General Supervision
A dental hygienist may provide, for not more than fifteen consecutive full business days, dental hygiene services to a patient when the supervising dentist is not physically present at the location at which the services are provided if all requirements are met.
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Requirements for General Supervision |
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Written Work Order Required
Prior to the hygiene services being received, the supervising dentist must complete a written order prescribing the dental service or procedure to be done to a specific patient by the dental hygienist and retain the original order in the patient's dental record (see 201 KAR 8:450 Section 4(2) for minimum requirements for the written order).
Examination Completed Within Seven Months of Treatment by Supervising Dentist
The oral examination of the patient shall have been completed by the supervising dentist within seven months of the treatment by the dental hygienist practicing under general supervision. The dental hygienist shall not examine or provide dental health services to a patient who has not been examined by the supervising dentist within the previous seven months. The dental hygienist shall not examine or provide dental services to a patient that the dental hygienist could not also perform with the dentist physically present. (Therefore, the patient cannot be billed for services the dental hygienist did not perform.)
Informed Consent Signed by the Patient
A patient shall be notified three business days in advance of an appointment for dental hygiene services when the supervising dentist will be absent from the location. The patient shall be required to sign an informed consent form, prior to treatment by the dental hygienist, acknowledging the dentist's absence.
Supervising Dentist Must File Application with the Board
The employed dental hygienist's skills must be validated by the supervising dentist by filing a "Dental Hygiene-GS" form with the board. A copy of this form must be retained at the work site of the dental hygienist. Only the form should be sent to the board office for approval.
Supervising Dentist Shall Provide Written Protocol Addressing Medically Compromised Patients
The supervising dentist shall provide a written protocol addressing the medically-compromised patients who may or may not be treated by the dental hygienist. The dental hygienist shall only treat patients meeting the criteria in 201 KAR 8:450 Section 6.
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Application Process and Requirements |
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The approved general supervision form and supporting documentation must be kept on file at the place of employment of the dental hygienist. Do not send supporting documentation to the board office.
Supporting Documentation
Required documentation shall be retained in the form of:
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Proof of two years with a minimum of 3,000 hours of experience in the practice of dental hygiene;
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Proof of successful completion of a 3-hour course in the identification and prevention of potential medical emergencies which has been specifically approved by the Kentucky Board of Dentistry; and
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Proof of re-certification every two years in the medical emergency course.
 General Supervision Approval Form (PDF)
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More Than One Dentist |
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Dental Hygienists must submit a new approval form for each dentist for whom they wish to practice general supervison.
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When applying for approval for an additional dentist and if it has been more than two years since the dental hygienist's initial approval to practice general supervision, then the hygienist must include on the form:
1) the name and date of the most recent refresher course in medical emergencies ; AND
2) the name, date and KBD approval number of the original live course used for initial approval.
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CE Providers |
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Providers of Medical Emergencies courses who wish for hygienists to receive credit for purposes of general supervision should complete this form and include it with their submission to the Board for approval:
General Supervision Medical Emergencies Course Statement
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Medical Emergency Course Recertification |
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Once a hygienist has been approved to practice General Supervision, a recertification course in medical emergencies must be completed every two years to maintain approval.
The Board allows the hygienist to complete an online course to meet this requirement. The online course must be a minimum of three hours and must specifically address the identification and prevention of potential medical emergencies. The recertification course does not have to be specifically approved by the Kentucky Board of Dentistry or have a KBD approval number.
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Law Links |
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General Supervision Laws:
KRS 313.010(3) (PDF)
KRS 313.310 (PDF)
201 KAR 8:450 (PDF)
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