Supervision of Dental Hygienists

This survey is being conducted to help the leaders of the SDDA better understand the attitudes of its members regarding the scope of practice and supervision of dental hygienists. Please take three minutes to provide your input. All responses are confidential.

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* 1. What is your age?

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* 2. Are you a:

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* 3. What level of supervision should be required of a Registered Dental Hygienist (with at least three years of clinical experience) when providing the following services?

  No Supervision Collaborative Supervision (public health settings - written instructions from a supervising dentist - patient has not been examined by dentist ) General Supervision (patient has been examined by dentist within 13 months - dentist not present) Direct Supervision (dentist has diagnosed the condition to be treated - dentist present)
D1330 Oral hygiene instruction
D1320 Tobacco counseling
D1208 Application of topical fluoride
D1206 Application of fluoride varnish
D0191 Assessment through a clinical inspection to identify possible signs of oral disease and referral to a dentist
D1110 Dental prophylaxis on an adult
D1120 Dental prophylaxis on a child
D1351 Application of sealants
D4910 Periodontal maintenance
D4341 periodontal scaling and root planing
D1352 Placement of preventive resin restoration in a pit or fissure of permanent tooth
D2941 Placement of interim therapeutic restoration of primary dentition

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* 4. Would you support expanding the scope of practice for allied staff (hygienists and assistants) as an alternative to having mid-level dental providers in South Dakota?

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* 5. Currently hygienists working under collaborative supervision may provide services to patients for up to 13 months without a patient exam by a dentist. Would you support changing the requirement from 13 months to a timeframe set by the supervising dentist?

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* 6. Which of the following statements most accurately describes your position regarding hygienists providing preventive services (prophys, fluoride, sealants) under collaborative supervision:

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* 7. Please indicate your level of support for each of the following methods of increasing oral health care for the poor in South Dakota:

  Do not support Support minimually Support somewhat Fully support
Increased Medicaid reimbursement rates
Charitable dental events/clinics (with volunteer dentists)
School-based sealant clinics
Community health centers
Mid-level dental providers
Expanded scope of practice for dental hygienists
Expanded scope of practice for dental assistants
Prevention projects/programs on the Reservations
Mobile dental programs (dental buses)

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* 8. Please indicate your level of support for each of the following methods of increasing oral health care for the poor in South Dakota:

  Do not support Support minimually Support somewhat Fully support
Increased Medicaid reimbursement rates
Charitable dental events/clinics (with volunteer dentists)
School-based sealant clinics
Community health centers
Mid-level dental providers
Expanded scope of practice for dental hygienists
Expanded scope of practice for dental assistants
Prevention projects/programs on the Reservations
Mobile dental programs (dental buses)

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