Dental Hygienists Regulations

t REGULATED HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT DENTAL HYGIENISTS REGULATIONS PLEASE NOTE This document, prepared by the Legislative Counsel Office, is an office consolidation of this regulation, current to December 28, 2024. It is intended for information and reference purposes only. This document is not the official version of these regulations. The regulations and the amendments printed in the Royal Gazette should be consulted on the Prince Edward Island Government web site to determine the authoritative text of these regulations. For more information concerning the history of these regulations, please see the Table of Regulations on the Prince Edward Island Government web site (www.princeedwardisland.ca). If you find any errors or omissions in this consolidation, please contact: Legislative Counsel Office Tel: (902) 368-4292 Email: legislation@gov.pe.ca Dental Hygienists Regulations Table of Contents DENTAL HYGIENISTS REGULATIONS Table of Contents Section Page PART 1 - INTERPRETATION AND DESIGNATION 5 1. Definitions................................................................................................................................................ 5 2. Designation .............................................................................................................................................. 5 3. College ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 PART 2 - REGISTRATION 6 REGISTER 6 4. Parts of register ........................................................................................................................................ 6 5. General registration .................................................................................................................................. 6 6. Special registration ................................................................................................................................... 6 PRESCRIBED REQUIREMENTS FOR GENERAL REGISTRATION 6 7. Education ................................................................................................................................................. 6 8. Examinations ............................................................................................................................................ 7 9. Currency of professional knowledge and skills ....................................................................................... 7 10. Insurance .................................................................................................................................................. 7 11. Continuing competency ........................................................................................................................... 7 12. Additional requirements ........................................................................................................................... 8 PART 3 - DESIGNATIONS AND RESERVED ACTIVITIES 8 13. Designations of a member ........................................................................................................................ 8 14. Reserved activities ................................................................................................................................... 8 15. Application for special authorization ....................................................................................................... 9 PART 4 - GENERAL 10 16. Name of corporation .............................................................................................................................. 10 c t Current to: December 28, 2024 Page 3 PART 1 - INTERPRETATION AND DESIGNATION Dental Hygienists Regulations Section 1 REGULATED HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT CHAPTER R-10.1 DENTAL HYGIENISTS REGULATIONS Pursuant to sections 2 and 96 of the Regulated Health Professions Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. R-10.1, Council made the following regulations: PART 1 - INTERPRETATION AND DESIGNATION 1. Definitions In these regulations (a) “Act” means the Regulated Health Professions Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. R-10.1; (b) “College” means the College of Dental Hygienists of Prince Edward Island established under section 3; (c) “Council” means the Council of the College; (d) “dental hygiene” means the health profession in which a person applies particular knowledge, skills and judgment in (i) promoting oral health, (ii) assessing teeth and adjacent tissues, (iii) providing preventative and therapeutic treatment for teeth and adjacent tissues, (iv) conducting research, education, management or administrative activities incidental to those described in subclauses (i) to (iii); (e) “dental hygienist” means a person who is registered in the register for dental hygienists; (f) “refresher program” means a refresher program in dental hygiene consisting of a formal curriculum, a set of individualized assignments of studies and experiences, a set of continuing education credits, a practicum or a combination of these elements. (EC108/23) 2. Designation Dental hygiene is designated as a regulated health profession. (EC108/23) c t Current to: December 28, 2024 Page 5 PART 2 - REGISTRATION Section 3 Dental Hygienists Regulations 3. College The College of Dental Hygienists of