Dental Hygienist

 
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What you need to know

​​Applications

Requirements

  • License by Ex​amination – those who have passed an acceptable clinical examination within the past five years
  • License by Reciprocity – those who have:
    • been licensed in another state/jurisdiction
    • actively practiced dental hygiene for at least three years (one of those years must be within the last three years)
  • Pass a Jurisprudence Examination that relates to the statutes and regulations that govern dentistry with a minimum score of 75 percent or above.

Local Anesthesia Certification

Application for a Local Anesthesia Certification

A dental hygienist may administer local anesthesia when a supervising licensed dentist is physically present on the premises. 

Public Health Authorization     

Application

A dental hygienist who holds a permit and has professional liability insurance can do the following:

  • ​A dental hygienist who holds a public health authorization may perform all of the authorized functions within the scope of practice of a licensed dental hygienist, except for periodontal scaling, root planing, and the administration of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide.
  • Preliminary charting and screening examinations
  • Oral health education, including workshops and in-service training sessions on dental health
  • All the duties that a dental assistant who is not licensed is authorized to perform
    ***For a complete listing, refer to Nebraska Revised Statute §38-1130***​

​Upon completion of education and testing, a licensed dental hygienist may also do the following

  • ​Write prescriptions for mouth rinses and fluoride products
  • Minor denture adjustments

Requirements:     

  • Report services performed on a form provided by the Office of Oral Health
  • Tell the patient that your services are preventative, not complete dental diagnosis and care

Expanded Scope Function for Dental Hygienists

Application for Expanded Scope Function for Dental Hygienists

Dental Hygienists can apply for the following expanded functions to be added to their dental hygiene license after completing an education course for each expanded scope function:

  • Interim Therapeutic Restorations
  • Write Prescriptions for Mouth Rinses and Fluoride Products
  • Monitor, Administration and Titrate Nitrous Oxide

Approved courses are given by a Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA) accredited dental hygiene program.

Dental Hygienists who hold a Public Health Authorization for Treating Children and Adults and are applying to have the below expanded scope functions added to their dental hygiene license will also have them added to their Public Health Authorization:

  • Interim Therapeutic Restoration
  • Write Prescriptions for Mouth Rinses and Fluoride Products 
  • Make Minor Denture Adjustments 

Expanded Function Requirements (Restorative I & II)

The Nebraska Board of Dentistry is currently developing regulations for Expanded Function Restorative Level I and Level II permits established by Legislative Bill 18 (signed March 28, 2017).

Approved Programs for Expanded Functions - Restorative I and II

Expanded Function Restorative Level I Permit

Application for Level I Permit

A Licensed Dental Assistant or Licensed Dental Hygienist who holds a permit may place simple restorations (one surface) when a supervising licensed dentist is physically present on the premises.

An applicant for an Expanded Function Level I Restoration permit must:

  • Hold a current valid Nebraska Dental Assistant license or Nebraska Dental Hygienist license
  • Have a minimum of 1,500 hours experience as a Licensed Dental Assistant or Licensed Dental Hygienist
  • Successfully complete the Nebraska Expanded Function jurisprudence examination with a minimum score of 75%
  • Successfully complete a relevant board-approved course
  • Pass the relevant section of a board-approved practical examination

Expanded Function Restorative Level II Permit

Application for Level II Permit

A Licensed Dental Assistant or Licensed Dental Hygienist who holds a permit may place complex restorations (multiple surfaces) when a supervising licensed dentist is physically present on the premises.

An applicant for an Expanded Function Level II Restoration permit must:

  • Hold a current valid Nebraska Dental Assistant license or Nebraska Dental Hygienist license
  • Hold a current valid Nebraska Expanded Function Level I permit
  • Successfully complete the Nebraska Expanded Function jurisprudence examination with a minimum score of 75%
  • Successfully complete a relevant board-approved course
  • Pass the relevant section of a board-approved practical examination

Expanded Function Jurisprudence Exam for Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants

Renewal

  • Licenses and Public Health Authorizations are renewable March 1 of odd-numbered years.
  • A license may be placed on inactive status at any time.

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