evidence of danger to patients, including acts of moral turpitude; and
(4) The applicant successfully passes a jurisprudence examination, approved by the Board, designed to test the applicant’s knowledge of the provisions of this subchapter.
(d) Licenses must be renewed or reinstated pursuant to a schedule established by the Board by regulations. The Board may by regulations establish renewal fees, delinquency fees and continuing education requirements for renewal and reinstatement. If a person fails to renew the license pursuant to the schedule established by the Board, the license expires. Any person whose license has expired and continues to practice is subject to the penalties provided in this subchapter.