Dentists and Dentistry - As enacted, requires a dental hygienist to be working under the direct supervision of a dentist seeing a new patient before completing diagnostic radiographs; assessing and recording existing har, the official text

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      State f/Jennessee

                            PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 1107

                                                    SENATE BILL NO. 1926

                                                       By Massey, Reeves

                                            Substituted for: House Bill No. 1991

                                               By Hill, Davis, Hawk, Crawford

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and Title 63, Chapter 5, relative to dental
          professions.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-5-1 0B(c), is amended by adding the
following as a new subdivision:

                    (6) Prior to a dentist seeing a new patient, a dental hygienist working under direct
          supervision of the dentist, or, prior to a dentist seeing an existing patient, a dental hygienist
          working under general supervision of the dentist may:

                              (A) Complete diagnostic radiographs;

                              (B) Assess and record existing hard and soft tissue data;

                              (C) Perform prophylaxis; and

                              (D) Apply fluoride agents.

          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-5-108(h)(1), is amended by deleting
the subdivision and substituting:

                    (1) Notwithstanding a law to the contrary, the practice of dental hygiene also includes
          prescriptive authority limited to fluoride agents, topical oral anesthetic agents, silver diamine
          fluoride, curodont, sealants, and desiccation therapy that:

                              (A) Are not controlled substances under state and federal drug laws; and

                              (B) Do not require a license from the federal drug enforcement agency.

          SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-5-108(h)(4), is amended by deleting
the subdivision and substituting:

                    (4) The board shall determine by rule the educational and training requirements
          necessary for a dental hygienist to exercise prescriptive authority pursuant to this section,
          including a training course for the placement of silver diamine fluoride.

          SECTION 4. For the purposes of promulgating rules, this act takes effect upon becoming a
law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect January 1, 2027, the
public welfare requiring it.
         SENATE BILL NO. 1926

PASSED:  April 22, 2026

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                                            RANDY NllNALLy

                                    SPEAKER OF THE ~NATE

                         CAMEROf\rSEXTON,SPEAKER
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APPROVED this l 24  day of ~ A             2026

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                    BILL LEE, GOVERNOR