1. (a) A dental assistant may operate under the general supervision of any dentist licensed under this chapter to provide auxiliary support dental services in a public health setting.

2. (b) General supervision shall be permitted in a public health setting; provided that:

   1. (1) The supervising dentist is licensed under this chapter and available for consultation;
   2. (2) The dental assistant is working under the direction of a dental hygienist licensed under chapter 447; and
   3. (3) The licensed dental hygienist is under the supervision of a licensed dentist.

3. (c) A dental assistant working under the general supervision of a licensed dentist and the direction of a licensed dental hygienist who is under the general supervision of a licensed dentist may perform the following supportive dental procedures:

   1. (1) Taking intra-oral and extra-oral photographs, and recording or charting clinical findings as directed by the licensed dental hygienist;
   2. (2) Exposing, processing, mounting, and labeling radiographs;
   3. (3) Measuring and recording vital signs;

   4. (4) Assisting the licensed dental hygienist who is performing a dental procedure on a patient, such as:

      1. (A) Preparing procedural trays and armamentaria;
      2. (B) Retracting a patient's oral tissues to maintain the field of operation during a dental procedure;
      3. (C) Removing debris, as is normally created and accumulated during or after dental procedures by the licensed dental hygienist; and
      4. (D) Transferring dental instruments or any other concept of four-handed dentistry the licensed dental hygienist requires to perform the procedure; and

   5. (5) Assisting the licensed dental hygienist in the performance of the duties of the dental hygienist as requested; provided that the assistance does not include procedures listed in Hawaii Administrative Rules, sections 16-79-69.5 and 16-79-69.10;

      provided that the dental assistant, licensed dental hygienist, and licensed dentist are providing dental services in a public health setting.

4. (d) The supervising licensed dentist shall be responsible for all delegated acts performed by the dental assistant.
5. (e) As used in this section, "public health setting" has the same meaning as defined in section 447-3.

[L 2022, c 67, §2]