An interesting chart from the Oral Health Workforce Research Center (OHWRC) Legal scope of practice for dental hygienists is based on state-specific acts that describe the services that dental hygienists can provide and under what conditions they can be provided.
This infographic, created in 2017 with updates in 2019 and 2024, illustrates “allowable tasks” for dental hygienists by each state in the US.
Hygiene Task Chart Hygiene Task Descriptions* In Vermont, treatment planning and prescriptive authority are permitted in limited circumstances, specifically for SDF (Silver Diamine Fluoride) and SMART (Silver Modified Atraumatic Restorative Treatment), and only under a General Supervision Agreement on file with the Board of Dental Examiners.
† In Colorado, indirect supervision requires only preapproval, not the presence of a dentist.
‡ In Idaho, provision of sealants and prophylaxis without prior examination by a dentist is permissible for volunteer dental hygienists.
- Variation in Dental Hygiene Scope of Practice by State, categorized by several allowable tasks (Oral Health Workforce Research Center (OHWRC) (2024) https: oralhealthworkforce.org/infographics/variation-in-dental-hygiene-scope-of-practice-by-state/