Prince Edward Island is hereby established as a body corporate and the college for dental hygiene. (EC108/23) PART 2 - REGISTRATION Register 4. Parts of register The register for dental hygiene is divided into the following parts: (a) general registration; (b) special registration. (EC108/23) 5. General registration (1) The registrar shall register an applicant in the general registration part where (a) the registrar is satisfied that the applicant meets all the requirements for registration set out in subsection 12(2) of the Act and these regulations and registers the applicant pursuant to subsection 12(3) of the Act; or (b) the Council directs the registrar to register the applicant pursuant to subsection 12(6) of the Act or reinstate the registration of the applicant pursuant to subsection 24(4) of the Act. Reinstatement period (2) For the purpose of subsection 24(1) of the Act, a dental hygienist may apply for reinstatement of registration in the general registration part within three years after a lapse in the registration. (EC108/23) 6. Special registration (1) Where the Council directs the registrar to register an applicant pursuant to subsection 13(3) of the Act, the registrar shall register the applicant in the special registration part. No renewal or reinstatement (2) Special registration may not be renewed or reinstated. (EC108/23) Prescribed Requirements for General Registration 7. Education For the purpose of clause 12(2)(c) of the Act, an applicant shall have successfully completed (a) a diploma or degree program in dental hygiene accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada, approved by the Council; or (b) education that the Council considers substantially equivalent to the program described in clause (a). (EC108/23) Page 6 Current to: December 28, 2024 t c PART 2 - REGISTRATION Dental Hygienists Regulations Section 8 8. Examinations For the purpose of clause 12(2)(d) of the Act, an applicant shall have successfully completed (a) both of the following examinations: (i) National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination, (ii) Canadian Performance Exam in Dental Hygiene, or (b) competency examinations established, approved or adopted by the Council. (EC108/23; 1022/24) 9. Currency of professional knowledge and skills (1) For the purpose of clauses 12(2)(f), subclause 22(2)(a)(ii) and clause 24(4)(c) of the Act, an applicant shall have done one of the following within the three years preceding the application to demonstrate currency of professional knowledge and skills: (a) successfully completed the educational requirement set out in section 7; (b) actively practised dental hygiene, as a dental hygienist authorized by the laws of the jurisdiction where he or she is practising to practise without any restrictions, for at least 600 hours; (c) successfully completed a refresher program satisfactory to the registrar. Failure to demonstrate currency (2) Where an applicant fails to demonstrate currency under subsection (1), the Council may require the applicant to successfully complete a refresher program approved by the Council within the time period specified by the Council. (EC108/23) 10. Insurance (1) For the purpose of clause 12(2)(j), subclause 22(2)(a)(v) and clauses 24(4)(f) and 25(3)(c) of the Act, an applicant or dental hygienist, as the case may be, is required to hold or be covered by professional liability insurance under a policy that provides coverage of not less than $1,000,000 per claim or occurrence and an aggregate limit of not less than $3,000,000, excluding legal or court costs. Valid certificate required (2) An applicant or dental hygienist shall provide or ensure the registrar is provided with the most current certificate of professional liability insurance issued by the insurer that confirms the applicant or dental hygienist is insured under a policy that meets the requirements of subsection (1). (EC108/23) 11. Continuing competency (1) For the purpose of subclause 22(2)(a)(i) of the Act, an applicant shall have utilised methods or participated in programs established by the Council in accordance with section 60.1 of the Act to assess the competency of its members in practising dental hygiene, as required by the Council. Record (2) A dental hygienist shall (a) keep a record in a form satisfactory to the registrar of the activities that the dental hygienist undertakes for the purpose of this section; and c t Current to: December 28, 2024 Page 7 PART 3 - DESIGNATIONS AND RESERVED ACTIVITIES Section 12 Dental Hygienists Regulations (b) provide copies of the record referred to in clause (a) on the request of and in accordance with the directions of the registrar.