The board does not issue permits for the use of lasers by hygienists in soft tissue curettage, sulcular debridement and tissue disinfection in periodontal therapy. Due to the rising utilization of lasers by dental hygienists, the committee and board sets forth the following requirements:

1. A. a New Mexico licensed dental hygienist may use laser devices that are approved by the U.S. food and drug administration under the indirect supervision of a New Mexico licensed dentist;
2. B. the hygienist must successfully complete an educational progaram on laser use that is a minimum of 6 hours and includes hand-on clinical simulation training; the course shall comply with current gudelines as outlined in 16.5.1.15 NMAC for continuing education;
3. C. a certificate of sucessful course completion from the dental laser training entity shall be posted in a conspicious location within the dental facility;
4. D. all promotion or advertising of dental laser treatment shall comply with current requirements as outlined in Subsection B of 16.5.30.10.NMAC, identifying the "supervising dentist" as responsible for the provision of or the supervision of the laser procedure;

5. E. dental laser treatment shall not be designated to a dental assistant.

   HISTORY OF 16.5.29 NMAC:

   Pre-NMAC History: The material in this part was derived from that previously filed with the commission of public records - state records center and archives as:

   Article XI, Practice of Dental Hygiene, filed 3/12/81.

   Article XI, Practice of Dental Hygiene, filed 1/12/82.

   Article XI, Practice of Dental Hygiene, filed 3/30/82.

   Article XI, Practice of Dental Hygiene, filed 2/5/88.

   BOD Rule 9, Practice of Dental Hygiene, filed 2/9/89.

   BODHC Rule DH 9-95, Dental Hygiene, Practice, filed 5/5/95.

   History of Repealed Material: [RESERVED]

   Other History:

   BODHC Rule DH 9-95, Dental Hygiene, Practice (filed 5/5/95) was renumbered, reformatted, amended and replaced by 16 NMAC 5.29, Dental Hygienists, Practice, effective 9/30/96.

   16 NMAC 5.29, Dental Hygienists, Practice (filed 9/17/96) renumbered, reformatted, amended and replaced by 16.5.29 NMAC, Dental Hygienists, Practice, effective 04/17/06.

[16.5.29.12 NMAC - N, 01/04/14]