Summary of rule changes, pertaining to dental hygienists licensed in New Mexico
Adopted by Dental Hygienists’ Comm/New Mexico Board of Dental Health Care
- Added definition of ADEX.
- Added updated email addresses requirement as part of the licensee’s address on file.
- Maximum number of self-study hours cannot exceed 50% of any stated requirement.
- A licensee is eligible to receive hour-for-hour credit for BLS or CPR not to exceed 3 hours each triennial period.
- Board approval for study clubs is valid for three years. Must reapply for approval before existing approval expires. Changes in officers and bylaws must be reported to the board.
- CE course verification must include method of instruction: self-study or live/interactive.
- Collaborative dental hygienists do not require a dentist’s diagnosis or prescription/order to administer therapeutic agents.
- Bleaching restrictions removed for collaborative dental hygienists.
- Standard Collaborative Practice Protocols language is updated. Procedures not included in the standard protocols can be included in the collaborative practice agreement, except for those procedures requiring a dentist’s diagnosis and verbal/written prescription.
- Added an electronic processing fee for initial and license renewal, $10 per year; and a return payment fee is $35.
- Initial licenses issued for less than one full year require 15 hours of continuing education for the first renewal.
- A course in ethics or jurisprudence that includes topics related to the New Mexico dental health care act and board rules is required for license renewal.
- Collaborative practitioners are required to take a course in pediatric and adult medical emergencies for initial licensure and for renewal.
- Continuing education records must be maintained for 4 years.
- For continuing education in local anesthesia:
General supervision is required when the instructor is certified in LA under general supervision and the course is provided in a CODA- accredited dental hygiene school.
Indirect supervision is required outside a CODA-approved school; when the instructor is not certified in LA under general supervision; and for the patient-based clinical exams.
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