The bill amends the Dental Health Care Act in New Mexico to broaden the scope of practice for dental hygienists and expanded-function dental auxiliaries. It introduces new definitions such as "collaborating dentist," "public health dental hygienist," and "dental hygiene diagnosis," which clarify the roles of dental professionals. The amendments allow dental hygienists to perform a wider range of procedures, including administering local anesthesia under specific conditions, and emphasize collaborative practices with dentists. Additionally, it establishes certification criteria for collaborative dental hygiene practice and public health settings, enabling hygienists to work with greater autonomy. The bill also modifies existing definitions, replacing "individual" with "person," and removes outdated supervision requirements, allowing hygienists to provide certain services without direct dentist supervision in public health settings.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies the roles of expanded-function dental auxiliaries, allowing them to re-cement crowns under general supervision in emergencies and perform other related functions as long as they meet board-established training standards. It updates the terminology by replacing "consulting dentist" with "collaborating dentist" and revises regulations regarding non-dentist owners providing dental services, ensuring that certain government agencies, accredited educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations can operate without a New Mexico dental license under specified conditions. These changes aim to enhance the accessibility and efficiency of dental care while maintaining professional standards and regulatory oversight for patient safety.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 61-5A-3, 61-5A-4, 61-5A-5