HB 2473
Initials AG/BSR Page 1 Caucus & COW
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
First Regular Session
House: HHS DP 9-0-0-0
HB 2473: dental hygienists; scope of practice
Sponsor: Representative Montenegro, LD 29
Caucus & COW
Overview
Modifies the scope of practice for dental hygienists to include a dental hygiene assessment and
hygiene treatment planning.
History
An individual is deemed to be practicing as a dental hygienist if they do any of the specified acts
or perform any of the operations included in the general practice of dental hygienists, dental
hygiene and all related and associated duties.
These acts include: 1) prophylaxis; 2) scaling; 3) closed subgingival curettage; 4) root planning;
5) administering local anesthetics and nitrous oxide; 6) inspecting the oral cavity and surrounding
structures for gathering clinical data to facilitate a diagnoses; 7) periodontal screening or
assessment; 8) recording clinical findings; 9) compiling case histories; 10) exposing and
processing dental radiographs; 11) all authorized functions as appropriate for dental assistants;
12) restorative functions permissible for an expanded function dental assistant; and 13) placing
interim therapeutic restorations (A.R.S. § 32-1281).
A sunrise application was submitted October 31, 2022, requesting an expansion of the scope of
practice for dental hygienists to add dental hygiene diagnosis, dental hygiene treatment planning,
limited prescriptive authority for fluorides and topically applied antimicrobial agents and
administration of injectable botulinum toxins and dermal fillers for therapeutic or cosmetic
purposes.
Provisions
1. Expands the scope of practice for dental hygienist to include dental hygiene assessment and
dental hygiene treatment planning as components of a diagnosis and treatment plan
developed by a dentist. (Sec. 1)
2. Defines dental hygiene assessment and dental hygiene treatment planning. (Sec. 1)
3. Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note