May dental auxiliaries (dental hygienists and/or dental assistants) perform procedures on patients while the dentist is not in the office?
• Absolutely not. This is a serious violation of the Mississippi Dental Practice Act. All auxiliaries must be under the “direct” supervision of a licensed Mississippi dentist; therefore, it is immaterial whether the dentist is “on the way to the office,” “only out for lunch or an errand,” “out due to illness or vacation,” etc. Refer to Miss. Code Ann. 73-9-3 and 73-9-5 and Board Regulation 13.
Related Questions
- May dental auxiliaries (dental hygienists and/or dental assistants) perform procedures on patients while the dentist is not in the office?
- Can an unlicensed dental assistant perform services on patients without a dentist being physically present?
- What precautions should dental hygienists take when treating patients with recent facial procedures?