(EC108/23) 12. Additional requirements For the purpose of clause 12(2)(k), subclause 22(2)(a)(v.1) and clause 24(4)(g) of the Act, hold current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid. (EC108/23) PART 3 - DESIGNATIONS AND RESERVED ACTIVITIES 13. Designations of a member For the purpose of subsection 89(1) of the Act, the designations of a dental hygienist include the following titles, abbreviations or initials: (a) dental hygienist or DH; (b) registered dental hygienist or RDH. (EC108/23) 14. Reserved activities (1) Subject to any terms or conditions imposed on the dental hygienist’s registration, a dental hygienist is authorized to perform the following reserved activities: (a) diagnosing gingivitis or periodontitis and communicating the diagnosis in circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that it will be relied on in health care decisions; (b) subject to subsection (2), performing any of the following procedures on or below the surfaces of the teeth: (i) scaling, (ii) dental debridement, (iii) root planing; (c) performing a procedure, other than a procedure referred to in clause (b), on or below the surfaces of the teeth on the order or under the supervision of a dentist; (d) applying or ordering the application of electrical energy to conduct an X-ray for the purpose of dental screening, diagnosis or treatment; (e) prescribing or administering the following classes of drugs: (i) anticariogenic agents, (ii) antimicrobial agents, other than antibiotics, (iii) local anesthetic preparations. Approval required (2) Where any of the following conditions or circumstances in respect of a client are reported to the dental hygienist or the dental hygienist knows they are present or occurring, the dental hygienist shall not perform scaling, dental debridement or root planing on the client except with the approval of a dentist, medical practitioner or nurse practitioner: (a) a cardiac condition for which antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended in the guidelines set by the American Heart Association; (b) a condition, other than one referred to in clause (a), for which antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended or required; Page 8 Current to: December 28, 2024 t c PART 3 - DESIGNATIONS AND RESERVED ACTIVITIES Dental Hygienists Regulations Section 15 (c) an unstable medical or oral health condition that may affect the appropriateness or safety of the procedure; (d) a medical or oral health condition that the dental hygienist is unfamiliar with or that could affect the appropriateness, efficacy or safety of the procedure; (e) drug therapy that the dental hygienist is unfamiliar with or that could affect the appropriateness, efficacy or safety of the procedure; (f) drug or alcohol dependency that may affect the appropriateness or safety of the procedure; (g) active chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or previous head or neck radiation; (h) immunosuppression caused by disease, medications or treatment modalities; (i) a blood disorder; (j) active tuberculosis; (k) a high risk of infective endocarditis; (l) a medical history that indicates a known medical intervention requiring a dental pre- screening. (EC108/23; 1135/24) 15. Application for special authorization (1) A dental hygienist may apply to the registrar, in the form approved by the Council, for special authorization to perform the reserved activity of administering a local anesthetic drug by injection. Eligibility (2) An applicant is eligible for special authorization to perform the reserved activity referred to in subsection (1) if the applicant has successfully completed an education program on the administration of local anesthesia, approved by the Council. Granting of special authorization (3) On receipt and review of an application made in accordance with subsection (1), the registrar may, if the registrar is satisfied the applicant is eligible in accordance with subsection (2), (a) grant the applicant special authorization to perform the reserved activity; and (b) note the special authorization in the register in relation to the dental hygienist and on the dental hygienist’s certificate of registration. Referral to the Council (4) Where the registrar is not satisfied that the applicant is eligible in accordance with subsection (2), the registrar shall refer the application to the Council. Review by the Council (5) On receipt of an application referred by the registrar, the Council shall review the application and may (a) direct the registrar to (i) grant the applicant special authorization to perform the reserved activity, and (ii) note the special authorization in the register in relation to the dental hygienist and on the dental hygienist’s certificate of registration; and (b) impose any terms and conditions on the special authorization that the Council considers appropriate. c t Current to: December 28, 2024 Page 9 PART 4 - GENERAL Section 16 Dental Hygienists Regulations Notice (6) Where the Council refuses to grant a special authorization, the Council shall serve on the applicant written notice of, and reasons for, the refusal. Suspension, cancellation, expiration, renewal (7) A special authorization granted under this section is suspended or cancelled, or expires, on the suspension, cancellation or expiration of the dental hygienist’s registration, as the case may be, and may be renewed on renewal of the dental hygienist’s registration. (EC108/23) PART 4 - GENERAL 16. Name of corporation (1) For the purpose of clause 15(1)(d) of the Act, the name of a corporation applying for a permit to carry on the business of providing the professional services of a dental hygienist shall be, in the opinion of the registrar, in good taste, dignified and professional. Change of name (2) Before changing its name, a health profession corporation shall obtain written confirmation from the registrar that the proposed name meets the requirements of subsection (1). (EC108/23) Page 10 Current to: December 28, 2024 t c