The State Board of Dentistry may issue a permit to a dental hygienist to administer local anesthesia to dental patients on an outpatient basis under the supervision of a dentist if the dental hygienist has met the following requirements:

1. (1) Is certified in administering basic life support by the American Heart Association for the Healthcare Provider, the American Red Cross for the Professional Rescuer, or an equivalent program approved by the State Board of Dentistry; and

2. (2) Has successfully completed a State Board of Dentistry-approved educational course on local anesthesia from an accredited dental or dental hygiene school and either:

   1. (a) Completed the course within thirteen months prior to application for a permit; or

   2. (b) Completed the course more than thirteen months prior to application for a permit, has legally administered local anesthesia for a period of time during the three years preceding application, and provides written documentation from a dentist that has employed or supervised the applicant, attesting to the current clinical proficiency of the applicant to administer local anesthesia.

      A dental hygienist with a permit to administer local anesthesia may administer local anesthesia to dental patients under the dentist’s indirect supervision, as that term is defined in SDCL 36-6A-1.

      A dental hygienist with a permit to administer local anesthesia may administer local anesthesia to dental patients eighteen years and older under the dentist’s general supervision, as that term is defined in SDCL 36-6A-1, if the supervising dentist has authorized the administration and the authorization is included in the patient's record. If there has been a relevant change in the patient's medical history since the authorization, the dental hygienist must consult with the dentist before administering local anesthesia. The dentist shall ensure a written emergency response protocol is in place for patients receiving local anesthesia by the dental hygienist under general supervision.

Source: 37 SDR 131, effective January 6, 2011; 42 SDR 83, effective December 3, 2015 ; 50 SDR 12, effective August 8, 2023 .

General Authority: SDCL 36-6A-14 (10)( 20 ).

Law Implemented: SDCL 36-6A-14 (1)(3)(7)(10)(13)(14)(22), 36-6A-40 .

Prior versions effective: 2015-12-03, 2011-01-06.