Rule 150-5-.07. Administration of Local Anesthetic by Dental Hygienist

(1) A dental hygienist, under the direct supervision of a Georgia licensed dentist, may administer local anesthesia for hygiene purposes, including intraoral block anesthesia, soft tissue infiltration anesthesia, or both, to a non-sedated patient that requires local anesthesia for pain management and who is 18 years of age or older if the following criteria are met. (2) Educational and Practical Experience Requirements: (a) Graduate of an approved curriculum program. 1. Dental hygiene anesthesia courses or programs required for dental hygienists licensed in Georgia to qualify to administer local anesthesia: (i) Shall be taught using lecture and laboratory/clinical formats by a dental education program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (ADA) or its successor agency, a similar organization approved by the United States Department of Education, or the Board. (ii) The requirements shall include, at a minimum, sixty (60) hours of coursework comprised of thirty (30) didactic hours, fifteen (15) laboratory hours, and fifteen (15) clinical hours which shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (I) Theory of pain control; (II) Selection-of-pain-control modalities; (III) Anatomy; (IV) Neurophysiology; (V) Pharmacology of local anesthetics; (VI) Pharmacology of vasoconstrictors; (VII) Psychological aspects of pain control; (VIII) Systemic complications; (IX) Techniques of maxillary anesthesia; (X) Techniques of mandibular anesthesia; (XI) Infection control; (XII) Safety Injection practices; and (XIII) Medical emergencies involving local anesthesia. (iii) Laboratory and clinical instruction shall be provided with a faculty to student ratio of no greater than 1:5 under the direct supervision of a dentist licensed in this state. (iv) Courses must be taught to a minimum score of eighty percent (80%) in the parenteral administration of local anesthesia, and successful students shall be awarded a certificate of completion. (3) Continuing Education: Dental hygienists administering local anesthesia pursuant to this rule, must complete two (2) hours of approved continuing education per biennium, which shall include a review of local anesthetic techniques, contraindications, systemic complications, medical emergencies related to local anesthesia, and a general overview of dental office emergencies. These hours may be used as part of the twenty-two (22) hours of continuing education required each biennium. Cite as Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 150-5-.07
Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 43-11-1, 43-11-7, 43-11-9, 43-11-73.1, 43-11-74.
History. Original Rule entitled "Administration of Local Anesthetic by Dental Hygienist" adopted. F. May 12, 2023; eff. June 1, 2023.