§ 90-225.3.  Requirements to administer local anesthetics for licensed dental hygienists; reciprocity.

(a) The Board may approve a dental hygienist licensed in this State or any other state or territory to provide local anesthesia upon the dental hygienist meeting all of the following criteria:

(1) Produces satisfactory evidence of the required education, training, and clinical qualifications to provide local anesthesia.

(2) Has been practicing dental hygiene, as defined in G.S. 90-221, under the supervision of a licensed dentist for a minimum of two years immediately preceding the date of the application.

(3) Has successfully completed a course of study on local anesthetics offered through a school or college approved by the United States Department of Education or a Board-approved continuing education provider that includes all of the following:

a. A minimum of 16 lecture hours on pharmacology, physiology, equipment, block and infiltration techniques, legal issues, and medical emergencies, including systemic complications.

b. A minimum of eight clinical hours of instruction and experience in administering local anesthesia injections.

c. Completion of at least 12 block and 12 infiltration injections under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist who must certify the applicant's competency.

(b) If an applicant cannot satisfy the requirements as set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the Board may require the licensed dentist hygienist to complete all or parts of the requirements specified in subsection (a) of this section before the applicant can be qualified to administer intraoral, local dental anesthetics in this State.

(c) Dental hygienists who administer local anesthetics must maintain current CPR training and annually complete two hours of approved continuing education which shall include a review of local anesthetic technique, contraindications, systemic complications, medical emergencies related to local anesthesia, and a general overview of dental office emergencies. These hours may be among those chosen to satisfy the hours of continuing education otherwise required of licensed dental hygienists in this Article. (2021-95, s. 2(d).)