Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Provides for regulation of dental therapists.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the regulation of dental therapists, amending and supplementing P.L.1938, c.277 (C.45:6-1 et seq.), and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 3 of P.L.1938, c.277 (C.45:6-1) is amended to read as follows:
3. The State Board of Registration and Examination in Dentistry in the Division of Professional Boards of the Department of Law and Public Safety, hereinafter in this chapter designated as the "board," created and established by an act entitled "An act to regulate the practice of dentistry in the State of New Jersey, and to repeal certain acts now relating to the same," approved March 31, 1915 (L.1915, c. 146, p. 261), as amended and supplemented, is continued, and shall hereafter be known and designated as the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry. Wherever in any law, rule, regulation, judicial or administrative proceeding or otherwise, reference is made to the State Board of Registration and Examination in Dentistry, the same shall mean and refer to the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry.
In addition to two public members, the board shall consist of [nine] ten members, eight of whom shall have resided and practiced dentistry in this State for at least 10 years each immediately preceding their appointments [and] , one of whom shall be a dental hygienist appointed by the Governor for a term of 4 years , and one of whom shall be a dental therapist appointed by the Governor. In appointing such dental hygienist and dental therapist, the Governor shall give due consideration to, but shall not be bound by, the recommendation of the New Jersey Dental Hygienists Association. Upon the expiration of the term of office of any member, his successor shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to the provisions of section 45:1-2 of this Title, for a term of 4 years, except that the successors of the members whose terms will expire on June 4, 1949, shall be appointed each for a term expiring on August 31, 1952; the successors of the members whose terms will expire on November 9, 1949, and January 7, 1950, respectively, shall be appointed each for a term expiring on August 31, 1953; the successors of the members whose terms will expire on July 31, 1950, and October 8, 1950, respectively, shall be appointed each for a term expiring on August 31, 1954; and the successors of the members whose terms will expire on July 30, 1951, and November 4, 1951, respectively, shall be appointed each for a term expiring on August 31, 1955. Each member shall hold his office until his successor is appointed and qualifies. Any vacancy in the membership of the board, occurring from any cause, shall be filled by the Governor for the unexpired term only. Upon cause being shown before him, the Governor may remove a member from office upon proven charges of inefficiency, incompetency, immorality or professional misconduct.
(cf: P.L.1979, c.46, s.22)
2. Section 7 of P.L.1951, c.199 (C.45:6-15.7) is amended to read as follows:
7. In every dental clinic operated, conducted or maintained in this State all dental operations shall be performed by a licensed dentist [or] , licensed hygienist, or licensed dental therapist in accordance with the provisions of Title 45, chapter six of the Revised Statutes.
(cf: P.L.1951, c.199, s.7)
3. Section 2 of P.L.1979, c.46 (C.45:6-49) is amended to read as follows:
2. For the purposes of this act:
a. "Board" means the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry.
b. "Registered dental assistant" means any person who has fulfilled the requirements for registration established by [this act] P.L.1979, c.46 (C.45:6-48 et seq.) and who has been registered by the board. A registered dental assistant shall work under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist.
c. "Dental assistant" means any person who is trained by formal education or office internship to perform, under the direct supervision of a dentist, any routine office procedure, not including an intra-oral procedure, in the office of a dentist.
d. "Dental hygienist" means any person who performs in the office of any licensed dentist or in any appropriately equipped school, dental clinic, or institution under the supervision of a licensed dentist, those educational, preventive and therapeutic services and procedures which licensed dental hygienists are trained to perform, and which are specifically permitted by regulation of the board, and such intra-oral clinical services which are primarily concerned with preventive dental procedures, including, but not limited to, during the course of a complete prophylaxis, removing all hard and soft deposits and stains from the surfaces of the human teeth to the depth of the gingival sulcus, polishing natural and restored surfaces of teeth, applying indicated topical agents, surveying intra- and extra-oral structures, noting deformities, defects and abnormalities thereof, performing a complete oral prophylaxis and providing clinical instruction to promote the maintenance of dental health.
e. "Direct supervision" means acts performed in the office of a licensed dentist wherein he is physically present at all times during the performance of such acts and such acts are performed pursuant to his order, control and full professional responsibility.
f. "Supervision" means acts performed pursuant to a dentist's written order, control and full professional responsibility, whether or not he is physically present.
g. "Limited registered dental assistant" means any person who has fulfilled the requirements for registration established by this amendatory and supplementary act and who has been registered by the board. A limited registered dental assistant shall be limited to working under the direct supervision of a dentist who conducts a limited dental practice in the dental specialty for whi