The following community dental health coordinator procedures are allowable under general supervision as set forth in 16.5.54.8 NMAC:

1. A. take a complete health and dental history;
2. B. expose and develop necessary radiographs as ordered by the supervising dentist or as established in protocol by a supervising dentist;
3. C. observe and transmit patient data through teledentistry means to a dentist;
4. D. place temporary and sedative restorative materials in unexcavated carious lesions and unprepared tooth fractures;
5. E. transmit prescription or medication orders on the direct order of a dentist;

6. F. CDHC may provide the following limited palliative procedures:

   (1) application of hot/cold compresses to the face or mouth;

   (2) instruct patient in the uses of various rinses containing salt, sodium bicarbonate, chlorhexidine, etc. as ordered by the dentist;

   (3) instruct patients as to the proper use and dosage of over the counter or prescribed medications recommended by the supervising dentists;

   (4) place avulsed teeth in the proper preservation solution for transport to a dentist;

   (5) apply pressure compresses to intraoral wounds;

   (6) performance of any other palliative procedures as directly instructed by the supervising dentist, and within the scope of practice of the CDHC;

   (7) instruct the patient on brushing, flossing, gingival massage or cleaning for gingival inflammation or infection;

7. G. patient and community education on an individual basis or with groups within the community to improve dental health and dental health awareness;
8. H. act as an advocate for patients and the community in accessing dental care; and
9. I. rubber cup coronal polishing, which is not to be represented as a prophylaxis, topical application of fluorides; application of pit and fissure sealants when previously authorized by the supervising dentist or dental hygienist and cavitation of the enamel is not present.

[16.5.54.9 NMAC - N, 01/09/12; A, 06/14/12]