OAR 818-038-0020: Scope of Practice

(1) A dental therapist may perform, pursuant to the dental therapist’s collaborative agreement, the following procedures under the general supervision of the dentist: (a) Identification of conditions requiring evaluation, diagnosis or treatment by a dentist, a physician licensed under ORS chapter 677, a nurse practitioner licensed under ORS 678.375 to 678.390 or other licensed health care provider; (b) Comprehensive charting of the oral cavity; (c) Oral health instruction and disease prevention education, including nutritional counseling and dietary analysis; (d) Exposing and evaluation of radiographic images; (e) Dental prophylaxis, including subgingival scaling and polishing procedures; (f) Application of topical preventive or prophylactic agents, including fluoride varnishes and pit and fissure sealants; (g) Administering local anesthetic; (h) Pulp vitality testing; (i) Application of desensitizing medication or resin; (j) Fabrication of athletic mouth guards; (k) Changing of periodontal dressings; (L) Simple extractions of erupted primary anterior teeth and coronal remnants of any primary teeth; (m) Emergency palliative treatment of dental pain; (n) Preparation and placement of direct restoration in primary and permanent teeth; (o) Fabrication and placement of single-tooth temporary crowns; (p) Preparation and placement of preformed crowns on primary teeth; (q) Indirect pulp capping on permanent teeth; (r) Indirect pulp capping on primary teeth; (s) Suture removal; (t) Minor adjustments and repairs of removable prosthetic devices; (u) Atraumatic restorative therapy and interim restorative therapy; (v) Oral examination, evaluation and diagnosis of conditions within the scope of practice of the dental therapist and with the supervising dentist’s authorization; (w) Removal of space maintainers; (x) The dispensation and oral or topical administration of: (A) Nonnarcotic analgesics; (B) Anti-inflammatories; and (C) Antibiotics; and (y) Other services as specified by the Oregon Board of Dentistry by rule. (2) A dental therapist may perform, pursuant to the dental therapist’s collaborative agreement, the following procedures under the indirect supervision of the dentist: (a) Placement of temporary restorations; (b) Fabrication of soft occlusal guards; (c) Tissue reconditioning and soft reline; (d) Tooth reimplantation and stabilization; (e) Recementing of permanent crowns; (f) Pulpotomies on primary teeth; (g) Simple extractions of: (A) Erupted posterior primary teeth; and (B) Permanent teeth that have horizontal movement of greater than two millimeters or vertical movement and that have at least 50 percent periodontal bone loss; (h) Brush biopsies; and (i) Direct pulp capping on permanent teeth. (3) The dentist described in subsection (2) of this section shall review a procedure described in subsection (2) of this section that is performed by the dental therapist and the patient chart that contains information regarding the procedure. (4)(a) A dental therapist may supervise a dental assistant and an expanded function dental assistant, as defined by the board by rule, if the dental therapist is authorized to perform the services provided by the dental assistant or expanded function dental assistant. (b) A dental therapist may supervise up to two individuals under this subsection.